T5 4 bulb combo?

Capt_Cully · 10/09/2017, 02:01 PM

Thinking ATI bulbs

Blue +
Purple+
Coral+
Blue+

Or

Blue+
Purple+
True Actinic
Blue+

Which combo do you like better for SPS?

Thanks!

Marou · 10/09/2017, 02:42 PM

I would go with option one, true actinic is a bit useless for corals, only looks good to our eyes but corals dont use it much.

Wiskey · 10/09/2017, 02:58 PM

I agree with option 1, I used this combo for quite some time and liked it.

Whiskey

Capt_Cully · 10/09/2017, 03:13 PM

Ok, thanks guys. I just needed a little reassurance. I've always used MH/T5 combo but have been trying to jive with LED/T5s and it's just not working to my satisfaction. I'm transitioning from LED with supplemental T5 to T5 with supplemental LED if that makes any sense.

christopherjudd · 10/09/2017, 03:31 PM

I run 3 b+ and a purple + on mine.

Capt_Cully · 10/09/2017, 04:28 PM

That's actually what I'm currently running. I'm switching the time intervals to run T5 longer and LED @ lower intensity.

Scorpius · 10/09/2017, 07:24 PM

Option 1 is what I run.

rtparty · 10/09/2017, 07:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Marou

I would go with option one, true actinic is a bit useless for corals, only looks good to our eyes but corals dont use it much.

What?

An Actinic bulb is 99+% PUR. Jason Fox runs almost all Actinic bulbs and seems to do just fine.

To the OP, I'd run 2 Blue Plus, 1 Actinic and 1 Coral Plus

reefmutt · 10/09/2017, 07:47 PM

Ultimately I don’t think it matters at all which combo you use. Both will provide all the spectrum you need.
Go with the combo you like the look of best.

Flatrack01 · 10/09/2017, 07:58 PM

I've been stewing on this topic for a few weeks now and I think I have settled on the same combination as option 1.

Mr. Brooks · 10/10/2017, 04:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rtparty

What?

An Actinic bulb is 99+% PUR. Jason Fox runs almost all Actinic bulbs and seems to do just fine.

To the OP, I'd run 2 Blue Plus, 1 Actinic and 1 Coral Plus

I talked to Jason Fox on Saturday and asked him about his actinics. I think he may be running Giesemann actinic plus bulbs, which I've found to be equivalent to ATI blue plus.

Personally I like:

blue plus
coral plus
blue plus
coral plus

Nice 14k-16k look. Coral colors are really well represented across the spectrum. Closest I've seen to Radiums.

rtparty · 10/10/2017, 04:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mr. Brooks

I talked to Jason Fox on Saturday and asked him about his actinics. I think he may be running Giesemann actinic plus bulbs, which I've found to be equivalent to ATI blue plus.

Personally I like:

blue plus
coral plus
blue plus
coral plus

Nice 14k-16k look. Coral colors are really well represented across the spectrum. Closest I've seen to Radiums.

Yeah that would be a different bulb all together.

I still think Actinic bulbs are highly under appreciated in the hobby.

My 2 blue plus and 2 Coral Plus setup looked nothing my Radium I run but that's subjective and the ballast can play a major role here.

rovster · 10/11/2017, 08:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rtparty

What?

An Actinic bulb is 99+% PUR. Jason Fox runs almost all Actinic bulbs and seems to do just fine.

To the OP, I'd run 2 Blue Plus, 1 Actinic and 1 Coral Plus

Not sure about what you're saying about the actinics but I like the combo you mentioned, that's what I was running to supplement my radions...ati actinic, b+, c+, b+

Capt_Cully · 10/13/2017, 10:58 AM

Guys running all T5, what's your photoperiod?

Thanks again! Really appreciate the input.

Big E · 10/16/2017, 05:02 AM

Coral+ and Blue+

8 hours a day full on/off.........no dawn/dusk.

shih87 · 10/16/2017, 09:55 PM

If 8 tubes fixture, I will choose more B+ and some Aquablue special, but with 4 tubes fixture, I will choose coral+ and B+ since ATI coral+ consider a combination of all (B+, Purple, etc...)

Just my 2 cents...

lynchmob3000 · 10/17/2017, 10:47 AM

4 bulb blue+ and coral+ for sure

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

AddictReef · 10/23/2017, 10:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mr. Brooks

I talked to Jason Fox on Saturday and asked him about his actinics. I think he may be running Giesemann actinic plus bulbs, which I've found to be equivalent to ATI blue plus.

Personally I like:

blue plus
coral plus
blue plus
coral plus

Nice 14k-16k look. Coral colors are really well represented across the spectrum. Closest I've seen to Radiums.

Do you think or know he’s running geismann actinic? I been wondering this, if he’s in fact running true actinic or a blue bulb like a blue plus

rtparty · 10/23/2017, 11:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AddictReef

Do you think or know he’s running geismann actinic? I been wondering this, if he’s in fact running true actinic or a blue bulb like a blue plus

It's a blue bulb. Not true Actinic

Haksar · 10/24/2017, 12:27 PM

I run 54W KZ purple / 3 c + and two CTL G4 LED

RRA · 10/24/2017, 03:45 PM

Blue +
Purple+
Coral+
Blue+

But personally I like
B+
B+
Fiji
B+

RobSpeed13 · 10/24/2017, 03:49 PM

for a 4 bulb fixture id do 2b+2C+ but thats just me. figured both those bulbs will give good color and growth together.

