T5 Halide Combination Help

[brandyrb]

I just ordered bulbs from Marine Depot and I should've researched first, so hopefully I didn't make a mistake on the T5 bulbs I selected.

I got 3X 400 Watt 10000K Ushios and 6X 24" 24 Watt Giesemann Pure Actinic T5 bulbs.

What do the pure actinic bulbs look like? Are they blue? Or did I order the wrong bulb?

Any info, experience with these bulbs or comparison links would be great...

Thanks

[luke33]

WOW, thats a ton of light! ITs going to be pretty yellow imo. I would have gotten the ati blue plus's to make it a 14k look. You'll have to wait and see.

[brandyrb]

So what color do the pure actinics put off? Not blue?

[brandyrb]

Bump for more input. I haven't been able to find a good T5 bulb comparison site...

luke33, why do you think it will be yellow? Because of the 10000K halides or the pure actinics? Do the pure actinics put off a yellow hue?

[brandyrb]

^

[theatrus]

Here is a spectrum comparison:

http://www.reefgeek.com/lighting/Replacement_Bulbs/T5_Fluorescent/24W_Pure_Actinic_03_T5_HO_Fluorescent_by_Giesemann
(your bulb)

vs

http://www.reefgeek.com/lighting/Replacement_Bulbs/T5_Fluorescent/39W_Blue_Plus_T5_HO_Fluorescent_by_ATI
(Blue+ bulb, blue light).

The Ushios are more true 10k - has a slight yellow tint to it. A ton of light as well. Here is a picture of the 250W version: http://www.cnidarianreef.com/picture.cfm?PID=images/misc/DSCN3249ushio_only.jpg
I'd almost recommend the XM 10k for a more balanced look.

[brandyrb]

I sent Marine Depot an email asking to change my order, but then decided to continue it with 6 pure actinic T5s so I don't confuse things because I ordered a bunch of other stuff too. They don't sell the ATI's.

So my thinking is that I'll get 3 of the ATI blue plus from somewhere else and use 3 of the Giesemann pure actinics in combination with them. I'll set the other three pure actinic bulbs I ordered aside until it's time to change out the bulbs.

Thanks for the input.

[brandyrb]

Marine Depot contacted me, so I changed my order to...
3 Giesemann Pure Actinic T5s and
3 Giesemann AquaBlue+

[RicGio]

that'll look much better, IMO.