T-5 Experts

[Catra2030]

I'm not exactly pleased with my bulb combo at the moment and I can't seem to find what I'm looking for. I have read through all the threads on bulb combos that I could find, but I'm still seeking some feedback. I'm looking for a combo that will promote steady growth while maintaining true coloration. I have a 6 bulb 54w ATI fixture atop a 4x2x2 tank, hanging about 40 inches above the sandbed and about 18 inches off the water surface, these measurements aren't exact, just from eyeing it. My tank is dominated by chalices, favias and plates, but at the moment I feel my current combo is lacking the growth aspect that I'm looking for. My current combo from front to back is as follows: (all ati bulbs)

Blue+
Blue+
Blue+
Blue+
Blue+
Actinic

I have an actinic bulb at the rear because I have my racks of chalices back there and just felt I could knock down the PAR with an actinic. I've tried putting a Fiji Purple, Purple Plus, and Coral Plus in the number 3 slot highlighted in bold, but after a few days I end up hating the look. At my disposal for combos I have 6x Blue+, 1x Coral Plus, 1x Fiji Purple, 1x Purple Plus, 1x Aquablue Special, and 2x Actinics. Through my reviews I'm thinking that the combo listed below may be my best bet, but I'm hesistant given the amount of par its going produce. I should mention my photo period is 2 Blue+ from are on from 1:30-9:30 and the other 4 bulbs are on from 3:45-7:00.

Blue+
Blue+
Purple Plus
Coral Plus
Blue+
Blue+

Maybe switch bulbs #1 and #4????? Let me know what you guys think, and as always, thank you for your time and feedback.

 

[bigkai]

Here's my line up from front to back
Blue+
Purple
Blue+
Aquablue special
Actinc
Blue+
All bulbs are ait 54 watt. and my tank is the same 120 tall 48" 24" 24" . And my lights are about 8" above the water.

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[Catra2030]

bigkai, what type of fixture are you using?

Think if I were to switch the purple and blue+ around (2nd and 3rd bulbs) that it would create a banding effect visually? I'd like to keep blue+ bulbs in my 2nd and 5th slots due to them being my dawn dusk bulbs. thanks for the reply.

 

[bigkai]

I have a retro fit I built in the hood. Ya I would try that I like the purple+ close to the back it just looks better to me iv moved the bulbs around alot trying to find what I like best and so far this works for me. And I know their is several people not using actinics and only running blue+ but I like the little extra color they give.

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[GHill762]

there is a thread at nano-reef that has pics of different combinations.. I personally ran 1x blue+, fiji purple, aquablue sp., actinic in a 4 bulb setup (sometimes I'd ditch the aquablue sp. for a second actinic to get a little more blue).. I loved the color of both..

 

[Catra2030]

Thanks, I've literally checked all the threads out there on combo's, I wanted to see if there was anyone on there that may have the same exact setup as myself, tank, livestock, fixture, etc just to see what combo they run and photoperiod. I know everyone is different and what works for one may not work for another, but my current setup dominated by Blue+ bulbs provides painfully slow growth but excellent color. Thanks for the reply

 

[Reefltx]

You must really like the blue look, maybe trying some LEDs, these will make your corals really pop.


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[Reefing8EZ]

ATI Blue+ or KZ Superblue
ATI Blue+ or KZ Superblue
ATI Blue+ or KZ Superblue (or swap this for Geisemann pure actinic for even bluer look)
ATI Coral+ or KZ New Gen
ATI Blue+ or KZ Superblue
ATI Blue+ or KZ Superblue

 

[ReeferBob]

I like the aquablue special it is a whiter blue. I have the following on my 4x80watt ATI fixture:

blue+
Aquablue special
purple +
blue+

 

[Catra2030]

thanks for the replies

 

[Catra2030]

I like the aquablue special it is a whiter blue. I have the following on my 4x80watt ATI fixture:

blue+
Aquablue special
purple +
blue+

This is actually the combo I'm going to switch to on my frag tank, its a 4 bulb aquaticlife fixture, low intensity fixture but does the job.

ATI Blue+ or KZ Superblue
ATI Blue+ or KZ Superblue
ATI Blue+ or KZ Superblue (or swap this for Geisemann pure actinic for even bluer look)
ATI Coral+ or KZ New Gen
ATI Blue+ or KZ Superblue
ATI Blue+ or KZ Superblue

I tried this combo out, but I had an actinic in the back bulb. What do you think about adding in a Purple Plus along with the Coral Plus, too intense for a LPS dominated tank?

 

[Dave3112]

My favorite combo was

Blue+
Blue+
Coral+
Purple+
Blue+
Blue+

I ran 3 blue+ for 11 hours a day and the others for 9 hours a day I had excellent growth and great coloration.

