Combination of T5 Bulbs?

[MizTanks]

In a fixture of t5ho's 4x24 in a 26g bow front. What would be the best combination of bulbs to run to give the corals most of what they would need to be healthy?

[SaltCreeps]

it depends on what you are growing and what color you like but i would go with 1 10k 1 14k 2 20ks or 2 14ks and 2 20ks

[MizTanks]

it depends on what you are growing and what color you like but i would go with 1 10k 1 14k 2 20ks or 2 14ks and 2 20ks

Any specific color compo?

[MyNemesis]

I would go with 3 ATI Aqua Blue Plus and one Aqua Blue Special. These are great bulbs and have comparable PAR values. So, it is just a matter of personal preference as to the color you want. Two of each is a little white for me. I currently have four Blue Plus and two Blue Specials.

[MizTanks]

Thanks guys! Another question. Where on-line can I order these? Would A&M Aquatics have them? Our LFS orders from them :) if not then where?


There is nothing like being a REEFER!

[MyNemesis]

They're about the best bulbs out there, most everyone carries them. www.aquacave.com has them for about $20.00 a bulb and reasonable shipping.

[MizTanks]

They're about the best bulbs out there, most everyone carries them. www.aquacave.com has them for about $20.00 a bulb and reasonable shipping.

I'm not seeing the ATI's. UV's? And some other name but no on the ATI's.


There is nothing like being a REEFER!

[MizTanks]

Never mind I found em. So I'm looking at 3x12000k blue special and 1x blue plus. Sound good?

What are the purple and actinics for? There's no chart for them.

P.s. It's 4:40a.m. This shopping has me twisted inside out. But I am learning! My brain pain shows it :/

[steve&mari]

Blue plus are attinc the aquablue spec.are a daylight bulb. 3blue plus 1aquablue spec. Is what I think ya are lookin for or 3blueplus and 1purple plus. Purple plus is also a daylight.

[MizTanks]

Thank you very much! By the time I'm done with this build, I just may be able to start helping others:)

[steve&mari]

Its all the fun of the hobby. Learning n helping eachother along the way. First sw I did was bout 21 yrs ago and a lifetime ago lol. The changes from then to now make things so much better for what we keep and how we enjoy the hobby. I hope you enjoy every step and always glad to try to help but I'm a newbee aswell cause you always need to learn:)
Steve

[cg5071]

I was going to suggest aquacave too. Cant really beat their shipping for bulbs. The purple bulb really does bring out some colors that the blues dont. I would deffinately add one of those. Purple is supposed to show off fish color also.

[MizTanks]

You guys are killing me :silly: let me get this straight~2xblue+ 1xblue special~1xpurple. How's that?
We're forgetting something here guys~what am I using for dawn and dusk?

[cg5071]

That combo is what I would pick,lol. ^^^
I dont know what you are using for dawn/dusk? Does your fixture have 2 powercords? If so I guess I would put the blue plus on one switch and the other 2 on the other.

[MizTanks]

I'm using aquaticlife x4 one cord digital timer x3 settings. I'm just saying I'm used to having just 2 bulbs, using the actenic for dawn/dusk.
I'm trying to learn about lamps and how they work. I've never used t5 nor the different colors and how they pertain to the growth and lighting. I'm just now kind of understanding about different spectrum's.

[lionhead]

If you talking about the purple bulb that ATI has, they just came out with it to compete with KZ fiji pink bulb. It is suppose to enhance your blues,purples and red pigments in your corals. I would not go with the purple bulb unless you are running more than 4 bulbs. I would stick with two blue+ and two blue specials and that will cover most of what you want to achieve.

[floydie83]

Yup 2 blue +, 1 AB special, and 1 Purple + is what I would run, its going to get as close as you can for hitting the full spectrum in a 4 bulb fixture really.

If you have 3 settings on the timer, I would run the blue+ to come on 1st, the purple to come on next and like 15 min after purple turn the ab special on.... then just reverse it for off (so ab special off 1st, purple off 2nd then blue off last ;) which will do good for a dusk dawn setting IMO :)

Also another thing you could do would be buy one of those lunar led pods and connect that to turn on when the others all turn off (or even just leave it on all day) if you turn it on only when other lights are off use that for the 3rd setting on timer and just run the purple and ab special to turn on/off at the same time instead of the slight stagger I mentioned above ;)

I would go with something like this too. I run a six bulb fixture with moonlights and follow this schedule:

Moonlights: Always on

1xBlue Plus and 1xFiji Purple 10am-10pm
3xBlue Plus and 1x6500k 11 am-9pm

I like to use this guys bulb combos. He has put together a nice site all about T5.

http://home.comcast.net/~stevelarsen00/site/?/home/&PHPSESSID=7f0dc096e72bd888267bac7577f39ced

[MizTanks]

To much info here guys :hypnotized: what about this? 2plus~1special and 1purple?

[floydie83]

To much info here guys :hypnotized: what about this? 2plus~1special and 1purple?

perfect! order em...

[MizTanks]

perfect! order em...

Thank you! I was getting mighty dizzy :stars: