Let's see your T5 SPS tanks!
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cimmorine
Active Member
Big E wow! Thanks for #37 post. I have a 12 bulb t5 fixture 39w each and its time for me to change the bulbs.....$240...sigh....
After reading Big E's post I am leaning towards a more coral+/blue + combo but want to know if I should use any other light spectrum like purple, red, or aqua special.
Thanks
After reading Big E's post I am leaning towards a more coral+/blue + combo but want to know if I should use any other light spectrum like purple, red, or aqua special.
Thanks
cimmorine
Active Member
So far I've rounded up
2 UVL SuperActinic
[FONT=helvetica, arial, sans-serif]1 Geisman Actinic+[/FONT]
[FONT=helvetica, arial, sans-serif]1 ati aquablue special
2 ati blue +
1 ati coral +
Thoughts?[/FONT]
2 UVL SuperActinic
[FONT=helvetica, arial, sans-serif]1 Geisman Actinic+[/FONT]
[FONT=helvetica, arial, sans-serif]1 ati aquablue special
2 ati blue +
1 ati coral +
Thoughts?[/FONT]
cbc4447
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Actually, they have very different spectrums. The coral+ has more green it than the purple plus. The amount of green and red in the coral+ is what gives the bulb a white (approx 15k) look. The purple+ has twice a much red and gives off a purple type look.
The purple+ serves more as a supplement than as main light………… with that much red in it, it’s casting that purple color for an ambient look, but does little for pigment excitement. It also doesn’t have the high par that blue+ and coral+ bulbs have. It has too much red and not enough green, so it’s going to underperform compared to a coral+ for growth and color.
The blue+/coral+ combo hit all the required areas for pigment excitation and fluorescence as you can see in this graph. All the pigments are satisfied in their range with the required intensity.
Two bulbs will cover a 9” width and then the second two overlap that same spectrum, so I get the same full spectrum and intensity needed for any acro as well as any other coral or anemone.
This will give the tank a crisp white look with a tinge of blue. Some people use more blue+ for example to give a bluer look. Some of the other bulbs will do the same so then it comes down to a matter of taste.
Some people complain about the purple+ making the tank look pink or majenta. The reason this happens is that if you put it next to a blue bulb, when mixed they create that majenta color. See the color wheel below.
If your going to use them you’d probably have to sandwich them between two white bulbs or at least next to one. Or you could put two to the outside and angle them in a bit.
Another thing to note is when you look at the color wheel above you'll see the red,blue,green mix make it look white to our eyes. A coral+ is a bit heavier with the blue and what gives it that 15k look. The AB special is probably smack in the middle with that pure white look.
The big thing to remember is that no bulb is going to cover more and a 4-4 ½ width, so if you want a specific coral to receive what that light gives out you have to place it within the bulb’s range.
Well I have had incredible colors with the purple plus, I have also used the UVL aquasun. I have 6 bulb fixture which allows me a little more flexibility. I use the GE 6500 k bulb also for the green and it gives me a little yellow too. Yellow I do not find as necessary as red and greens do. Right now I only have a few sps in my new tank but the colors are coming in nicely. MY ora purple stylo is really deep purple.. I went mainly lps so far on this tank, my last two tanks were mainly sps, I also had a goniopra tank and wanted something different and required a little less care. . I got to say the coral + does look nice and may give it a try and eliminate the purple plus and GE 6500k. I have had such good luck with it I hate to change.
Last edited:
MBG75
Well-Known Member
Not all SPS, but I have a good amount of them and they are growing great and have nice color. I have 6 39w ATI bulbs.
I like the look. What's your bulb combo and position?
Chrissy
Active Member
Thank you! The bulbs from front to back are:
Coral Plus
Blue Plus
Aquablue Special
Purple Plus
Coral Plus
Blue Plus
kacrocorals581
Gotta have that acro
Nice stuff
Chris L
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Here's mine
Wow nice! What size tank?
J-Dog
Active Member
Hey guys, I have a 10x54w ATI fixture over my 185 gallon, but I am having a hard time with my SPS coloring up and keeping color. Do u think I have too much light with this fixture? I gotta figure this out because I would love for my tank to look like everyone else's in this thread. Any feedback would be great, thanks!
Chrissy
Active Member
Beautiful! Love those colors!
cultivatedcoral
unregistered
I've got 14x 39w over my 180g and coloring sps is no problem. How's you No3, Po4?
Steviereefs
Well-Known Member
Chrissy I agree with your bulb combo your tank looks awesome also I have a 8 bulb t5 and my combo is
Blue plus
Coral plus
Blue plus
Purple plus
Blue plus
Aquablue special
Blue plus
Coral plus
