T5 Bulb color help!

[Midwestmade]

I am sure there are plenty of posts explaining lighting options to the knat's a$$ but I am just looking for some down and dirty recomendations.

I have a 72" 8 bulb T5 fixture. I am looking to change the bulbs while they are on sale as I bought the fixture used and have no idea how old the bulbs are.

What color combination should you go with for a mixed reef tank 30" deep?

Are daylights in the 10000K spectrum needed for coral growth?

Right now my plan is the following:

4 ATI Aquablue Specials
2 ATI Purple Plus
2 ATI Blue Plus

Any recomendations?

[rtparty]

5 blue plus, 2 ATI purple plus and 1 ge6500k

Sent from my Galaxy S3

[doublejhunter]

5 Blue Plus, 2 Purple Plus and a Coral Plus.

[Michigan Mike]

This^ above (both recommendations) won't work, it needs 2 ge6500 day lights or 2 coral plus bulbs , one on each end.
4 blue plus
2 purple plus
2 ge6500/aquablue special. I'd do the GE 6500 personally because it sounds like you want a whiter color, if not swap the GE/aquablue for coral plus bulbs if you want a bluer look instead of a whiter look.

If you use the ge6500 you may not want a purple plus so add another couple blue plus.

[Michigan Mike]

4 36" bulbs x 2 .
Try to place the GE/abs/coral bulb near the back & the purple toward the front.(if you choose to use a purple).
If you use a dawn/dusk combo try to use the blue bulbs. What fixture do you have, how does it have its dawn/dusk channel set up?

[rtparty]

This^ won't work, it needs 2 ge6500 day lights , one on each end.
4 blue plus
2 purple plus
2 ge6500/aquablue special. I'd do the GE 6500 personally because it sounds like you want a whiter color. Swap the GE/aqua for coral plus bulbs if you want a bluer look instead of a whiter look.

Hmmm, ran this many times and recommended it even more. People love it. Ge in middle with purples front and rear of center.

Sent from my Galaxy S3

[Michigan Mike]

Too much red spectrum that way, smother the ge6500 between 2 blue plus bulbs.
That , 2 purples around a ge6500 sounds crazy in a 4 bulb combo, no offense.

[rtparty]

Too much red spectrum that way, smother the ge6500 between 2 blue plus bulbs.
That sounds crazy in a 4 bulb combo, no offense.

Correct. Like this:

Blue
Purple
Blue
Ge
Blue
Purple
Blue
Blue

A store I used to work for had a 48x48 tank and we used 16 t5s to cover. One fixture ran the combo above and the other fixture ran 6 blues and 2 purples.

Hands down the 5 blue, 2 purple and 1 ge won with people.

Sent from my Galaxy S3

[Michigan Mike]

If this is what you like, go for it.http://i1146.photobucket.com/albums/o535/Mike_Mcdougald/Snapbucket/1DFA6533_zps193261a1.jpg
Okay now I have to take it out so it looks like my avatar, better hurry before I blow chunks from a pepto pink tank. I haven't cleaned my tank in a while. I hate that new rock I put in to separate the Duncan & torch, it is bound with phosphates.

[Michigan Mike]

This is 2 blue plus, 1 ge6500, 1 purple.
http://i1146.photobucket.com/albums/o535/Mike_Mcdougald/Snapbucket/8A18A844_zps03bad035.jpg

[Michigan Mike]

Correct. Like this:

Blue
Purple
Blue
Ge
Blue
Purple
Blue
Blue

A store I used to work for had a 48x48 tank and we used 16 t5s to cover. One fixture ran the combo above and the other fixture ran 6 blues and 2 purples.

Hands down the 5 blue, 2 purple and 1 ge won with people.

Sent from my Galaxy S3
That I get.
The OP has a dual 4 bulb (72") fixture (4x4) so I wouldn't want him/her confused.

[rtparty]

That I get.
The OP has a dual 4 bulb (72") fixture (4x4) so I wouldn't want him/her confused.

If that is the case then yes, 2 blue, 1 coral plus and 1 purple plus for each side.

However, that fixture isn't going to support stuff at 30".

Sent from my Galaxy S3

[Midwestmade]

My fixture is a 4x4 setup with 8 36" bulbs.

[Midwestmade]

I also bought a persons old lighting setup for $50.00 he gave me 2-250 Watt MH lights and 2-72" VHO tubes but don't have them installed. I just thought the T5 fixture was cleaner...plug it in and set the timer and go. Would that setup be better for my tank rather than running the T5's?

