T5 bulb combo...who is running actinics??

[EuroGti]

So I'm putting a 8x39w ati over my 36x24x17
Just cannot get the same results with led and sps. I want to try something a little different and run 2 actinics. I've seen a couple tanks running actinics, but never took note of the full bulb combo. I've been thinking the following.

4 ati blue+
2 ati actinics
1 ati purple+
1 ati coral+

I know this should be pretty blue, but that's kind of what I want. I don't want it to be overly blue though! Anyone who is running some actinics have some feedback? Pics would be great to!!
Thanks guys!

 

[Rob&Gab]

We have 2 ati fixtures 24" and 48" both 8bulbs


4blue+
1ati actinic
1red sea reef spec 22k actinic
1purple+
1redsea reef spec 15k blue/white

 

[EuroGti]

We have 2 ati fixtures 24" and 48" both 8bulbs


4blue+
1ati actinic
1red sea reef spec 22k actinic
1purple+
1redsea reef spec 15k blue/white

That sounds close to what I'm looking for! How's the spectrum and growth?
The redsea reef spec 15k is close to a coral plus correct? Is the 22k actinic much different from the Ati actinic? Mind sharing the lighting schedule?

 

[TruRacr314x]

I don't run any actinics.....but only have a 6 bulb. Would like to see if it would make some of my stuff pop a little more but have read that actinics don't really do much for growth?

 

[SPSDomination]

I have a 8x54 fixture as well on my 120 and have the exact bulb combo you listed. It is very blue. It almost gives that baby blue look so I am going to do another Purple plus to try to supplement the color a little bit. But to answer your question that setup turns out to be very blue. I wish I could send you a pic but I would never capture the try color with my Iphone.

 

[-Logzor]

Did you guys see Jason Fox's thread? He has a tank full of SPS (mostly towards the top) and LPS where he runs only ATI Actinic and Reef Brite LEDs. That's right, no blue or white T5's. Runs a 10 hour light cycle. Have you seen the color of his corals at swaps?

I have a 7 bulb T5 fixture with two XHO Reef Brite blues. I typically run a 7 hour light cycle with 6 Blue+ and 1 Fiji Purple. Sometimes I throw in an Actinic or another a Coral+ depending on my mood during bulb-changing time.

So after reading Jason's thread I tried an experiment. I swapped out three of my bulbs for Actinic. At first, I had some die-off under a stag that wasn't getting enough light to begin with, it RTN'd right in the shadowed areas. So I increased my cycle to 10 hours, the RTN stopped. So far, I've seen an increase in coloration in a handful of my acros (the color on my German Blue Polyp and TDF are absolutely insane). I don't track my growth, so I'm not sure the impact there. I'm going to stick with this combo for awhile to see the long-term impacts.

Increasing the duration of the light cycle is definitely a must when swapping in Actinics. Overall I think my corals benefit from the actinic light and maintain better base coloration (even though the actinic is "popping" the color, the color is actually better...if that makes sense).

I actually think the Actinics make the overall look of the tank improve, when I was running heavy Blue+, the blue glare of my corals was blinding, with the tank a bit more dim, I like it better.

 

[Rob&Gab]

Lighting is from 12pm till 6pm then 2 bulbs stay on till 8pm


IMO the reef spec 22k is a much nicer blue then the ati actinic .


The 15k bulb yes is closer to the coral plus. 10x better .


The growth and coloration is amazing . It's on a 60 shallow deep blue tank . Hanjng 17" above the water surface



I'm gettig a 48" 8bulb ati led hybrids for the. 120g we are setting up.

That is most likely gonna have the same combo.

 

[Rob&Gab]

Did you guys see Jason Fox's thread? He has a tank full of SPS (mostly towards the top) and LPS where he runs only ATI Actinic and Reef Brite LEDs. That's right, no blue or white T5's. Runs a 10 hour light cycle. Have you seen the color of his corals at swaps?

I have a 7 bulb T5 fixture with two XHO Reef Brite blues. I typically run a 7 hour light cycle with 6 Blue+ and 1 Fiji Purple. Sometimes I throw in an Actinic or another a Coral+ depending on my mood during bulb-changing time.

So after reading Jason's thread I tried an experiment. I swapped out three of my bulbs for Actinic. At first, I had some die-off under a stag that wasn't getting enough light to begin with, it RTN'd right in the shadowed areas. So I increased my cycle to 10 hours, the RTN stopped. So far, I've seen an increase in coloration in a handful of my acros. I don't track my growth, so I'm not sure the impact there. I'm going to stick with this combo for awhile to see the long-term impacts.

That's only one of his tanks bud.. He has about 10 tanks including grow out frag tanks lol

 

[Rob&Gab]

I don't run any actinics.....but only have a 6 bulb. Would like to see if it would make some of my stuff pop a little more but have read that actinics don't really do much for growth?

