T-5 lighting suggestions

[chike87]

I have a 90 gallon tank and currently have a 4 light T-5 fixture with 2 white and 2 actinic bulbs (all 54 watts). It is about time to change them. Any suggestions on what combination to use. The bulbs in there now are Deep Blue. I believe I am going to change to ATI bulbs. Suggestions ??

 

[thanh386]

Go KZ. And I would get more bulbs if possible

 

[slowjazz]

chike87;748266 wrote: I have a 90 gallon tank and currently have a 4 light T-5 fixture with 2 white and 2 actinic bulbs (all 54 watts). It is about time to change them. Any suggestions on what combination to use. The bulbs in there now are Deep Blue. I believe I am going to change to ATI bulbs. Suggestions ??

Are you asking if you should keep 2 - 10k's and 2 act's? (or just the manufacture change)
ie: go 1/2 white and 1/2 blue bulb or purple bulb ....ect....

btw.. I also have the Solar Xtreme on my 55gal tank. (HO448) Pretty nice, just wish you could have it come on and off multiple times per day.
(ie: Have act come on then turn off for some rest time and then come back on near afternoon and then off at night ...ect...)

 

[snowmansnow]

chike87;748266 wrote: I have a 90 gallon tank and currently have a 4 light T-5 fixture with 2 white and 2 actinic bulbs (all 54 watts). It is about time to change them. Any suggestions on what combination to use. The bulbs in there now are Deep Blue. I believe I am going to change to ATI bulbs. Suggestions ??

If you can stand it don't use t5 actinics. They offer almost NO usable PAR.

With 4 lamps I would use:

1 x GE 6500k daylight
2 x ATI Blue +
1 x ATI Blue Special

B

 

[fishlips]

Dont forget about the ATI coral plus. I use 2 blue plus ,1aqua blue, coral plus.All these bulbs put out high par

 

[slowjazz]

SnowManSnow;748432 wrote: If you can stand it don't use t5 actinics. They offer almost NO usable PAR.

With 4 lamps I would use:

1 x GE 6500k daylight
2 x ATI Blue +
1 x ATI Blue Special

B

I thought 6500 was best from growing plants? Is it better to drop down from 12k or 10k to 6500k in a reef tank? how are the coral+ bulbs?
Anybody use purple?

 

[gthockey18]

Here's another one:

 

[snowmansnow]

the 6500 is one of the highest rated PAR lamps out there... and one of the most u under rated.

The ATI coral lamps are VERY similar to the Blue Special. MIGHT be just a little bluer.

The PURPLE and Actinics are abysmal par, but if you don't have coral it won't matter.

B

 

[chike87]

ok, I currently have my acts come on a few hours earlier, then all lights on for a period of time, then just the acts in the late evening. If I go with

1 x GE 6500k daylight
2 x ATI Blue +
1 x ATI Blue Special

which of these lights listed act as my actinics ? Other words, what order should I put this bulbs in ? Right now my actinics are bulbs 1 & 3. Thanks in advance

 

[dine]

im playing around with this right now. i have a 6 bulb over my 90 but what i have is

kz super blue
2x ati coral plus
ati coral blue
kz fiji purple
ati actinic (this was an experiment, if i lose too much par my next test is...)

kz actinic plus (this has some useable par and a little actinic thrown in. if par is still off ill go with another kz super blue)

 

[johniii]

Just put these in today all ati
Blue+
Blue+
Blue Special
Blue Special
Purple+
Blue+
The purple gives an added pop. But it also highlights how dirty your tank is

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[feh]

Personally I'm not fond of the ATI Aquablue Special. In a 4 bulb fixture I'd run front to back.
Blue+
Purple+
KZ New Gen
Blue+