T5 light combo

[reefking807]

I have an 8x54 bulb t5 current Nova extreme and I need to know the very best Color combo for color and growth.

I really want to get a pop on my tank. The tank is a 100 Gallon oceanic.

 

[Reefing Madness]

6 True Blue
2 True Actinics

 

[rjcranor]

I would go 4 blue 2 purple and 2 10k

 

[reefking807]

What a Fiji for some of the red pop

 

[jeremy]

5 blue plus 2 coral plus 1 purple plus.

 

[JMSKI333]

On my 6x54w t5 I have

4x ATI blue +
1x ATI Coral +
1x ATI Purple +

It does everything you want it to do. Awesome par, awesome color, great "pop".

If I had an 8 bulb t5, I would run something like this:

4x ATI Blue +
1x ATI Purple +
2x ATI Coral +
1x ATI Actinic +

T5 owners sometimes feel like we need 6 different bulbs to get great color. I like the KISS method and it gives you a much more crisp look. To many cooks in the kitchen and it gets messy.

 

[newe70]

On my 6x54w t5 I have

4x ATI blue +
1x ATI Coral +
1x ATI Purple +

It does everything you want it to do. Awesome par, awesome color, great "pop".


I have a new ati 48" 6x54w dim t5, with ati bulbs: two blue pluses, two atinics, one coral plus and one purple plus. I had a great color pop for the actinic bulbs used as sunrise and sunset. I also just ordered two more blue pluses and try to play around with the combo. How do you arrange ur 4 blue pluses, coral and purple plus from front to back. Thx.

 

[JMSKI333]

I have a new ati 48" 6x54w dim t5, with ati bulbs: two blue pluses, two atinics, one coral plus and one purple plus. I had a great color pop for the actinic bulbs used as sunrise and sunset. I also just ordered two more blue pluses and try to play around with the combo. How do you arrange ur 4 blue pluses, coral and purple plus from front to back. Thx.

I mix it up, but currently I do:

Front

Blue+
Blue+
Purple +
Coral +
Blue +
Blue +

Back

 

[newe70]

I mix it up, but currently I do:

Front

Blue+
Blue+
Purple +
Coral +
Blue +
Blue +

Back

Sounds like a nice combo for growth and coloration. Thx.

 

[Chrissy]

Can you guys post pics with your bulb combos? I run ATI bulbs and would love to see what other combinations look like.

Currently, I have:
Coral+
Blue+
Aquablue special
Purple+
Coral+
Blue+

 

[gtbarsi]

Can you guys post pics with your bulb combos? I run ATI bulbs and would love to see what other combinations look like.

Currently, I have:
Coral+
Blue+
Aquablue special
Purple+
Coral+
Blue+

WOW that is a really nice looking tank, and the color pop is HUGE! Is the image completely unaltered? If so I think I am going to forget about LEDs and just go T5

 

[Chrissy]

WOW that is a really nice looking tank, and the color pop is HUGE! Is the image completely unaltered? If so I think I am going to forget about LEDs and just go T5

I don't know how to use anything but the auto setting on my camera yet, so I have to edit the pic with Fotor after to make it look as close to what I see as I can. There are still colors like my orange plate that are completely washed out in the edited one.
Here's the original...

 

[reefking807]

I've had leds ND they don't grow anything but sps for me. So I'm going to t5 for all around growth and pop

 

[gtbarsi]

I don't know how to use anything but the auto setting on my camera yet, so I have to edit the pic with Fotor after to make it look as close to what I see as I can. There are still colors like my orange plate that are completely washed out in the edited one.
Here's the original...

Even so, your original looks nice, much better than most of the LED lit tanks look with out editing...
Do you have your lights broken in to channels or dimming, if so how are you running them?
The sunrise / sunset, easy on the fish light management is something that I really liked with LEDs I have on my tank now.

 

[J062682l]

I'm in the same boat. I'm about to change my bulbs and was wondering what 4 bulbs I should use and what combination. I was told
2 true blue
1 coral plus
1purple plus.
Was told to keep the blues on my morning and night schedule. What's your advices ??

 

[Chrissy]

Even so, your original looks nice, much better than most of the LED lit tanks look with out editing...
Do you have your lights broken in to channels or dimming, if so how are you running them?
The sunrise / sunset, easy on the fish light management is something that I really liked with LEDs I have on my tank now.

I only have one switch for the T5s and then another for the blue LED moonlights. All T5s turn on at noon and off at 10:30 pm and I only turn the moonlights on maybe 2 times a week for an hour at a time after the t5s turn off so I can can watch the tank at night. I wish it came with switches to at least separate the blue and white T5s like the ones on my 20 gallon tanks.

 

[Texas Reefer]

Chrissy, that is beautiful! I'm going to have to buy some new bulbs now!

 

[reefking807]

OK so here is my thing. I have this current light setup and don't like it. I want more of a blue color with the same par.
Actinic
Purple +
Blue +
Blue +
Aquablue +
Coral +
Blue +
Actinic

Front to back.

 

[Pete polyp]

You could try dropping the aquablue special and one actinic for a blue + and another coral +. You may actually gain par with doing so

 

[Pete polyp]

I currently have 3 blue+, 1 purple+, 1 coral+ and one pure actinic. When I change bulbs I will be dropping the purple+ and replacing with blue+ or coral+. I really need to dig out my old bulbs and try them out to see which one I like better with this combo.