Bulb arrangement for 4x T5's

[saltwater4life]

Hello everyone!
I was just wondering what i should do for my bulb arrangement. I've got 2x 11000k bulbs and 2x actinic 03 bulbs. I figured every other one would probbly be best. But i wasn't sure if another way is better. So i thought I'd ask for your opinions As for my corals i plan on just sticking with LPS and softies for now until the tank is mature and stable enough for SPS. (I will be getting better bulbs by then)


Thank You,

~Nick

 

[panmanmatt]

I'm guessing you're talking about T5's.

I run mine like your last option actinics on the outsides and daylights in the middle.

 

[saltwater4life]

Yes,
Alright I'm wondering if i should do the actinic 03's on one ballast so i can have them turn on like an hour before and after the 11000k bulbs come on.
Thanks

 

[panmanmatt]

That's the way mine are set up.

 

[saltwater4life]

Nice,
I was reading about that and i'm gunna do them on the same ballast.
Anyone else?

 

[panmanmatt]

I run my 03's on 1 ballast and daylights on another one. Lets me do a dawn/dusk cycle.

 

[saltwater4life]

Oops... That's what i ment.

 

[mott768]

Nick,
When it comes time to change your bulbs you may want to try a GE 6500K in place of one of the 11,000K you'll get better growth and the overall color of the tank won't be that much differant than it is now ( they give off a nice white look with the actinic + bulbs). I used to run mine like matt's actinic's on one ballast daylights on the other.

 

[saltwater4life]

Yeah i was thinking a 6500k, Super Actinic 420nm, Atinic 03 and one of those pink bulbs (forget what they're called)
But i don't want it to be to blue... Just gotta find a good growth and color configuration

Thanks,

Nick