what bulbs for a halid t5 combo ?

[Lentzjj]

I recently purchased a 46 gal bowfront setup that came with a odyssea Metal Halide t5 light.
He told me the bulbs were all a year and a half old atleast so I figured they are due. What bulbs would you recommend for both the halide and t5s? I know this light doesn't have great reviews but I have to use it for now. I got a killer deal on the setup.

 

[Zero Nitrates]

The MH T5 combo is great. Add a blue LED to it and your coral will pop.
My set up is MH for 6 hours. T5s are all actinic for 9 hours. Reefbrite LEDs for 12 hours.

 

[Lentzjj]

It does have the led moon lights but that's it. Are you talking a led tube instead of one of the t5s? I takes 1 halid and 4 t5 bulbs.
My other tank I'm running AI hydra 26hd. I love the leds but I'm going to try to do a grow out with similar pieces when I'm set up.

 

[Zero Nitrates]

You could do 4 actinic T5s and a Reefbrite blue LED strip. Thats how mine is set up.
There are many different T5 bulb combinations that work well. That's just what I like.
I'm sure others will chime in with the T5 combo they prefer.

 

[120reefkeeper]

Ati makes some awesome T-5 bulbs! Here are a couple of videos to help you choose what's right for you.

 

[GoVols]

I recently purchased a 46 gal bowfront setup that came with a odyssea Metal Halide t5 light.
He told me the bulbs were all a year and a half old atleast so I figured they are due. What bulbs would you recommend for both the halide and t5s? I know this light doesn't have great reviews but I have to use it for now. I got a killer deal on the setup.

I don't have a "clue" about your particular fixture... but if a Radium 20K works with it then jump on it
All I used to run in my MH days.
I love mh/t5 and is "still" the gold standard in reef lighting.

 

[GoVols]

I wish I could find one of those BIG dome mh fixtures we had in 90's.
I could walk that thing in the house like I was serious about hanging it and my wife would be like **** NO!

 

[saltyfilmfolks]

Soooo many opinions on color. Pretty much I think its the Phoenix 14k and the Radium 20k that are the easiest and prob most reliable brand to find now.
Id pick a color of Mh and complement that with some pop.. Both MH crow coral great, if that's what you were about to ask.

 

[DereksReef77]

Well since you will be burning a mh bulb I would probably go with 4 ATI Blue+ or 3 Blue+ and a purple+. As far as the MH goes I know somebody mentioned the Radium 20k which I am sure would look nice but if you are interested in growth or faster growth I would go with a lower Kelvin bulb like a 14k myself.

 

[saltyfilmfolks]

Well since you will be burning a mh bulb I would probably go with 4 ATI Blue+ or 3 Blue+ and a purple+. As far as the MH goes I know somebody mentioned the Radium 20k which I am sure would look nice but if you are interested in growth or faster growth I would go with a lower Kelvin bulb like a 14k myself.

yea that would be a good looking combo.

My wife would prefer to add the 20k MH though.

 

[DereksReef77]

yea that would be a good looking combo.

My wife would prefer to add the 20k MH though.

Yes I know these days everybody is concerned or infatuated with the bluest tank they can get and in my opinion you better be running something other than just blue cause the corals aren't going to thrive, they may survive but long term they won't thrive and grow into huge colonies. Just my experience in my own systems.

 

[GoVols]

yea that would be a good looking combo.

My wife would prefer to add the 20k MH though.

LOL
+1

 

[saltyfilmfolks]

LOL
+1

hahaha.
Shhh... theres a coralife 250w pendant on ebay $100. I have the 150w version. SMOOOOOTH. and double the output of other fixtures of the same wattage. OMG.
You wife will love it!

 

[GoVols]

Well since you will be burning a mh bulb I would probably go with 4 ATI Blue+ or 3 Blue+ and a purple+. As far as the MH goes I know somebody mentioned the Radium 20k which I am sure would look nice but if you are interested in growth or faster growth I would go with a lower Kelvin bulb like a 14k myself.

Agree with ya.
The 14k would give faster growth.
I was always willing to up some growth rate for the radion 20k color.
Either way OP's mh/t5 will "Getter Done"

 

[Zero Nitrates]

+1 on the 14k MH

 

[GoVols]

hahaha.
Shhh... theres a coralife 250w pendant on ebay $100. I have the 150w version. SMOOOOOTH. and double the output of other fixtures of the same wattage. OMG.
You wife will love it!

OMG, It is on ebay!
If I brought a few of them home, my "30 year old marriage" could be toast before I got the latter from the garage.

 

[Lentzjj]

Ati makes some awesome T-5 bulbs! Here are a couple of videos to help you choose what's right for you.

thank you that's a great help on what to decide

 

[GoVols]

+1 on the 14k MH

lol
I'm so old we didn't have t5 to mix when mh came out. That radium 20k was like a dream come true for me.
People said that bulb would blind your fish. lol

 

[Lentzjj]

so 14k on the halid and a mix on ati t5s based on color.......going to spend almost as much on bulbs as I did for the entire setup including tank stand sump pumps wavemakers and lights lol.....still cheaper then my AI prime though lol

 

[Zero Nitrates]

Ha ha!
I started with power compacts Remember those