t5 os metal hylide

[mmoore77]

I have a 28 gal bow front. I currently have 2 t5 bulbs on it. I want to get more light for it. Should i add a metal hylide or should i get 2 more t5s. All i have is sofy corals but i was told to add more light to bring out the colors of some of them. Can someone please help with this?

[20longreefer]

well if you want to just bring in more color i would just go for 2 more t5s as the halide sound like overkill for your tank but if you want to bring out the color the best i would the bulb selection really matters

[mmoore77]

I have brown and green polps and green stars that i want to bring the color out. So what would you do?

[20longreefer]

hmmm. well what kinds of bulbs do you have right now and how deep is your tank

[detroit_fan]

For color i would go with 2 more t5's. as 20longreefer said we need to know what bulbs you have already. Ati Blue Plus bulbs are nice, with a UVL super Actinic to go with it.

[20longreefer]

yeah detroit fan is right you should get another 2 bulb fixture but the bulbs are really crucial for color

[mmoore77]

Thye are antic blue 640

[mmoore77]

They are actnic blue and 10,000 k high out put

[redfishsc]

I would just go with the 4 T5's as people suggested.

Granted, some of the 20K Halides give the corals an beautiful florescents that not even true 420nm actinics can produce. Halides also give nice shimmer.


Now, for color, here is what I recommend, in this order.

Front: UVL Aquasun 10,000K (has a pink color that accents reds, fantastic PAR readings.

Middle: ATI Blue +
Middle: UVL Super Actinic (a true 420nm actinic, I have one and love it)

Back: ATI Aquablue.

[mmoore77]

Thanks