MH & T5 Combo Help

[justa210]

So I'm replacing lights in a fixture that currently has:

(4) AquaticLife 420/460nm T5 HO Fluorescent Lamps
(3) 150W Artic White 10K


The tank is very white with this combo. I'm ready to replace all bulbs and any recommendations are appreciated. I'm going to be growing mushrooms, ricordea, zoas and softies maybe a LPS but no SPS.

[disc1]

I don't know if you meant to put this here, but this is the chemistry forum. It's more for chemistry questions. If you want to know about lights you'll have a lot better luck in Reef Discussion or the Lighting Filtration and Equipment forum.

If you'd like to have it moved just hit the little red and white triangle under your avatar and report the post to a moderator asking that it be moved.

[dbenyo]

Until it is moved I will comment...

I have run through many bulbs over years and I find that for DE fixtures like I am assuming you have

Phoenix 14k hexarc blue... they are white with a tint of blue and excellent par

Because the phoenix is a 14k you will not need as many actinic T5s

I would recommend looking at wherever you buy your bulbs from (i buy from bulk reef supply and they have the bulbs explained well) and try to put together bulbs that will blend and take care of many spectrums... Some super blue like you have now can be offset by an aquablue special which adds some more white

so I would pick 4 bulbs in a combo like this vs stocking up on just one

ATI Blue+
ATI Aquablue special
ATI Coral Plus
ATI True Actinic 03 (for more blue) or ATI Purple plus (more white)

[bertoni]

Moved here for more input.