Please help w/ T5 lighting choices

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jetchris

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I have decided to go with this fixture.

tek_light_8-bulb.jpg
alt="" /></a>
http://www.reefgeek.com/lighting/T5_Fluorescent/Sunlight_Supply/Tek_Light_Fixtures/48_inch__Tek_Light:_8-54W_T5_High-Output_Fixture_with_Bulbs_by_Sunlight_Supply"><span style="color: #800080;">48" Tek Light: 8-54W T5 High-Output Fixture with Bulbs</span></a>
by Sunlight Supply
List Price: $626.95
Our Price: $529.95
The price includes 8ea T5 bulbs of my choice. I am not sure about which lights to get can you give me a good lighting setup choice. I am looking for a basic color scheme , maybe a little blue not to white looking. Here are the bulbs I have to choose from.

<ul>
<li>[IMG]http://www.reefgeek.com/lighting/Replacement_Bulbs/T5_Fluorescent/39W_Super_Actinic_T5_HO_Fluorescent_by_UV_Lighting">[IMG]http://www.reefgeek.com/reefgeek/7037/super_actinic.jpg alt="" /></a></li>
<li>http://www.reefgeek.com/lighting/Replacement_Bulbs/T5_Fluorescent/39W_Super_Actinic_T5_HO_Fluorescent_by_UV_Lighting"><span style="color: #0000ff;">39W Super Actinic T5 HO Fluorescent</span></a></li>
<li>by UV Lighting</li>
<li>Our Price: $21.95</li>
</ul><ul>
<li>[IMG]http://www.reefgeek.com/lighting/Replacement_Bulbs/T5_Fluorescent/54W_12000K_Aquablue_Special_T5_HO_Fluorescent_by_ATI">[IMG]http://www.reefgeek.com/reefgeek/6860/T5_aquablue.jpg alt="" /></a></li>
<li>http://www.reefgeek.com/lighting/Replacement_Bulbs/T5_Fluorescent/54W_12000K_Aquablue_Special_T5_HO_Fluorescent_by_ATI"><span style="color: #0000ff;">54W 12000K Aquablue Special T5 HO Fluorescent</span></a></li>
<li>by ATI</li>
<li>Our Price: $21.95</li>
</ul><ul>
<li>[IMG]http://www.reefgeek.com/lighting/Replacement_Bulbs/T5_Fluorescent/54W_Blue_Plus_T5_HO_Fluorescent_by_ATI">[IMG]http://www.reefgeek.com/reefgeek/6858/T5_blue_plus.jpg alt="" /></a></li>
<li>http://www.reefgeek.com/lighting/Replacement_Bulbs/T5_Fluorescent/54W_Blue_Plus_T5_HO_Fluorescent_by_ATI"><span style="color: #0000ff;">54W Blue Plus T5 HO Fluorescent</span></a></li>
<li>by ATI</li>
<li>Our Price: $20.95</li>
</ul><ul>
<li>[IMG]http://www.reefgeek.com/lighting/Replacement_Bulbs/T5_Fluorescent/54W_3000K_Daylight_T5_HO_Fluorescent_by_General_Electric">[IMG]http://www.reefgeek.com/reefgeek/6671/3000K_daylight.jpg alt="" /></a></li>
<li>http://www.reefgeek.com/lighting/Replacement_Bulbs/T5_Fluorescent/54W_3000K_Daylight_T5_HO_Fluorescent_by_General_Electric"><span style="color: #0000ff;">54W 3000K Daylight T5 HO Fluorescent</span></a></li>
<li>by General Electric</li>
<li>Our Price: $12.95</li>
</ul><ul>
<li>[IMG]http://www.reefgeek.com/lighting/Replacement_Bulbs/T5_Fluorescent/54W_6500K_Sun_Pro_T5_HO_Fluorescent_by_ATI">[IMG]http://www.reefgeek.com/reefgeek/7216/T5_sun_pro.jpg alt="" /></a></li>
<li>http://www.reefgeek.com/lighting/Replacement_Bulbs/T5_Fluorescent/54W_6500K_Sun_Pro_T5_HO_Fluorescent_by_ATI"><span style="color: #0000ff;">54W 6500K Sun Pro T5 HO Fluorescent</span></a></li>
<li>by ATI</li>
<li>Our Price: $20.95</li>
</ul><ul>
<li>[IMG]http://www.reefgeek.com/lighting/Replacement_Bulbs/T5_Fluorescent/54W_6500K_Daylight_T5_HO_Fluorescent_by_General_Electric">[IMG]http://www.reefgeek.com/reefgeek/6567/6500K_daylight.jpg alt="" /></a></li>
<li>http://www.reefgeek.com/lighting/Replacement_Bulbs/T5_Fluorescent/54W_6500K_Daylight_T5_HO_Fluorescent_by_General_Electric"><span style="color: #0000ff;">54W 6500K Daylight T5 HO Fluorescent</span></a></li>
<li>by General Electric</li>
<li>Our Price: $12.95[LIST]</li>
<li>[IMG]http://www.reefgeek.com/lighting/Replacement_Bulbs/T5_Fluorescent/54W_6000K_Midday_Sun_T5_HO_Fluorescent_by_Giesemann">[IMG]http://www.reefgeek.com/reefgeek/6838/T5_midday_sun.jpg alt="" /></a></li>
<li>http://www.reefgeek.com/lighting/Replacement_Bulbs/T5_Fluorescent/54W_6000K_Midday_Sun_T5_HO_Fluorescent_by_Giesemann"><span style="color: #0000ff;">54W 6000K Midday Sun T5 HO Fluorescent</span></a></li>
<li>by Giesemann</li>
<li>Our Price: $18.95</li>
</ul><ul>
<li>[IMG]http://www.reefgeek.com/lighting/Replacement_Bulbs/T5_Fluorescent/54W_11000K_Aquablue_Plus_T5_HO_Fluorescent_by_Giesemann">[IMG]http://www.reefgeek.com/reefgeek/6840/T5_aquablue.jpg alt="" /></a></li>
<li>http://www.reefgeek.com/lighting/Replacement_Bulbs/T5_Fluorescent/54W_11000K_Aquablue_Plus_T5_HO_Fluorescent_by_Giesemann"><span style="color: #0000ff;">54W 11000K Aquablue Plus T5 HO Fluorescent</span></a></li>
<li>by Giesemann</li>
<li>Our Price: $21.95</li>
</ul><ul>
<li>[IMG]http://www.reefgeek.com/lighting/Replacement_Bulbs/T5_Fluorescent/54W_Actinic_Plus_T5_HO_Fluorescent_by_Giesemann">[IMG]http://www.reefgeek.com/reefgeek/6842/T5_actinic_plus.jpg alt="" /></a></li>
<li>http://www.reefgeek.com/lighting/Replacement_Bulbs/T5_Fluorescent/54W_Actinic_Plus_T5_HO_Fluorescent_by_Giesemann"><span style="color: #0000ff;">54W Actinic Plus T5 HO Fluorescent</span></a></li>
<li>by Giesemann</li>
<li>Our Price: $20.95</li>
</ul>[/LIST]
 
