T5 Bulb Combo (2 bulbs)

[TheEngineer]

I have older 18” T5 HO fixture I’m going to use for an experiment. What combo of bulbs should I use? Looking for growth, not looks.

 

[Finhead]

ATI Blue+ for both

 

[Potatohead]

Two blue+ or, one blue+ and one coral+.

 

[TheEngineer]

Looks like they don’t make them in 18”

 

[Water Dog]

What 18” bulb options do you have available to you? Most of the major brands for our hobby (ATI, KZ, Giesemann) start with their smallest bulb offering being 24 watts for 24” fixtures.

 

[Finhead]

Looks like they don’t make them in 18”

Opps missed the 18" part. Yeah you wont find much of anything out there in the 18" length, I looked when I wanted to put T5 over my Red Sea Nano. I found a Actinic and 12K bulb at that length.

 

[TheEngineer]

Opps missed the 18" part. Yeah you wont find much of anything out there in the 18" length, I looked when I wanted to put T5 over my Red Sea Nano. I found a Actinic and 12K bulb at that length.

Who made them? I guess these must be the bulbs that came with the original fixture. Well this turned out to be sad The fixture is discontinued too.

 

[LetItReef]

If it is for growth- Actinic:

https://www.amazon.com/Aquatic-Life...pID=414VPxWFgwL&preST=_SY300_QL70_&dpSrc=srch

 

[TheEngineer]

If it is for growth- Actinic:

https://www.amazon.com/Aquatic-Life...pID=414VPxWFgwL&preST=_SY300_QL70_&dpSrc=srch

$47

 

[Water Dog]

I will go the other way... back in the early MH days, we were using Iwasaki 6500k MH daylight bulbs. Although the color was ugly yellow, the growth was amazing. I’m not sure if this translates in the fluorescent world, but here is a 6400k 18in T5 HO bulb...

https://www.dealzer.com/sunblaster-...MIluD4rpKk2QIV2kwNCh2PtgZZEAQYAyABEgKKtPD_BwE

 

[Finhead]

Who made them? I guess these must be the bulbs that came with the original fixture. Well this turned out to be sad The fixture is discontinued too.

The ones @LetItReef posted

 

[TheEngineer]

Jackpot! (Sort of)
420/460nm or 460/620nm


https://www.marineandreef.com/AquaticLife_T5_HO_Lamps_Bulbs_s/536.htm

 

[jda]

One GE 6500K and one Actinic.

 

[TheEngineer]

Found this on ebay too...

https://www.ebay.com/itm/2x-T5-18W-...yssea-6500K-10000K-Actinic-Pink-/111941789176

Choices are 6500k, 10,000k, 12,000k and 460nm. I'm thinking the 12k and 460nm are the closest to the suggested ATI lamps. Yeah?

 

[James Johnson]

Blue light colors corals white light grows them

 

[chipmunkofdoom2]

What type of ballast does your light fixture have? Most ballasts will run a variety of bulbs. It's likely that your 18" fixture includes a ballast that will run 2x 24w bulbs. The only thing is you would need to modify the fixture and space the endcaps 24" apart to accommodate the longer bulbs.

 

[TheEngineer]

Good point. I’m not sure if I can move the posts in this. I ordered the only two 16.5” bulbs I could find. They get here tomorrow. I’ll see what ballast is in there and if I can move the posts tomorrow.

That would be great if I could use a 20” bulb. Way more options.