T5 bulbs

calvo15290 · Feb 8, 2013

Hey can any tell me all if the reef bulbs I want the best groth n cool colors I have a 6 bulb fixture n LEDs

Andrew calvo

gmoney243 · Feb 8, 2013

4 ati blue+ 1 ati purple plus 1 ati coral plus

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nerdwolf · Feb 9, 2013

gmoney243 said:
4 ati blue+ 1 ati purple plus 1 ati coral plus

I don't know anything about this from experience like you probably do, but the stuff I've been reading says white or yellow spectrum is best for growth and blues were more for color enhancement - is that wrong? Maybe if you're feeding your corals, they don't need much white or yellow to grow? Still learning here. I had a pair of ati blue+ bulbs on my tank for a couple weeks before I got the LEDs, and I really liked the color they put out combined with a 14k halide.

gmoney243 · Feb 9, 2013

The purple and coral plus are full spectrum daylight bulbs. In nature only shallow reef corals see red/yellow spectrum and its really for color. The water filters out those colors pretty fast. Something like beyond just 5-10meters only blue/purple spectrum are all thats left. Test have shown corals use blue/purple for growth red does nothing for growth. Theres some articles on advanced aquarist online about those tests.

As i recall at least.

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calvo15290 · Feb 9, 2013

Thank y'all so much for the advice n I have 12000k

Andrew calvo

gmoney243 · Feb 9, 2013

Are u using stock bulbs? If so man u wont believe the difference good reef bulbs make in colors and growth. My old t5 I had stock deep blue bulbs and went to ati and was a completely different tank haha

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calvo15290 · Feb 9, 2013

I thank shock bulbs it's atanic

Andrew calvo

nerdwolf · Feb 9, 2013

gmoney243 said:
The purple and coral plus are full spectrum daylight bulbs. In nature only shallow reef corals see red/yellow spectrum and its really for color. The water filters out those colors pretty fast. Something like beyond just 5-10meters only blue/purple spectrum are all thats left. Test have shown corals use blue/purple for growth red does nothing for growth.

I read the articles but most of the time they're over my head. I trust the advice here more than I trust myself to correctly interpret those articles. Thanks for explaining that, it helps a lot.

gmoney243 · Feb 9, 2013

A lot of them are to deep for me too haha
Stock actinic bulbs dont show color well at all. Man u will b blown away when U get ati bulbs.

Ati blue plus bulbs are some of the higest par bulbs around and give off great blue color and pop on corals. The combo above i mentioned should give a nice 20K look

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Dowtish · Feb 10, 2013

I have 3 ATI blue+ 1 geissmen actinic+ (which is about the same PAR as the blue+) and 2 ATI coral+ and I have a an all blue LED strip. Mine is definitely more 20K. All blue except the coral+

calvo15290 · Feb 10, 2013

Well I do the ati help coral groth or is it just look I want good coral groth n amazing color I have 6 bulbs to work with n it's a mix reef so soft lps and soon some sps I have 2 monticaps there doing good n I have 20 LEDs

Andrew calvo

gmoney243 · Feb 10, 2013

both the combos suggested will do what u want. give great color and growth.

calvo15290 · Feb 10, 2013

Okay thanks!

n I got a snail ill trade it's huge n I am wanting a emerald or a arrow crab

Andrew calvo

jmann124 · Feb 10, 2013

gmoney243 said:
4 ati blue+ 1 ati purple plus 1 ati coral plus

This a good set up. Really a good look. Although I like the Korallen Zucht Fiji purple over the purple+.

My bulbs are, front to back
ATI blue +
Blue+
Fiji purple
ATI coral+
Blue+
Blue+

calvo15290 · Feb 10, 2013

Wb the k bulbs don't you need those or are they just for the wight?

Andrew calvo

jmann124 · Feb 10, 2013

calvo15290 said:
Wb the k bulbs don't you need those or are they just for the wight?

Andrew calvo

I think you're meaning bulbs like 12000K. That set up that a few of us posted will the Kelvin temps that you need.

calvo15290 · Feb 10, 2013

So I don't need them?

Andrew calvo

jmann124 · Feb 10, 2013

Go with the set up that gmoney and myself posted. That'll cover what your corals need and what looks good.

Just remember to acclimate your tank slowly. Don't go blasting it with new light at full schedule first thing. That could cause some problems. From coral health to algae.