Here are some more bulbs
<ul>
<li>
T5_pure_actinic.jpg
alt="" /></a></li>
<li>http://www.reefgeek.com/lighting/Replacement_Bulbs/T5_Fluorescent/54W_Pure_Actinic_03_T5_HO_Fluorescent_by_Giesemann"><span style="color: #0000ff;">54W Pure Actinic 03 T5 HO Fluorescent</span></a></li>
<li>by Giesemann</li>
<li>Our Price: $25.95</li>
</ul><ul>
<li>[IMG]http://www.reefgeek.com/lighting/Replacement_Bulbs/T5_Fluorescent/54W_Super_Actinic_Blue_03_T5_HO_Fluorescent_by_Sfiligoi">[IMG]http://www.reefgeek.com/reefgeek/7069/imageunavailable.gif" alt="" /></a></li>
<li>[IMG]http://www.reefgeek.com/lighting/Replacement_Bulbs/T5_Fluorescent/54W_Super_Actinic_Blue_03_T5_HO_Fluorescent_by_Sfiligoi"><span style="color: #0000ff;">54W Super Actinic Blue 03 T5 HO Fluorescent</span></a></li>
<li>by Sfiligoi</li>
<li>Our Price: $25.95</li>
</ul><ul>
<li>[IMG]http://www.reefgeek.com/lighting/Replacement_Bulbs/T5_Fluorescent/54W_10000K_AquaSun_T5_HO_Fluorescent_by_UV_Lighting">[IMG]http://www.reefgeek.com/reefgeek/7039/aquasun.jpg alt="" /></a></li>
<li>http://www.reefgeek.com/lighting/Replacement_Bulbs/T5_Fluorescent/54W_10000K_AquaSun_T5_HO_Fluorescent_by_UV_Lighting"><span style="color: #0000ff;">54W 10000K AquaSun T5 HO Fluorescent</span></a></li>
<li>by UV Lighting</li>
<li>Our Price: $21.95</li>
</ul>
 
<ul>
<li>
T5_aquablue.jpg
alt="" /></a></li>
<li>http://www.reefgeek.com/lighting/Replacement_Bulbs/T5_Fluorescent/80W_12000K_Aquablue_Special_T5_HO_Fluorescent_by_ATI"><span style="color: #0000ff;">80W 12000K Aquablue Special T5 HO Fluorescent</span></a></li>
<li>by ATI</li>
<li>Our Price: $24.95</li>
</ul><ul>
<li>[IMG]http://www.reefgeek.com/lighting/Replacement_Bulbs/T5_Fluorescent/80W_Blue_Plus_T5_HO_Fluorescent_by_ATI">[IMG]http://www.reefgeek.com/reefgeek/6856/T5_blue_plus.jpg alt="" /></a></li>
<li>http://www.reefgeek.com/lighting/Replacement_Bulbs/T5_Fluorescent/80W_Blue_Plus_T5_HO_Fluorescent_by_ATI"><span style="color: #0000ff;">80W Blue Plus T5 HO Fluorescent</span></a></li>
<li>by ATI</li>
<li>Our Price: $22.95</li>
</ul><ul>
<li>[IMG]http://www.reefgeek.com/lighting/Replacement_Bulbs/T5_Fluorescent/80W_3000K_Daylight_T5_HO_Fluorescent_by_General_Electric">[IMG]http://www.reefgeek.com/reefgeek/6673/3000K_daylight.jpg alt="" /></a></li>
<li>http://www.reefgeek.com/lighting/Replacement_Bulbs/T5_Fluorescent/80W_3000K_Daylight_T5_HO_Fluorescent_by_General_Electric"><span style="color: #0000ff;">80W 3000K Daylight T5 HO Fluorescent</span></a></li>
<li>by General Electric</li>
<li>Our Price: $15.95</li>
</ul>
 
