T5/MH combo suggestions

[Aaron Stone]

I recently transferred out of a 28g nanocube into a 75g RR. I was given a used Hamilton T5/MH light, 2 x 250W MH with 2 x 54W T5. I replaced the Hamilton 14K MH with Phoenix 14k which I really like. The existing T5s are both Giessmann SuperActinics that I am thinking of replacing. The color is a little too baby blue for me and the orange, pinks, and reds aren't popping as much as I would like. Does anybody have any suggestions as to T5s to run with the Phoenix? With only 2 T5s is it okay to choose different bulbs, or should they both be the same? I was thinking about a BluePlus and a PurplePlus?

Thank you

 

[120reefkeeper]

I think the ATI's would be great!

 

[Salty1962]

ATI's are the best. I use the Blue+ and Purple+. Great PAR. The Purple+ will give you more Red spectrum. It really brings out the red and orange in my corals. Not too uch red to fuel algae IME.

 

[Aaron Stone]

So nobody sees any problems with running one BluePlus and one PurplePlus? It offends my sense of symmetry, but then most things do.

 

[Pete polyp]

I would actually recommend using the coral plus instead. It will warm the 14k up just a tad though

Now that I think about it the purple plus would warm it up anyways.

 

[Aaron Stone]

That is why I was lending towards the PurplePlus, hopefully to pull out some higher spectrum colors. Just don't know if I am going to get half a tank of PurplePlus and the other half BluePlus, or whether they will mix nicely.

 

[Aaron Stone]

Oh, and thank you all for your input.

 

[Pete polyp]

I have found coral plus to do a great job at pulling warmer colors out of sps.

 

[hybridazn]

Of your running just 2 4' bulbs over the tank I would go blue+ purple+. You will get the par and great color from the blue+ and pull out the reds more with the purple+

 

[Pete polyp]

Of your running just 2 4' bulbs over the tank I would go blue+ purple+. You will get the par and great color from the blue+ and pull out the reds more with the purple+

Think the purple + would pull more red than coral+?

 

[hybridazn]

Think the purple + would pull more red than coral+?

Not at all, but the coral+ will wash out the blue+ basically making it useless visually.

 

[Pete polyp]

Not at all, but the coral+ will wash out the blue+ basically making it useless visually.

I was more suggesting using 2 coral plus instead of the others.

 

[hybridazn]

I was more suggesting using 2 coral plus instead of the others.

Ooh, yea for the pop the OP is wanting I would run coral+

Obviously running these for both t5s will make the tank have a "whiter" look but should still look good.

 

[Pete polyp]

Ooh, yea for the pop the OP is wanting I would run coral+

Obviously running these for both t5s will make the tank have a "whiter" look but should still look good.

I'm kinda thinking a reverse light cycle. Instead of the t5 on first, off last and running halide for the bright period what about running the t5 for 6 hours and the halide 8?

 

[hybridazn]

I'm kinda thinking a reverse light cycle. Instead of the t5 on first, off last and running halide for the bright period what about running the t5 for 6 hours and the halide 8?

That would work fine, although for my own personal preference I would want a bluer look from the t5 for their photoperiod. Essentially you would be running 14 hours of 14k lighting with that schedule and coral+ bulbs and the Phoenix 14k's

 

[Pete polyp]

That would work fine, although for my own personal preference I would want a bluer look from the t5 for their photoperiod. Essentially you would be running 14 hours of 14k lighting with that schedule and coral+ bulbs and the Phoenix 14k's

I was meaning an 8 hour period with the t5s on for the middle 6 hours. I personally like the ability of looking at nothing but blue plus for a while, so it would be extremely hard for me to do.

 

[hybridazn]

I was meaning an 8 hour period with the t5s on for the middle 6 hours. I personally like the ability of looking at nothing but blue plus for a while, so it would be extremely hard for me to do.

I see, I would be curious to see the par readings during that schedule.

I am with you, I enjoy the blue+ as well

 

[zoomonster]

I was running a Hamilton with 14k's and ATI blue pluses and loved the color. I did try the Giesseman actinics too and hated them (gone in a week).

 

[120reefkeeper]

 

[120reefkeeper]

This is a nice comparison video for the different looks on all of those bulbs...