[Michigan Mike]

I also bought a persons old lighting setup for $50.00 he gave me 2-250 Watt MH lights and 2-72" VHO tubes but don't have them installed. I just thought the T5 fixture was cleaner...plug it in and set the timer and go. Would that setup be better for my tank rather than running the T5's?

I would try the halide/VHO combo. You'll love the VHO Super Actinics with your halides.
What ballast is on the halides, what combo fixture is it? I have a Current Outer Orbit 150w HQI/ 4x24 T5/ blue&white moonlights, I also have m-81 bluewave ballast & reef optix pendants. What halide bulbs you use should be chosen by your ballast type.
Since you have a lot of height to light up I would use the 250w halides, hands down. A high PAR bulb like a 10-12k bulb supplemented with the VHO Actinics should allow you to grow any high light oral if placed properly & you do your part.
Will get to that after you confirm what ballast/fixture you have.

[Midwestmade]

when I get home tonight I will get all the info off the other lights

[Zstriker]

recommendations seem dated to me....

I'd do

6 Coral Plus
2 Blue Plus


This gives a nice phoenix 14k look.

No need for any purple plus, as multiple coral plus provide this pop in pinks reds. No need for too many Blue Plus, as since 2011, Blue Plus bulbs are far too green and do not provide the deep blue they once did.

I think either fixture you have will do fine, with proper bulbs. The only influence for me would be how much heat your tank can deal with from the MH.

[toofrigginswt]

recommendations seem dated to me....

I'd do

6 Coral Plus
2 Blue Plus


This gives a nice phoenix 14k look.

No need for any purple plus, as multiple coral plus provide this pop in pinks reds. No need for too many Blue Plus, as since 2011, Blue Plus bulbs are far too green and do not provide the deep blue they once did.

I think either fixture you have will do fine, with proper bulbs. The only influence for me would be how much heat your tank can deal with from the MH.

I'm interested to see what this would look like.

[Michigan Mike]

recommendations seem dated to me....

I'd do

6 Coral Plus
2 Blue Plus


This gives a nice phoenix 14k look.

No need for any purple plus, as multiple coral plus provide this pop in pinks reds. No need for too many Blue Plus, as since 2011, Blue Plus bulbs are far too green and do not provide the deep blue they once did.

I think either fixture you have will do fine, with proper bulbs. The only influence for me would be how much heat your tank can deal with from the MH.

Maybe you missed the part that it's a 4x4 t5 fixture on a 30" high dude. I'm giving the recommendation based on the fixtures the OP already has, which will be much better than the T5 fixture.

Inform us on the lights/ballast when you can. You'll need the 250w halides on a tank like this, forget about the T5 unless its a fish only tank or lps/ softies in the top half of the tank. Your corals will be much happier with 250w halides compared to 2 sets of 4x39w T5 bulbs.

[Zstriker]

Maybe you missed the part this is a 30" high tank and 4 bulbs isn't going to cut it. Its a 4x4 t5 fixture on a 30" high dude.

Inform us on the lights/ballast when you can. You'll need the 250w halides on a tank like this, forget about the T5 unless its a fish only tank or lps/ softies in the top half of the tank. Your corals will be much happier with 250w halides compared to 2 sets of 4x39w T5 bulbs.

Na, "dude" - I didn't miss that....I didn't miss that this tank will be a mixed reef either....sps up top and he'll be fine either fixture....people are too PAR hungry these days, hence the 'pale' and 'faded' coral threads that now plague the forums.

I would agree that more information is needed on the T5 fixture - reflector type, etc.....cheers

[Michigan Mike]

Na, "dude" - I didn't miss that....I didn't miss that this tank will be a mixed reef either....sps up top and he'll be fine either fixture....people are too PAR hungry these days, hence the 'pale' and 'faded' coral threads that now plague the forums.

I would agree that more information is needed on the T5 fixture - reflector type, etc.....cheers

"Cheers"..

[ReeferBatman]

What color combination should you go with for a mixed reef tank 30" deep?

Are daylights in the 10000K spectrum needed for coral growth?

Any recomendations?


10k bulbs are not needed unless you intend to keep very high light [chloryphyll containing] corals - not all that common - but there are those out there (favia comes to mind). Even then you could provide that part of the spectrum with other bulb choices too (some purple bulbs + GE 6500 provides a very close match to the 10k spectrum offered - but a bit less red in the mix.)

What tank look are you going for?

With 8 bulbs, I'd go

Blue +
Coral +
Blue +
[Full spectrum bulb of your choice - ABSpecial/10k/6500k]
Blue +
Coral +
Actinic
Blue + <- Front of tank.