Go with the reef spec 22k actinic made by Red Sea . I bet you will like. It it's a really. Nice blue it's better then the ati actinic trust me

 

[EuroGti]

Actinics do help some in the overall spectrum. They are definitely not needed, but they make coral look great! I'm also running zeovit. I've noticed with the overall nutrient reduction that I don't need as much light.

 

[SPSDomination]

Did you guys see Jason Fox's thread? He has a tank full of SPS (mostly towards the top) and LPS where he runs only ATI Actinic and Reef Brite LEDs. That's right, no blue or white T5's. Runs a 10 hour light cycle. Have you seen the color of his corals at swaps?

I have a 7 bulb T5 fixture with two XHO Reef Brite blues. I typically run a 7 hour light cycle with 6 Blue+ and 1 Fiji Purple. Sometimes I throw in an Actinic or another a Coral+ depending on my mood during bulb-changing time.

So after reading Jason's thread I tried an experiment. I swapped out three of my bulbs for Actinic. At first, I had some die-off under a stag that wasn't getting enough light to begin with, it RTN'd right in the shadowed areas. So I increased my cycle to 10 hours, the RTN stopped. So far, I've seen an increase in coloration in a handful of my acros (the color on my German Blue Polyp and TDF are absolutely insane). I don't track my growth, so I'm not sure the impact there. I'm going to stick with this combo for awhile to see the long-term impacts.

Increasing the duration of the light cycle is definitely a must when swapping in Actinics. Overall I think my corals benefit from the actinic light and maintain better base coloration (even though the actinic is "popping" the color, the color is actually better...if that makes sense).

Do you the have the link to Jasons thread?

 

[Rob&Gab]

That sounds close to what I'm looking for! How's the spectrum and growth?
The redsea reef spec 15k is close to a coral plus correct? Is the 22k actinic much different from the Ati actinic? Mind sharing the lighting schedule?

A big sifference it's more of a deep blue nice real deep blue ocean look . Give it a try please let me no what you think I wouldn't steal you in the wrong direction

 

[-Logzor]

Do you the have the link to Jasons thread?

Yes:

https://www.reef2reef.com/forums/ja...fox-anniversary-live-sale-68.html#post1980737

 

[EuroGti]

A big sifference it's more of a deep blue nice real deep blue ocean look . Give it a try please let me no what you think I wouldn't steal you in the wrong direction

Sounds good! Going to look for the redsea bulbs now. If I had the money, I would be doing a powermodule hybrid. I have a hybrid now, but it's mostly led with t5 to supplement. I want to go in the other direction. T5 as main lighting, and maybe retro some LEDs for supplement and sun up/sun down

 

[clowninaround74]

Just switched from LED to T5- running a 24" 8x24 ATI dimmable fixture:


Front:

Blue +
Actinic
Blue +
Coral +
Blue +
Actinic
Coral +
Blue +

I really like the color of this combo. I'm still acclimating my corals to the new lights so I'm running 2 bulbs (blue+ and actinic) for 6 hours and the remaining for 4 hours.

I think I'll eventually run all bulbs from 9-3 and have ramp up and ramp down 1.5 hours on each end of that.

 

[DeeFromBrooklyn]

4 ati 460 actinics
2 12000k daylights
2 12000k daylights
6 led moonlights

I'm pretty happy until bulb Change time but for softies they are now than fine. Hard coral they don't fare well

 

[EuroGti]

Got my 8x39w dimmable sunpower ordered today. I went with the following for bulbs

Ati blue+
Ati Actinic
Ati coral+
Ati blue+
Giessman actinic
Ati blue+
Ati purple+
Ati blue+

I'm going to try this out because I have some new ati bulbs. I plan to also try out the redsea bulbs soon!

 

[Stoneyman]

I have an 8 bulb ATI fixture hanging over my 180 gal 72x24x36.
4 blue plus
2 purple plus
2 coral plus
I recently added Reefbright 5ft actinic led fixture for supplement. Id say it makes it pop an extra 10-20% when all the lights are on together. The real fun though is when all the lights go out and All your looking at is just the actinic. The tank glows like its painted with fluorescent paint and your using a blacklight. Totally worth it

 

[Rob&Gab]

Just put up a 36" reef bright hanging 17" about the water with our 8bulb on out 60g shallow.


Gonna run it 1hour before actinic a come on in the morning and leave them on 2hours after all lights go out

 

[wrimda]

What do you guys think of a 6 bulb combo of:

1. Blue +
2. Blue +
3. Reef spec 22k
4. Purple +
5 blue +
6. Blue +

Currently use 5 Blue +, and 1 ATI AB Special. Growth on SPS very good but lacks color.