T5 Bulb Combo Suggestions

[KLR]

I currently use this T5 combo over my Red Sea Max 250.

4 ATI Blue Plus
1 ATI Aquablue Special
1 Fiji Purple

I have noticed that a lot of my LPS do not like the intensity of light produced by this combo,even when they are on the sand bed.

I have a few acroporas, montiporas, and other misc. sps too. Most of these have lighter colors than they should, which indicates that they too are under too intense lighting.

All of my parameters are in order, so I highly doubt that the slight discoloration has to do with the water chemistry.

I was wondering if I should replace one of my bulbs with an actinic bulb or something similar that has very little par when compared to the bulbs that I am currently using. If you think this is a good idea, what bulb should I switch out and what new bulb should I buy?

If you have another idea, please let me know.

Thanks in advance.

 

[MGoers]

I am amazed by the PAR I'm getting, for sure. I replaced my aquablue special with an actinic and its still not blue enough for my tastes, and I have almost 300 PAR on the sandbed still. I would try swapping a blue plus or that aquablue out for an actinic. Depends on what color temp you want, really. This is what I'm running (all ATI), and the front two are dusk/dawn :

Front

Actinic
Purple
Blue
Coral
Blue
Coral
Blue
Blue

 

[KLR]

My fixture is only 6 bulbs and has not dusk dawn capabilities, but thank you for the advice!

I might swap out the aquablue special bulb. I really like the cool blue look. But I do not want solid blue, actinic all the time, appearance.

Do you think the one Fiji Purple with the 5 other blue bulbs will make an awkward violet color?

 

[MGoers]

I was just explaining my logic there, and showing the general white/blue balance. I can't speak to the one purple bulb with all the blues, but I would definitely put the purple bulb in front. I found that going from a blue+ to actinic with that purple+ for my dusk/dawn made it a LOT more red. That actinic has some interesting characteristics for sure... It may take some more playing with it to get it where you want it...

 

[KLR]

Ok thanks for the tips. I will probably get an ATI True Actinic bulb.

 

[-Logzor]

Your problem is the aquablue special bulb, it washes out colors...really badly. Replace it with a blue+, actinic, or coral+ depending on your preferences.

 

[MGoers]

Another thing, just by comparing mine, the coral+ is very similar to the purple+, except slightly less purple. Fairly white, but not as white as the aquablue special...

 

[KLR]

Your problem is the aquablue special bulb, it washes out colors...really badly. Replace it with a blue+, actinic, or coral+ depending on your preferences.

Ok cool. I think I will replace it with an actinic bulb. I would like my chalices to pop more.

Another thing, just by comparing mine, the coral+ is very similar to the purple+, except slightly less purple. Fairly white, but not as white as the aquablue special...

Ok. I will have to look into those too.

 

[Catra2030]

I was at a frag swap recently and picked foxs brain about his lighting for chalices and lps. He told me that he has setups with chalices that are only lit with four actinic bulbs sitting about 6-8 inches off the surface. I currently have a 6 bulb ati fixture about 20 inches off the surface of the water and my colors are washed. 5 blue plus bulbs, a Fiji purple and an actinic. I'm going to swap in another blue plus or maybe another actinic.

But based on my conversation with fox, it seems he does not provide a lot of par for his lps setups, chalices in general.

 

[KLR]

Interesting. I cannot treat it like a dedicated LPS system, due to the acroporas and montiporas. But I will definitely replace one bulb with an actinic and maybe even two in the future, if the one goes well.

 

[Reefer831]

I would run 5 blue+ and one coral+ in the middle.and throw in a blue reef bright later.

 

[Rick]

Just run all blues and a purple

 

[PolandSpring]

my fav is this

5x blue +
1x Fiji

 

[PolandSpring]

I would run 5 blue+ and one coral+ in the middle.and throw in a blue reef bright later.

Just run all blues and a purple

I agree. all blue + with a fiji or coral+.. it gives it a beautiful 20k look

 

[KLR]

My concern is that the par is too high at the moment. I was told a while back that ati blue plus have a higher par than the ati aquablue special. Therefore, I would like a blue bulb with a low par, which is why I am leaning toward an ati true actinic.

 

[PolandSpring]

Blue + is the strongest par but all t5 s are pretty close in par value... Either shade some pieces or bring your lights up higher

 

[KLR]

Blue + is the strongest par but all t5 s are pretty close in par value... Either shade some pieces or bring your lights up higher

Ok. I cannot move my lights, due to the fact that the Red Sea Max's stock fixture is built into the AIO.

 

[-Logzor]

My concern is that the par is too high at the moment. I was told a while back that ati blue plus have a higher par than the ati aquablue special. Therefore, I would like a blue bulb with a low par, which is why I am leaning toward an ati true actinic.

Regardless of PAR there is something about the Aquablue Special bulb causes LPS and other corals to wash out. Not sure why they have such a poor response to this bulb but that's what I've experienced.

Just to be safe go ahead and pop in an Actinic and see how things go.

 

[NanaReefer]

I've been using the Aquablue Special for 1+ years and have never experienced any washing out of color from any of my LPS, or any other corals for that matter. I've never heard of such a thing :-/

 

[-Logzor]

I've been using the Aquablue Special for 1+ years and have never experienced any washing out of color from any of my LPS, or any other corals for that matter. I've never heard of such a thing :-/

That's fine we all have difference experiences but many people have had the same washing out issues. Notice how practically everyone doesn't recommend using that bulb? It's for a reason.