T-5 bulb arrangement

[Dvon0605]

I just got my 6x39 watt Nova Extreme Pro, and the stock bulbs are a bit too white for my taste. What six bubs should I get? I'm looking to get it a little bluer than a Phoenix 14k bulb, but still be able to keep some low light sps. Thanks

Deven

 

[pookstreet]

What's your current configuration of bulbs?

 

[Dvon0605]

It's just the stock bulbs and they are alternating blue / white. I'm looking to get new bulbs for it. If anyone has pics of their T-5 setups that would be great!

 

[afelder]

You could try 3X aquablue+(geismann)1X UVL superactinic and 1Xaquasun(geismann) That would give you a reasonably blue spectrum. And you would still have pretty good PAR

 

[Dvon0605]

It's only a six bulb fixture though

 

[afelder]

sorry I meant 1superactinic and 1aquasun

 

[pookstreet]

You could try 3X aquablue+(geismann)2X UVL superactinic and 2Xaquasun(geismann) That would give you a reasonably blue spectrum. And you would still have pretty good PAR

LOL...........Ariel, it's not even Xmas yet and you are already wasted. Sober up and count again man :hahaha:

 

[Dvon0605]

Oh ok. Do you think I'd be able to keep acros with that configuration?

 

[pookstreet]

Just replace couple of the white bulbs with superactinics. Replacing all would be too expensive.

 

[pookstreet]

Oh ok. Do you think I'd be able to keep acros with that configuration?

Dude, I've kept SPS under PC's before with success. T5HO's are way more intense lighting. You won't have an issue keeping most SPS.

 

[Dvon0605]

Just replace couple of the white bulbs with superactinics. Replacing all would be too expensive.

Ok, so I should just replace two white bulbs with superactinics, and leave 1 white and 3 blue bulbs?

 

[afelder]

LOL...........Ariel, it's not even Xmas yet and you are already wasted. Sober up and count again man :hahaha:

I don't have to take this abuse I have hundreds of people line up every day just to abuse me. Now back to the purpose of the thread before someone hijacked it to harass me

Oh ok. Do you think I'd be able to keep acros with that configuration?

I think you would be able to keep acros in the top half of the tank. I run 2Xaqualblue+(geismann ) 2X aquasun(UVL) 1UVL Superactinic & 1 actinic white and my combo looks close to 10K. The par readings for t-5's on the aquablue grouping are deceptive because the PAR detector used is least accurate in the spectrum that they produce the highest output. A couple people believe that the aquablues are more powerful than the aquasun. Not sure about that one myself

 

[Dvon0605]

Ok, cool. I only plan on having a few colonies anyways

 

[primetime]

You can keep SPS with T5's for sure.
This is my config..

Front
ATI Blue+
UVL Super Actinic (better PAR than the Geismann pure Actinic)
UVL AquaSun (Pops the reds and yellows in your corals and also good for growth)
ATI Blue+
ATI Pro Color (Pops the reds and yellows in your corals)
ATI Blue+


This config gives me a bluer look but the procolor and aquasun bring out the reds and greens real nice. Geismann bulbs do not give out as much PAR as the ATI bulbs. The Blue+ will give you the added blue look that you are looking for and will also wash out the yellow look that the aqua suns will give to the tank. Aquablues are more of a white bulb with a slight hint of blue. Just my 2 cents.

HTH

 

[mikedege]

URI are decent bulbs(altho, i like ATI the best). I have an 8 bulb setup on my 120G, and Its really gonna depend on your tastes. I played around with many different bulbs/placements. On my tank I have.

front
URI superactinic
ATI Blueplus
GE day or Geismann Midday(6000k or 6500K)
ATI aquablue
ATI Blueplus
URI Aquasun (pinkish tint)
GE day or Geismann Midday(6000k or 6500K)
URI superactinic
back

its really all personal preference for the look you are shooting for.

I really like these bulbs
ATI blueplus (better than Giessman actinic+ imo)
ATI aquablue
URI Superactinic (better than Gies pure actinic imo)
GE day 6000k (i like slightly better than Giess midday imo)
URI aquasun (pinkish tint) (instead of 2 aquablues, i prefer 1 ATI aquablue+1 URI aquasun)

I had to play with about 3 different configurations, and bulb placements(placement is critical) to achieve what I was looking for. Also, 8 bulbs is alot of light. You'll be suprised. I was. Right now I actually run 6 most of the time, and turn the other 2 on for 1/2 of my light cycle. And it is only actinic/blueplus.

in short, I would recommend
2 ati blueplus
1 ati aquablue
1 uri aquasun
2 GE day, or geis midday
2 uri superactinic

and play with different configs. But once again, its all up to personal preference, if you want more blue, add more blueplus or move more towards the front, or if you want more white, add more aquablue or move to the front, or nuetral(slight yellowish tint) move GE day more towards front or possibly use GE 3000k in place of 1 GE day.

good luck,hope this helps.

-Mike

 

[primetime]

Spot on Mike!
It is amatter of personal taste.
URI is the same as UVL correct?

 

[pookstreet]

Man, it sure can get expensive playing with bulb choices. This is where experience from fellow reefers come in handy. At least you have a decent start. Good job Brock and Mike. And good luck Deven.

 

[mikedege]

URI is the same as UVL correct?

yep.roud:

also,when I first started out with T5's everybody said.
"50% aquablue + 50% blueplus"
they couldn't have been more wrong, imo.
it was Wayyyyyyy to white! next thing you know
15 bulbs later, and I figured it out! Kennys right this is
one expensive hobby.

have a great holiday.
-Mike:beer:

 

[mikedege]

Oh btw Devon, for a 6 bulb setup.
id personally go with:

front
URI superactinic
GE day or Geismann Midday(6000k or 6500K)
ATI Blueplus
URI Aquasun (pinkish tint) or ATI aquablue
URI superactinic
ATI Blueplus
back

oh, if still too white, swap the GE day with GE 3000K, and run the aquasun instead of aquablue.

this should be enuf light for SPS, heck in my T5-4-bulb tank, i can keep sps. They just dont color up as well. But a 6-bulb should be fine. imo.

good luck, Mike:top:

 

[Dvon0605]

Ok, thanks guys. I was just looking for a general configuration before I went out and spent all that money on bulbs. It seems like most configurations have 2 ATI blueplus an one GE 6500K.

Question: Is the URI Superactinic a really blue bulb, or purple? Thanks

Deven