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View Full Version : T5 users: is 6500K needed?


StrategicReef
01/10/2008, 05:07 PM
I am running one sunlight bulb out of 6 of them color temp 6500K.

It would be a good bulb for a room like reading a book but seem to cast a yellow tint on the whole tank and I think this bulb is the cultprit?

The question is does the SPS need this to grow well, or should I swap it with something more white and blue, some numbers I got says the sunlight bulb is around 340 PAR and ATI blue plus is like 310 or so. Or maybe swap this out for a red bulb ATI pro color but much weaker PAR.

ozadars
01/10/2008, 05:24 PM
There will be some PAR lost but why not go with ATI Aquablue Special. It is white (not yellow white) and has high PAR value.

twon8
01/10/2008, 05:45 PM
what other bulbs are you running?

StrategicReef
01/10/2008, 05:50 PM
3 AquaZ oceanpro (a 10k kind of bulb similar to ATI Aquablue in color and PAR)
and 2 blue bulbs about 420 nm, 1 is AquaZ 1 is Marine GLO but they are very similar color.

Fraggle Rock2
01/10/2008, 06:22 PM
I'd say since you don't like how your tank looks just take it out. You likely don't "need" it. I'd switch for a 10kK to a 14kK.

You might have the same problem with that ATI red bulb...but maybe not. I tried it and it was way to purple, but I only have a 4 bulb fixture.

twon8
01/10/2008, 07:50 PM
i would put two ati blueplus bulbs in, one uv actinic, take out two of the oceanpro and the ge.

blmeier7
01/11/2008, 09:29 PM
I removed a 6500k bulb from my 4 bulb T5 configuration not quite a year ago because I didn't want the yellow tint. I have not had any problems and my corals are still growing well.

FYI I am running 2-aquablue +, 1 aquablue special, and 1 pure actinic

StrategicReef
01/12/2008, 02:22 AM
Hello Twon8 is the UV Actinic a real deep blue? is it wise to change out 2 "blue" tubes for the actinics? (lI believe osing some par but I bet the fluorecent colors are better).. what happens to the actinics when overdriven?

So far I swapped out the 6500K and a white bulb and replaced with a AquaBlue and Pro Color, the color is more like MH, but not too red on my 6 bulb setup.

fijiblue
01/12/2008, 08:04 AM
All setups should keep at least some form of Super Actinic (420nm) along with the blue (450nm). Over time, the GFP will be lost and other pigments without the 420nm. The 6500 has too much redundant spectrum with the other bulbs you have. I use a different bulb. HTH.

neyugn0w01
01/12/2008, 12:02 PM
remove the 6500k and run another blue plus or aquablue type bulb. obviously the blue plus will make the tank look slightly more blue. the locations of the bulbs also makes a big difference on how the tank looks. good luck

barjam
01/12/2008, 12:24 PM
fijiblue where did you read the deal about losing GFP over time? That is pretty interesting. My tank has only had 420nm since right before christmas (was blue/blue plus heavy). It would be interesting to see if I end up with more green. I moved to MH and went with the Phoenix bulb so I still don't have much in the way of 420nm (just one SA bulb for supplemental) but maybe that will be enough.

fijiblue
01/12/2008, 12:52 PM
barjam - I have experienced it in a few tanks I care for, including my own. This seems to be the case only with T5's as MH seem to produce different radiations that will induce the growth and excitement of GFP just fine. Can anyone else can confirm this with their T5 tanks?

Craig Lambert
01/12/2008, 01:07 PM
Strategic Reef,

Here are the par ratings for a number of widely used T5 bulbs. (To give credit where credit is due, I lifted this from one of Grimm Reefer's threads):

ATI

Sun Pro 357
Aquablue 336
Blue Plus 311
Actinic 137

D&D/Giesemann

Midday 325
Aquablue 324
Actinic Plus 264
Pure Actinic 157

AquaZ

Sun Pro 285
Ocean Pro 323
Blue Pro 266

Helios

Daylight 309
Super Blue 225

Current Sun Paq

Daylight 10K 272
Blue 252

GE Daylight 340

The par loss by switching from the 6500K to the Aquablue is minimal. I have a 4 bulb t-5 configuration as well, but I'm also running two 110 watt uri vho actinics on a second ballast in addition to the t-5's. I also changed out the GE 6500K. I now run a blue+. two aquablue special, and a uri aquasun. (plus vho actinics).

twon8
01/12/2008, 01:36 PM
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=11581061#post11581061 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by StrategicReef
Hello Twon8 is the UV Actinic a real deep blue? is it wise to change out 2 "blue" tubes for the actinics? (lI believe osing some par but I bet the fluorecent colors are better).. what happens to the actinics when overdriven?

So far I swapped out the 6500K and a white bulb and replaced with a AquaBlue and Pro Color, the color is more like MH, but not too red on my 6 bulb setup.

i said put two blueplus in, the blueplus have lots of par and bring out great colors, ati is the best.

i would only run one actinic and three blueplus, one aquasun and one aquablue

StrategicReef
01/12/2008, 01:37 PM
Is it true there are no true actinics bulb in T5 form factor?
Which bulb do you recommend?

What does GFP stand for and what does it mean? green fluorescent pigment?

Thanks

DesertBandits
01/13/2008, 04:26 PM
geismann makes t5 true actinic bulbs

Obi-dad
01/13/2008, 04:53 PM
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=11591381#post11591381 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by DesertBandits
geismann makes t5 true actinic bulbs

'True' actinics, primarily 420nm (purple), not only geissman but ATI makes them also. Many people use the word actinic to refer to primarily blue bulbs also (450 or 460nm).

jennmac415
01/15/2008, 03:28 PM
I have 7 rows and have been messing with my color combo for awile now... had 2 6500s... replace one with a 3000K... finally took bothe the 6500 and the 3000 out... I am running right now,

Front

ATI blue Plus
UVL Super actinic
ATI Aquablue special
Geisemann Actinic Plus
Hagen Powerglow much like the Aquasun... did not want to wait ordering the aquasun
ATI blue Plus
AtI Blue Plus

my par losses are minimal and I like the color more...I hated the 6500K...

StrategicReef
01/15/2008, 03:56 PM
Jenni which Actinic do you like better UVL or Geismann?

jennmac415
01/15/2008, 04:29 PM
the UVl super actinic is a whole different bulb than the Geisemann Actinic Plus... the Actinic Plus is the same as the Ati Blue plus... reefgeek has very good descriptions of each bulb on their website... also the ATi aquablue special and the "Geisemann Aquablue plus are the same...the UVL Super actinic is very purple while the actinic plus and the blue plus are blue... both the Geisemann Aquablue plus and the ATI aquablue special are more of a white bulb with a blue hint