Just me though :)

[Zstriker]

My cheap catalina T5 fixture, not-cooled, bent reflector, provided 150-250 par, did just fine on my mixed reef tank....only browning I had was due to those darn AEFW


http://i1021.photobucket.com/albums/af333/bur01014/IMG_1818.jpg

Several months later....

http://i1021.photobucket.com/albums/af333/bur01014/IMG_0029-1.jpg

But Mike's the expert...I suppose this tank was only 24 inches, not 30....I think its is still doable with the right bulbs and decent fixture, but SPS would have to be high up. What is the tank width?

[Zstriker]

"Cheers"..

oh man, nice edit!

You're probably right, MH is safer bet, just thinking it is still doable with T5....but likely more challenging.

[Michigan Mike]

10k bulbs are not needed unless you intend to keep very high light [chloryphyll containing] corals - not all that common - but there are those out there (favia comes to mind). Even then you could provide that part of the spectrum with other bulb choices too (some purple bulbs + GE 6500 provides a very close match to the 10k spectrum offered - but a bit less red in the mix.)

What tank look are you going for?

With 8 bulbs, I'd go

Blue +
Coral +
Blue +
[Full spectrum bulb of your choice - ABSpecial/10k/6500k]
Blue +
Coral +
Actinic
Blue + <- Front of tank.

Just me though :)

Its not a normal 8 bulb fixture guys. Lol
Its a 4x4 (2 sets of 4x39w side by side) a 72" long fixture.
:wavehand:

[Michigan Mike]

oh man, nice edit!

You're probably right, MH is safer bet, just thinking it is still doable with T5....but likely more challenging.

Ya, no biggie. I usually type first then think. I'm no expert, just opinionated.
In the end all I heard was cheers, so I took a shot of 7 crown.
Now I gotta go because my woman wants to go for a walk because its finally sunny here.
I guess I'm not the only one who has some respect for Catalina fixtures. I know Grim didn't acknowledge them much but I've seen 6 bulb fixtures over 24" high tanks and they grow LPS/softies at that depth with good bulbs. IMO they are creeping on TEK, much better than Current Nova Pro (even without fans but i like Current's locking endcaps) because you can cool them better without currents loud fans blasting.
I wouldn't be surprised if they get some more sales because of Sunlight Supply's decision to stop making aquarium lighting. Mostly because the black Solar's have more venting & the reflectors are better than most of its competitors in that price range. Its still no TEK though.

[Midwestmade]

Current T5 fixture is
AquaticLife T5 HO and LED Lunar Light Fixture
(2) 36" 39W Actinic
(4) 36" 39W 10,000°K
(2) 36" 39W Purple

[Midwestmade]

225 gallon tank is 72"x24"x30"

[Michigan Mike]

225 gallon tank is 72"x24"x30"

You need the 250w halides, let us know what fixture & ballast the halide/VHO combo fixture uses. Is it 250w double ended bulbs or the screw in (mogul) type.

You may need 3 halides if you have 2 braces on the top of your tank, especially if the halides are directly above plastic trim bracing.
You will want them higher above the bracing if its plastic, glass isn't such a big deal.
We really need to know more & possibly see pics.

[Midwestmade]

http://reefcentral.com/forums/picture.php?albumid=7482&pictureid=50943Fixture

[Midwestmade]

http://reefcentral.com/forums/picture.php?albumid=7482&pictureid=50944

[Midwestmade]

The VHO has hard to make out but on the bulb it's stamped Super Actinic FRT-2T1 VHO M2-F11
Ballast is PFO Lighting Model PFOH-4

[Michigan Mike]

The link isn't work for me but it sounds like the ballasts are magnetic style PFO so you can run your super actinics.
Is it single or double ended halides?

Anyway here's a link for compatable bulbs & ballasts, good reference.http://www.aquarium-lighting-guide.com/metal-halide-ansi

[Michigan Mike]

I would do 20k radium (for single ended bulbs) or 14k Phoenix (especially if its double ended bulbs) and run it with the actinics. I would run the actinics an hour before the halides turn on and an hour or two after they turn off. I'd run the halides for 7 hours a day, or so.

If you don't like a blue tank try a 10-12k halide, the actinics will make your coral pop a lot anyway.

[Midwestmade]

http://reefcentral.com/forums/picture.php?albumid=7482&pictureid=50944

[Midwestmade]

I have one ballast for the vho and one for the MH

[Midwestmade]

Double ended halides Hamilton Tech 14K Blue bulbs in the fixtures