I think I've decided on my lighting.

Well, all. I think it's going to be the Aquactinics TX5 with 5 bulbs for right now. This should fare well for a 21" high 55 gal tank. I can't fit a 6 bulb fixture atop my tank, so it's going to be 5 bulb setup. I think it's going to be 3 bulbs @11K or 12K, and 2 actinic. Unless it would be wiser to go with 3 actinic and 2 12K's. I don't know the difference, but I do know that I think a bluish hue is prettier, and if it's not bad for the corals, I'd personally like more blue light than white.

From my research, it's going to be Giesemann or ATI for the bulbs, maybe a mixture. I can choose from the 54W 12K ATI Aquablue Special T5HO, or the Giesemann 54W Aquablue Plus 11K Powerchrome Bulb. They're both about the same price. For the actinic, I can go with the Geisemann 54W Pure Actinic Powerchrome Bulb, or from ATI, the 54W True Actinic 03 T5HO.

I honestly don't know much, other than the great advice I've gotten from the forum. Any suggestions about which ones, and how many of each (3 and 2 with more actinic, or more 12K?)


If anyone has any different suggestions, preferably based on their personal experience, I'd love to hear it. If you like other brands of bulbs, etc, let me know. Someone once mentioned a 15K bulb, but I don't see any in T5 configuration.

Let's hear it, people! Thanks.
Thanks again, everyone!

 

Hey chap! Just my 0.02$... I'm running Geisemann's 54W tubes. They are very good and quite famous because of high quality, here in Europe.

Cheers!

 

i got a slightly more blue look when i switched from power compacts at half 10,000k and actinic to t5's with 2 uv brand 10,000k and 2 uv super actinic.so if you add an extra actinic then you'll have lots of blue.mines a 55 gallon as well.i like a more natural look but 3 actinics and 2 10'000k will give lots of blue.uv brand cost me $28 a bulb and have lasted 10 months without change so far however i'm watching closely for them to need a change.

 

hopefully it works out for you sparky. maybe take pictures of the corals when you first put them in to see growth rate 6 months later.

 

thanks. I'll do that. So far, I think I'd like to have a hammer or two, sun polyps, toadstools, ricordia, some of the more colorful palythoas. I'm pretty fond of zoanthus too. Do these sound like coral that share a similar depth in the wild, so I might consequently expect they'll fare well under 5 quality T5 bulbs?