 

[Reefing8EZ]

Hey Catra,
Running a coral+ with purple+ would not be too intense but I have used both purple+ and fiji purple and honestly not a fan of either.
Next time I swap bulbs, in a few months, I am going to try this combo. HTH.. :nerd:
Blue+
Blue+
Coral+
KZ New Gen
Blue+
Blue+

 

[Catra2030]

You must really like the blue look, maybe trying some LEDs, these will make your corals really pop.


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At this time last year I was running Radions above my tank, but after a few months I switched back to an AquaticLife T5 fixture 4 bulb running all blue+ and a fiji purple. I felt the low intensity of that fixture was perfect for growth and coloration for my favias and chalices. I'm no expert, but I believe the reason why I was unable to have success with the Radions was due to multiple things, my lack of knowledge, starting out at around 50% intensity when my max intensity should have maybe been more like 40%, and I also feel that at that point in time just the Radions by themselves were not providing everything needed from a lighting standpoint and that some supplemental lighting was needed...so i switched back. Fast forward, new tank, new t5 fixture.

 

[Catra2030]

My favorite combo was

Blue+
Blue+
Coral+
Purple+
Blue+
Blue+

I ran 3 blue+ for 11 hours a day and the others for 9 hours a day I had excellent growth and great coloration.

Thanks, first let me say I've looked through some of your posts and your pics and everything looks amazing and your colors are true. The combo you listed is the one I'm leaning towards. After the highs go off for the day I'm going to switch things up and see how everything looks after a few days of burning in. Eventually I'll increase my photo period for my highs. I'd love to one day be able to make the transition to some SPS and with some level of success be able to create a canopy like setting. Thanks for the reply.

Hey Catra,
Running a coral+ with purple+ would not be too intense but I have used both purple+ and fiji purple and honestly not a fan of either.
Next time I swap bulbs, in a few months, I am going to try this combo. HTH.. :nerd:
Blue+
Blue+
Coral+
KZ New Gen
Blue+
Blue+

Personally I'm not a big fan of the purple plus or fiji purple as a stand alone bulb, even with 4 or 5 blue+ bulbs, they still seem give the tank a pinkish/red tint. So I'm hoping that if I throw in a Coral Plus or an AquaBlue Special that it will even our or eliminate that pinkish/red tint.

 

[Dave3112]

Thanks, first let me say I've looked through some of your posts and your pics and everything looks amazing and your colors are true. The combo you listed is the one I'm leaning towards. After the highs go off for the day I'm going to switch things up and see how everything looks after a few days of burning in. Eventually I'll increase my photo period for my highs. I'd love to one day be able to make the transition to some SPS and with some level of success be able to create a canopy like setting. Thanks for the reply.



Personally I'm not a big fan of the purple plus or fiji purple as a stand alone bulb, even with 4 or 5 blue+ bulbs, they still seem give the tank a pinkish/red tint. So I'm hoping that if I throw in a Coral Plus or an AquaBlue Special that it will even our or eliminate that pinkish/red tint.

Thank you for the compliment! It took me a while to find the right bulb combo on T5's after I switched to them from halides. I would stay away from the aqua blue specials. They seemed to fade my LPS and were MUCH to white for my taste. The coral+ is an awesome bulb in my opinion. But I do prefer a "bluer" look in my tank.


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[Catra2030]

I've heard the same thing about the Aquablue Special, my mindset was that if I were to use it, that its needs/must be paired with either a purple plus or fiji purple along with 4 blue+ bulbs to help compensate for that side effect of the ABS bulb. If you don't try it you'll never know so I'm going to give the line up that your suggested a try.

 

[jeremy]

I have 2 t5 fixtures one is a 4 bulb with 3 blue+ and a purple plus I think when I change bulbs probably go 3 blue+ and a coral plus. color and growth are very good but mostly zoa tank. My 8 bulb I have 6 Blue+ a purple+ and a coral + mostly sps tank good growth and color. I had 2 purple and 5 blue and a coral but too much pinkish hue so pulled 1 purple and really like it. jus go without the purple+ and keep the actinic I think that would be a really good look.

 

[Catra2030]

Put the bulbs in last night, I tried my combo with a purple plus but still didn't like the look of it, too much of a red hue/undertone to the look, so I decide on the following:
Blue+
Blue+
Blue+
Coral+
Blue+
Blue+

I may put an aqua blue special in just too see what things look like, but I'm fairly certain this is what I'll be going with. My only question is do you think that after a few days of burning in that the red hue/undertone of the purple plus will decrease. What I have now is very blue with a touch of a white glare or tint.