Also if anyone knows where I can get this fixture and lights for cheaper - please chime in :)

Thanks for your help
 
ReefGeek is pretty awesome. That is where I got all of my T5 lights. What kind of ballasts does this come with? I could not tell from the website besides "built in electronic ballasts" You might want to call and ask if the bulbs are overdriven like how the IceCap 660 ballast runs the bulbs. When I switched to the IC 660 ballast I really could see a huge jump in light. It is definately worth it and really makes the T5s run strong.
I have not bought new bulbs in a while and I have not actually seen the UVL bulbs in person. I have heard only positive things about them however.
You have 8 bulbs to choose so that is going to give you lots of options.
I would get several UVL Super Actinic bulbs (3 ? ), several ATI Aquablue Special (3 ?), get at least one Sun Bulb to help show off coral colors that the blue and white bulbs are perhaps lacking ... the GE 6500 Daylight.
This leaves you with one more bulb to get... How blue do you want the tank? If you want more like a 14K to 20K look pick a Blue Plus . If you want it closer to 12K to 14K then you should select another Aquablue bulb by ATI. If you want less blue and maybe 12K or less then pick another Sun bulb.
Hope this helps some.
If you want to come over and look at my tank sometime let me know. I live in Alpharetta/Roswell near GA 400 between exits OldMilton and Mansell. I have a 120g with 6 T5 bulbs. We can turn on and off some different bulbs so that you can see some different colors. I have Blue Plus, Aquablue, a GE Sun bulbs.
Good luck.
 
chrisjet that fixture is 19 inches deep what size tank do you have cause i have a 90 and its only 18 inches deep so that would be a waste if you dont have the space you should go for the 6 bulbs and im sure its cheaper but thats jmho good luck i would go with 2 ap 2pa and 2miday and 2aqua blue?
 
alsso thanks for both of your help, I have never dealt with t5's - as far as the ballasts go i dont think they are ice cap ballasts?
 
oh ok you got a 120 i for somereason thought you had a 55 then i guess this would be an assume fixture for you plus sam from aquabuys sells them with out bukbs thoughhttp://www.aquabuys.com/miva/merchant.mvc?Screen=PROD&Product_Code=ss_tekl_48_8&Category_Code=d1a&Product_Count=31
but for cheaper and he has really good bulbs
 
Just figured it out w/ aquabuys Im looking at around $610 w/ lights, reefgeek $529 w/ lights
 
Doug at Reef Tank Lighting is a sponsor with 10% discount. He has the fixture for $390.

http://www.reeftanklighting.com/shopdisplayproducts.asp?page=5">http://www.reeftanklighting.com/shopdisplayproducts.asp?page=5</a>

I have the 6 bulb fixture on my 72-gal. Works great. The ballasts are not over driven, but I have no problem with growing acros and other sps.
 
I like http://www.atlantareefclub.org/forums/member.php?u=1015"><span style="color: #0000ff;">JustOneMoreTank</span></a> lamp selection. Id add one 3000k lamp in there. It really makes pinks and reds pop. Really nice on SPS tanks.

UVL Super Actinic bulbs (3 ? ),
ATI Aquablue Special (3 ?),
Sun Bulb to help show off coral colors ( Ive never seen this one)
and one 3000k
 
I got my Tek fixture at Aquabuys. No ARC discount on lightings however there is no shipping. You will not be disappointed with the Tek; it is awesome! I only have a 4 bulb fixture on a 72 but you could try to double this bulb combo maybe: 1x True Actinic, 1x Super Blue, 1x 10000K, 1x 14000K. I didn't see the 14000K in your choices but I do know they make them. JMO.

Stanfill, I was under the impression that the 6 bulb fixture would not fit on the bowfront. Did I miss something? Regardless, all my SPS and anemone are completely happy under the 4 bulb normally driven Tek.
 
Lighting and color temps are a very personal thing! Before you decide on a bulb combination, do yourself a favor and go around and look at some of the setups to see what they are using and how they look to YOUR eye. Also remember that there are a few other things that will influence the lighting. If someone is using ozone or a UV or someone else hasn't done a water change in a couple of months, these will all have an impact on the "appearance" of the lighting setup. I have a 6 bulb T5 setup you are more than welcome to stop by and take a look at if you are ever in the Canton area
 
Thanks mufret and everyone else who has posted their opinons. Hopefully I will have a nice build thread soon.
 
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