T5 Bulb Combinations w/ Pictures

Wow great thread helped me alot

 

Great thread!! Keep it coming. I have a Nova extreme 8x54 on my 75 gal which is overkill for lighting i think. It is a 50/50 mis of daylights and blues at the moment but i run the daylights very little. Im thinking of backing down to one or two daylights and swapping the other daylights for another actinic and maybe a fiji purple. Please give suggestions!! Im an newbie with a new tank and just added my first softies the other day!!

 

You only need 4 bulbs for your tank. I would use 2 blues, a daylight and the fiji on your tank. If you do use all 8 then your switch sounds good.

 

T5 Bulb suggestions

I currently have an Aquatic Life 6 bulb T5 HO. It is a four foot fixture and I have recently moved my stock from a 4'-90 gallon and into a 5'-110 gallon tank. I understand that I may have some dim areas on the end of the tank but what would you guys suggest for bulb selection. I was thinking the following:

(2) ATI Blue+
(2) ATI Aqua blue special
(1) ATI Purple+
(1) ATI Coral+

Thanks in advance for the feedback!

 

What corals are you keeping and what color do you want your tank to look.

 

As like most reefers, I want the colors to "pop" and for the tank to have a blue tint but not too much. I also don't want to negatively effect coral growth too much in an effort make coral colors more noticeable.

I have the following corals:
(2) large montiporas
(1) birds nest
(1) red bubble tip anenome
(1) leather
(1) candy cane
(1) sour apple birds nest
several zenya, kenya trees, etc
GSP
Several zoas
Several mushrooms

Thanks again!

 

I would suggest 3 ATI Blue Plus and 3 ATI Coral Plus. I use this same ratio in my 4 bulb fixture. Alternate the placement of the bulbs and start with a Coral Plus in front to give the lightest look. You will not be sacrificing growth using any full blue bulb. Growth will be affected by full actinic bulbs negatively.

 

i just got my Coral plus and blue plus's in the mail, so far so good, not too blue but gives a nice hue. hopefully my corals will like it, they are coloring nicely already, bringing out some of the florescents again instead of being dull with my stock bulbs

 

Good to hear, glad they are helping out.

 

ya they look great, my orange ric's are bright as can be now, they make that rock glow