How many T5 actinics to supplement MH?

[RedEDGE2k1]

For my 90g build I will be using 2x250w Aqualine 10k SE metal halide bulbs on IceCap electronic ballasts.

The build thread:
http://reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&postid=10831990#post10831990

I think 20k bulbs are waaaay too blue, and I like the PAR value of 10k bulbs, hence my choice to use MH supplemented with flourescents.

After some research I think I'm going to use 2x54w T5 actinics. Will this be enough actinic supplementation? I really want my corals to glow...but the space above my tank is only 18" wide (front-to-back) and the MH reflectors take up 15" of that space. Any special way to fit 3 or 4 T5s in this space? Or will 2 be plenty?

Also, which actinic color do I need? All the "TRU Actinic", "Actinic 03", "Actinic +" bulb names have me confused. I want whatever 48" bulbs that will make my tank look a little more blue and make my corals "glow."

Your thoughts, please.

Thanks!
Dustin

[oct2274]

first off, if you really want corals to glow you aren't going to be able to use 10k bulbs most likely. I tried it. I have a larger tank than yours and use 2 150 DE halides with 4 T5HO's as supplements. When i first got the tank I tried to do what you did and use 10k bulbs in the halides. The halides were so white and bright that even running 4 blue bulbs I wasn't able to get the color and pop I wanted. With 2 250's over a tank that small you won't be able to do it with 10k bulbs. I personally think that 2 250 halides with 4 T5HO's over a 90 gallon is going to be to much. I can keep sps on the bottom of my tank with 4 T5HO's and 2 150 halides. If you have it stuck in your head that you are going to run 250 watt halides then buy 2 250 radium bulbs which will give you good pop and have good par by themselves and use the T5HO's to shift the color whiter. If you do this, you might be able to get away with only 2 T5HO's with maybe one GE6500k and one UV AquaSun bulb. If you go with 10k halides you have no choice but to use 4 T5HO bulbs to offset the white and even then I'm not sure they will be enough to do what you want. You might be able to get away with using an icecap ballast to overdrive the 4 T5 bulbs and maybe run 2 ATI blue plue bulbs and 2 UV SuperActinics.

[E.Smith]

Oct2274 gave you some good advice. I do have to disagree with the comment that 250w halides are to much for a 90gal though. Just look at choosing a different stlye MH bulb. Such as a Hamilton 14k, Reeflux 12k or Aquaconnect 14k, Geisemann also makes really good bulbs. Just depends on what your budget is. Radiums are very good bulbs if driven on a PFO hqi ballast. I think you would be much happier if you went with a bulb in the 12-14k range rather than 20k then tried to supplement with T5's as Oct2274 explained.

[RedEDGE2k1]

I've already spent the $$$ for two Aqualine 10k bulbs, so no going back on that. I studied the metal halide bulb color comparison at the top of the Lighting Forum, and chose my bulb color from that (liked the AB 10k). If I wanted 20k color, I would have bought a 20k bulb to begin with...but it looks waaaay to purple and I don't want a purple tank, I want a crisp white tank, but I want my corals to flouresce (sp?) as much as possible.

The question was, will 2 actinic T5s make them flouresce, or will it just be a waste of $150? Also, which actinic bulbs are best for what I'm trying to accomplish (as oct2274 put it, "to pop")

Either way, the 10ks are staying. I'm fine without actinic supplementation, but would prefer it.

Hope this clears up my question
Dustin

[GatorWPB]

I dont have the 250w ones, but I have 2x 150w Aqualine ABs in my 36" Sunpod. The ABs are not the typical 10K bulbs, as they have a nice 420nm spike. There's no yellow tint in them. I also wanted the 10k par values.
I supplement my 10ks with 2x21w t-5 actinic. It adds that last little bit of color to my corals and rest of the tank.
Based on what you've said, it sounds like you want similar color to me, and not the blue or purple look.
So I dont have the 250w bulbs you do, but the same manufacturer and same goal. I think youll be fine.

[RedEDGE2k1]

Can you take a picture of the tank with the MHs on, and a picture with the MH + T5s on?

That would REALLY help me out with this!

[RedEDGE2k1]

Any help with actinic color/bulb choices??

[ROB2005]

If you can find the T5 actinic bulbs labeled 03 Actinic or true actinic (they peak at 420nm) then that is a good choice for bringing out the desired fluorescence of certain corals and fish that you may have in your tank. Make sure you use individual reflectors for them as they are pretty much useless without them.

[RedEDGE2k1]

Are T5s my best choice for actinic supplementation? What about VHOs or power compacts? Are those technologies both antiquated now that T5s are on the market?

[ROB2005]

It's basically your preference on what you want. No those two bulbs aren't antiquated because of T5. Most people on here are using T5 because of its small size, lower wattage, puts out more light comparable to VHO and PC (From my experience)