T5 6 Bulbs Best Brand/Combo?

Discussion in 'T5 Aquarium Lighting' started by MoJoe, Feb 19, 2010.

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  1. MoJoe

    MoJoe Dragon Wrasse

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    Hi, I'm getting a sweet T5 6x54w fixture from my good friend. I have never had T5's before and was going to order 6 new bulbs and wondering which brands/type I should get for my 55g Reef tank.

    Also wondering if it would be enough to keep certain clams like Derasa's?

    Thanks!
    Joe
     
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  3. Zimmy71

    Zimmy71 Bristle Worm

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    geissman
     
    Last edited: Feb 19, 2010
  4. RHorton

    RHorton Pajama Cardinal

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    Hi mojoe,
    well Giesemann makes some really good bulbs with good par also ati or uvl.

    I would try to have a combination of auqablue+, with either the 10k, 14k mixed in for the day lights.You could even go higher in k for the day lights its really up to your preference of how you want it to look. Really blue or more crisper blue.

    Here is a good thread to read it show different combos.
    http://www.3reef.com/forums/reef-lighting/t5-bulb-combinations-w-pictures-59447.html

    Also another good thread is:
    http://www.3reef.com/forums/reef-lighting/t5s-q-54866.html
     
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  5. WhiskyTango

    WhiskyTango Eyelash Blennie

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    I'd run all D-D Gman like this. 3 Aquablues, 2 Actinic+, 1 Pure Actinic.
     
  6. gabbagabbawill

    gabbagabbawill Pajama Cardinal

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    Can someone please explain what an actinic+ is? I know that 'pure actinic' is supposed to be concentrated at 420 specifically. What is the + bulb doing?
     
  7. RHorton

    RHorton Pajama Cardinal

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    well the aqua blue plus is a mix of 60% Actinic and 40% White spectrum. specifically 11k.
    this is a stand alone bulb.

    For the actinic + it is a blue spectrum that peaks at 450nm. It Emits 40% actinic and 60% blue spectrum.
    the actinic+ are meant to be used with other bulbs and are not considered a stand alone.
     
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  9. gabbagabbawill

    gabbagabbawill Pajama Cardinal

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    When you say "stand alone" do you mean that they are intended to be used in a fixture with only one bulb vs. a fixture with multiple bulbs?
     
  10. kcbrad

    kcbrad Giant Squid

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    Definitely get a fiji purple bulb. I have one and it adds awesome color to the tank!
    I second the Geissman idea - they make great bulbs.
     
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  11. horkn

    horkn Giant Squid

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    Geissemans are good, but pricey. UVL's are OK, but don't have a lot of PAR. ATI's are not as expensive as geissemann, and some bulbs have better PAR, especially the ATI blue + compared to any other blue spectrum bulb. The PAR on that ATI B+ is so good that IMHO you would be remiss to not have at least 2 of the 6 bulbs be ATI B+.
     
  12. RHorton

    RHorton Pajama Cardinal

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    no,
    stand alone means you could just run those bulbs if you wanted to, they give out good par by themselfs.They are considered a day light bulb although it probably wouldn't please the eye to run 4 or 6 of these by themselves(side by side.) theses bulbs are white with a tint of blue.

    the actinic+ are meant to run with the bulbs above as a supplementary light, they don't give out enough par to just run a fixture with them by themselves.They give off a deep blue or crisp blue.

    Like I run 2 aquablue + as my daylights and 2 actinic+ as my actinics.