Time to order new bulbs

ChrisQ0904 · Jan 18, 2017

Well my time to order to t5 bulbs is coming up. I was wondering what is everyone's favorite bulb combo for an 8 bulb fixture?

I'm currently using an old power module (no led) and run the following combo and was wanting to change it up a bit for better color/growth. Tank is 36x24x20 (lwh) and sps only.

Current bulb set up

Front
---------------
Led royal blue supplement (outside of fixture)
Blue +
Coral +
Actinic
Purple +
Blue +
Actinic
Coral +
Blue +
Led royal blue supplement (outside of fixture)
---------------
Back

All input is appreciated

Diesel · Jan 18, 2017

You have enough for color but that won't give you the growth you want.
At least put one daylight bulb in there, the Gieseman Tropic does wonders.

ChrisQ0904 · Jan 18, 2017

Which one should I replace with the Gieseman tropic? I was also thinking of removing the actinic bulbs.

Diesel · Jan 18, 2017

ChrisQ0904 said:
Which one should I replace with the Gieseman tropic? I was also thinking of removing the actinic bulbs.

To replace the actinic for a tropic will work.

DereksReef77 · Jan 18, 2017

Aren't the coral+ daylight bulbs?

Bps619 · Jan 19, 2017

I'm running 6x blue + and 2x coral + and corals seems to like it. I see daily growth so I'm happy with it

ChrisQ0904 · Jan 19, 2017

Bps619 said:
I'm running 6x blue + and 2x coral + and corals seems to like it. I see daily growth so I'm happy with it

I think that will most likely be too blue for me, I like more of a "whiter" color. I like the color of my current bulb color, just trying to get more growth thats all.

alten78 · Jan 19, 2017

3x coral+ 3x blue+ for me, great color and growth. The color to my eyes looks exactly like how phoenix 14k and Radium MH look. Plus that's the combo Big E uses and he's got the best colors I've seen in person.

Diesel · Jan 19, 2017

DereksReef77 said:
Aren't the coral+ daylight bulbs?

Coral+ has some day light in it but it ain't beat the Tropic.

DereksReef77 · Jan 19, 2017

Diesel said:
Coral+ has some day light in it but it ain't beat the Tropic.

So then the aquablue special would be better than the coral+ . I only have ati bulbs.

ChrisQ0904 · Jan 19, 2017

I currently run all ati bulbs but am open to using other brands, especially if it will help with improved growth.

Diesel · Jan 19, 2017

DereksReef77 said:
So then the aquablue special would be better than the coral+ . I only have ati bulbs.

Better is what works for your tank, many ppl have all different combo's and one is better than the other what is forgetting here is how the balance of the tank is and water parameters.
Light is good but not the most important part to have corals looking good.
As mention before in a other thread I believe that 35+ years ago we didn't had all these lights and I was living in Europe that time and we were so much a head of the game and yet kept things alive but they didn't look as eye popping as corals do now.
What ever works for you eye and the tank appearance you'll be good.