View Full Version : 4 bulb t-5...which bulbs to get
reeftobe
03/21/2013, 11:14 AM
I am lighting a 30g breeder tank with a 36" 4 bulb fixture.
Which combo of bulbs for SPS & LPS & zoas. Looking first for colors then growth.....
thinking"
2 blue+, aquablue special and purple+
2 blue +, actinic, aquablue special?
Thanks, and I am ok/prefer a bluer tank anyway.
thabizness
03/21/2013, 01:54 PM
I just got 2 ATI Coral + and thinking about picking up 2 ATI Blue + for my 4 bulb. Following along tho - just want to see what others are doing.
rtparty
03/21/2013, 02:04 PM
2 blue, 1 purple and 1 coral is the most popular.
gtafragger
03/22/2013, 03:43 PM
If you want a bluer look you may want to consider still adding one white bulb. You will not get much growth or be able to grow sps with all blue-ish colours. For comparison here is my 40 gallon with a 36" 4 bulb t5-ho with 2 10,000k and 2 actinic. Very basic but will give more than adequate light. I have tried all 4 actinics just to see how it looked and it was VERY dull and I didn't even see too much of difference from 2 actinics on. http://i.imgur.com/rT8r7kF.jpg
TimeConsumer
03/22/2013, 03:55 PM
2 blue, 1 purple and 1 coral is the most popular.
+1
This is one of my favorite combos.
rtparty
03/22/2013, 04:04 PM
If you want a bluer look you may want to consider still adding one white bulb. You will not get much growth or be able to grow sps with all blue-ish colours.
This is completely untrue. There is a difference between blue bulbs and actinic bulbs. There is also a difference between good and garbage bulbs. 2 10k and 2 actinic tells me you're running stock, junk bulbs that came with a low end fixture.
I run 3 blue plus and 1 purple plus for my main lighting. Growth and color is great.
Michigan Mike
03/22/2013, 04:38 PM
can anyone read this? Haha
RTPARTY's combo is good for color, this next combo will be a bit better for growth and more blue, people like this...especially if they don't like purple bulbs.
Try 2 ATI BLUE PLUS & 2 CORAL PLUS if you want a brighter blue look without the purple.
I run 2 blue plus, 1 purple, 1 actinic (4x24 ATI SUNPOWER)http://imageshack.us/a/img69/121/img0742ftscrop.jpg
Don't run a actinic unless you place it above low light corals like LPS, a coral plus bulb would be great for more growth, like RTPARTY's recommendation, it is a solid & popular combo.
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reeftobe
03/23/2013, 12:23 PM
I got some used bulbs and tested par ......
and 2 blue+ bulbs had more PAR than a aquablue special and purple. ATI bulbs...
All 4 showed over 250 PAR on bottom of 30g breeder. These are 6 mos old
I think I will order the 2 Blue+ & 2 coral+. I can also play with the purple in the mix and see if I prfer 1 puprle in place of the coral+
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