T5 Bulb Choices

so i'm going to be getting the 4 bulb fishneedit fixture for my 55 and would like to change the bulbs but i would be using the stock bulbs for a while so what should my choice for stock bulbs

There choices are

All blue
All White
1 White 3 Blue
2 White 2 Blue
3 White 1 Blue
2 White 2 Pink
3 White 1 Pink

But i'm shure that i'll be able to get more choices such as 2 White 1 Blue 1 Pink


then for the whites the color choices are

6700K
10000K
14000K

 

Get 1 white 10000k, 1 white 14000k and 2 blue.

That is a flat reflector so you will not have great PAR output. I would look into a fixture with contoured or better yet individual reflectors.

You will need to be very careful in the placement of corals.

What type of coral do plan on keeping?

 

the reflectors are not flat ther the same as my nova on my 10 gallon and i'm planing to keep a mix reef just the same as my 10 since everything is going to be moved over

 

+1 to 2in10's response.

I was quite surprised when I updated my bulb selection. I kept thinking that I needed more white... but I followed 2in10's advice... and sure enough... I need more blue than I thought I did. 10K, 14K and 2 blue... sounds about right. I know it sounds like a lot of blue but it's not....

Definitely eliminate all white and 3 white, 1 blue and the pinks from your options....


IMO
Mark

 

Good to know that it is contoured some.

You will definitely want to upgrade the bulbs in 6 months to ATI, UVL or Geisemann brands.

 

What are you planning on keeping in the tank?

 

i'm open to every thing except the hightest demanding sps but other than that it's going to be a mix reef

 

I might go this way;

1. UV 50/50
2. Actinic plus
3. Aquablue plus
4. Uv 50/50
UVL T5 V-HOR AquaSun (50% Triband Blue 50% Triband White)

 

I would go with:

ATI Blue Plus
ATI Aquablue special
ATI Blue Plus
ATI Purple Plus or KZ Fiji Purple or UVL Actinic White

I use the UVL Actinic White because Bulk Reef Supply didn't carry either of the ATI Purple or the Fiji Purple until September 2010. Since I'm used to the look of the UVL Actinic White, and actually quite like it, I still use it instead of either of the Purple bulbs. The UVL Actinic White has a slightly pinkish hue to it that brings out the reds, purples, and oranges in my tank.

 

bearing in mind DamselsRcool needs to use the stock bulbs and will probably do so for 9 months - 1 year until it comes time to replace them

2 in 10s suggestion works on the above basis
I would be tempted to go 2 x 14k and 2 x blue - I had 3 x 14k and 3 x actinic and had great growth from SPS and it gave me the overall color that I wanted

Steve