T5 bulb combo

[JGoslee]

I'm trying to find the best bulb combo for the system I have. I currently have this retro kit over my frag tank.
http://www.reefgeek.com/lighting/T5...y_High-Output_Retrofit_Kit_w!_Bulbs_by_IceCap
These are the bulbs I have...
2 - uv super actinic
1 - uv 10k aquasun
1 - uv 12k

The tank looks mostly yellow. I would like to get a nice crisp white with a hint of blue. Anyone have any suggestions for what bulbs to use? Thanks for any help.

 

[Azurel]

I think most of the 10ks I have seen all seem to be real yellow in my opinion, I am changing over to MH/T-5 as well when I set up my 70g cube. I am going with Geisman(sp?) aquablue+ which is a 11k and seems to be a real nice icy white blue color and then I want to find the best actinic bulb I can find and have hear many different opinions on those. I have seen the Geisman bulbs in action and they look good, maybe a true actinic.....I would dump the 10k and go with the aquablue+ by geisman.....But I am a rookie when it comes to T-5, I can only go by what I have seen at my friends LFS......

 

[Ike]

I'm trying to find the best bulb combo for the system I have. I currently have this retro kit over my frag tank.
http://www.reefgeek.com/lighting/T5...y_High-Output_Retrofit_Kit_w!_Bulbs_by_IceCap
These are the bulbs I have...
2 - uv super actinic
1 - uv 10k aquasun
1 - uv 12k

The tank looks mostly yellow. I would like to get a nice crisp white with a hint of blue. Anyone have any suggestions for what bulbs to use? Thanks for any help.

I would suggest trying 2x ATI Aquablue and 2x ATI Blue+

 

[I-K@ndY]

Im running 2 ATI B+ with my 14k Ushio MH and wowoweeee....

 

[JGoslee]

I would suggest trying 2x ATI Aquablue and 2x ATI Blue+

Are you using this combo? I definitely don't want to much blue.

 

[THE BEAUT]

I would change one UVL sup act for an ATI blue+. This will make it a little bluer. I have a 6 bulb fixture and used to run 2 aquablue and 4 blue +. Now i run 2 ATI blue+, 2 ATI aquablue special, 1 UVL super actinic and 1 GE6500 and i like the new look much better. Not as blue as before.

 

[Ike]

Are you using this combo? I definitely don't want to much blue.

Well, from the names of the bulbs it would seem that it would be very blue, but it should be about 15-16k. I'm running the same bulb combo as The Beaut with a different actinic than his.

Another option would be to replace one actinic and the UV 12k with 2x Blue+. I think 2 actinics is uneccessary (especially with 4 bulbs) and you're just cutting down on potential light to grow things more quickly. The Blue+ has good par and it will also help get rid of some of the yellow in the tank.

 

[shred5]

I run front to back.

ati blue +
uvl super actinic
uvl aqua sun
ati blue +

that is around 12 to 14 k it seems....
If you want a little whiter change out a blue + for aquablue special.

 

[Azurel]

See as how you T-5 guys are here ....How are Geisman bulbs?

 

[shred5]

See as how you T-5 guys are here ....How are Geisman bulbs?

I beleive that Geisman and ATI have their bulbs manufactured by the same company, so they are pretty close.... i will see if I can find some more info.....


Dave

 

[Azurel]

Cool thanks, the LFS I deal with will sell them to me at cost, and was wondering if they were anygood or not....The other choices they can't/won't sell to me at cost......

 

[fishes2889]

Az- ATI & Geismann in my opinion are best choices. I was running ATI's but since first time changing bulbs i found a better deal on the Geismann's.

 

[Ike]

I beleive that Geisman and ATI have their bulbs manufactured by the same company, so they are pretty close.... i will see if I can find some more info.....


Dave

The ATI bulbs are superior across the board when it comes to par ratings. That doesn't eman they're bad bulbs, they're just not as good as the ATI.

 

[JGoslee]

My lfs carries the Geisman bulbs but they're pretty pricey. Is there a big difference between the ATI and Geisman?

 

[Ike]

My lfs carries the Geisman bulbs but they're pretty pricey. Is there a big difference between the ATI and Geisman?

Big enough that I'd suggest ordering the ATI bulbs from reefgeek.com.

 

[THE BEAUT]

I agree with Ike. Prices are about the same. But ATI is better.

 

[shred5]

The Grim Reaper on Reefcentral did par readings on the various lamps:

ATI

Sun Pro 357
Aquablue 336
Blue Plus 311
Actinic 137

D&D/Giesemann

Midday 325
Aquablue 324
Actinic Plus 264
Pure Actinic 157

UVL

Aqua sun 345
Actinic White 293
Super Actinic 210

AquaZ

Sun Pro 285
Ocean Pro 323
Blue Pro 266

Helios

Daylight 309
Super Blue 225

Current Sun Paq

Daylight 10K 272
Blue 252

GE Daylight 340

Dave

 

[JGoslee]

I ordered 2 blue plus and 2 aquablue ATI bulbs. Thanks guys.

 

[Ike]

I ordered 2 blue plus and 2 aquablue ATI bulbs. Thanks guys.

Even if you don't like the combo of those 4 all at once you should be able to play around with those and your current bulbs to find the balance you like.

 

[JGoslee]

Even if you don't like the combo of those 4 all at once you should be able to play around with those and your current bulbs to find the balance you like.

Yeah thats what I was thinking.