10/09/2017, 02:01 PM	#1
Capt_Cully Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Syracuse, NY Posts: 13,574	T5 4 bulb combo? Thinking ATI bulbs Blue + Purple+ Coral+ Blue+ Or Blue+ Purple+ True Actinic Blue+ Which combo do you like better for SPS? Thanks! __________________ People say cars are a bad investment. Those people don't have reef tanks. Current Tank Info: 120, Radion Gen 2 Pro x 2

10/09/2017, 02:58 PM	#3
Wiskey Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Fallbrook, CA Posts: 3,049	I agree with option 1, I used this combo for quite some time and liked it. Whiskey __________________ This video shows 15 months of coral growth in my tank in a 30 second timelapse: https://youtu.be/bF6C57aTDEo

10/09/2017, 03:13 PM	#4
Capt_Cully Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Syracuse, NY Posts: 13,574	Ok, thanks guys. I just needed a little reassurance. I've always used MH/T5 combo but have been trying to jive with LED/T5s and it's just not working to my satisfaction. I'm transitioning from LED with supplemental T5 to T5 with supplemental LED if that makes any sense. __________________ People say cars are a bad investment. Those people don't have reef tanks. Current Tank Info: 120, Radion Gen 2 Pro x 2

10/09/2017, 04:28 PM	#6
Capt_Cully Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Syracuse, NY Posts: 13,574	That's actually what I'm currently running. I'm switching the time intervals to run T5 longer and LED @ lower intensity. __________________ People say cars are a bad investment. Those people don't have reef tanks. Current Tank Info: 120, Radion Gen 2 Pro x 2

10/09/2017, 07:24 PM	#7
Scorpius Stick Head Join Date: Mar 2014 Location: Northwest Indiana Posts: 1,208	Option 1 is what I run. __________________ Current Tank 65gal DSA rimless. Vortech MP-10 x4 Vectra M1. Kessil A360we x3 4-24in T5's. BRS 2 part LPS/SPS mixed reef. Will do ______ for Acropora.

10/09/2017, 02:42 PM	#2
Marou Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2011 Posts: 14	I would go with option one, true actinic is a bit useless for corals, only looks good to our eyes but corals dont use it much.

10/09/2017, 03:31 PM	#5
christopherjudd Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2013 Posts: 419	I run 3 b+ and a purple + on mine.

10/09/2017, 07:47 PM	#9
reefmutt Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Mtl. Canada Posts: 7,824	Ultimately I don’t think it matters at all which combo you use. Both will provide all the spectrum you need. Go with the combo you like the look of best. __________________ Matt. Current Tank Info: 53x32.5x26 190g dt 60g of sumps 3 tank-100 gal frag system 6xAI prime 8xt5. 4x maxspect gyre. Skimz Dual internal sicce pump skimmer Deltec PF601s ca rx+Kalk stirrer

10/09/2017, 07:58 PM	#10
Flatrack01 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2010 Posts: 17	I've been stewing on this topic for a few weeks now and I think I have settled on the same combination as option 1.

10/13/2017, 10:58 AM	#14
Capt_Cully Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Syracuse, NY Posts: 13,574	Guys running all T5, what's your photoperiod? Thanks again! Really appreciate the input. __________________ People say cars are a bad investment. Those people don't have reef tanks. Current Tank Info: 120, Radion Gen 2 Pro x 2

10/16/2017, 05:02 AM	#15
Big E Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: South Euclid, OH Posts: 4,281	Coral+ and Blue+ 8 hours a day full on/off.........no dawn/dusk. __________________ 80g Rimless Acropora System reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2197142&page=31 Ed

10/16/2017, 09:55 PM	#16
shih87 Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Hsinchu, Taiwan Posts: 1,294	If 8 tubes fixture, I will choose more B+ and some Aquablue special, but with 4 tubes fixture, I will choose coral+ and B+ since ATI coral+ consider a combination of all (B+, Purple, etc...) Just my 2 cents... __________________ Zeovit DTOTQ Q3 2015 RC TOTM April 2016 Reef Hobbyist Magazine Q2 2017 R二R TOTM Oct 2017 Aquaforest ROTM June 2019 Last edited by shih87; 10/17/2017 at 01:38 AM.

10/17/2017, 10:47 AM	#17
lynchmob3000 Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2012 Location: Elverta Posts: 635	4 bulb blue+ and coral+ for sure Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

10/24/2017, 12:27 PM	#20
Haksar Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Dubai Posts: 1,041	I run 54W KZ purple / 3 c + and two CTL G4 LED __________________ Haksar

10/24/2017, 03:45 PM	#21
RRA Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2015 Posts: 14	Blue + Purple+ Coral+ Blue+ But personally I like B+ B+ Fiji B+

10/24/2017, 03:49 PM	#22
RobSpeed13 Registered Member Join Date: May 2016 Posts: 63	for a 4 bulb fixture id do 2b+2C+ but thats just me. figured both those bulbs will give good color and growth together.