could use some help

[twisted]

im sure you guys are tired of giving input on bulbs but i could use a hand.
i currently have a 4 bulb nova and am ordering another today to give me an 8 bulb setup. the bulbs i have are the ones that come in the nova which have done ok for what i have in the tank so far. when i order the other nova i plan to get 4 good bulbs to replace the old ones and use the 4 new bulbs that come with the nova till i can replace them. so, my question is what 4 bulbs would be best for color and growth? ive been looking at the fiji purple,ati,giessman and thought i had it figured out till i started reading others threads on bulbs. i may just get 8 good bulbs so if you could recommend an 8 bulb set up then i can cut it in half if i only order 4. im just real stumped ??? thanks so very much, Len

 

[redfishbluefish]

Part of bulb choice is not only good growth but also personal preference of the color that turns you on. My two choices would be:

1. Four ATI Blue Plus and four ATI Aquablue Specials
2. Three ATI Blue Plus, three ATI Aquablue Specials, 1 6500K (any brand), 1 Fiji Purple.

I have a six-bulb setup and currently run three Blue Plus and three Aquablue Specials.

I would suggest actually checking out other tanks and noting their bulb selection.

 

[Sunny]

How are the bulb laid out in the light? I mean 8 four feet bulbs one after the another or 8 bulbs arranged in 2 rows of 4 each?

I recently changed the bulbs that came with my fixture and asked the same questions here. I good good advice and went with it. My tank has never looked better.

From front to back I have

ATI Blue plus (2 39 watt in a row)
Griesmann Pure Actiic (2 39 watt in a row)
ATI Aquable Sp (2 39 watt in a row)
Ice Cap 10K (2 39 watt in a row)
ATI Blue plus (2 39 watt in a row)
ATI Blue plus (2 39 watt in a row)

If you can do 8 bulbs one after another, I would do ...

Front to Back.

ATI Blue plus
Griesmann Pure Actinic
ATI AquaBlue Sp
ATI Blue Plus
Ice Cap 10K
ATI AquBlue SP
ATI Blue Plus
ATI Blue Plus

Good Luck.

Sunny

 

[twisted]

thanks guys, its a 4ft fixture. so if i just order 4 bulbs ill get-
2 blue +
1 pure actinic
1 aqua blue
if i get 8
2 blue+
2 aqua blue
1 pure
1 fiji
1 10k
1 6500
this is so confusing...lol...i see so many tanks i like and they all run somewhat different configs...

 

[Sunny]

I you get 4 I will get two aquablue sp and two blue plus. The pure actinic is a luxury (for show only corals do not benefit from it). If you have 8 buls, one can be actinic but with 4 I would not do that.

 

[twisted]

I you get 4 I will get two aquablue sp and two blue plus. The pure actinic is a luxury (for show only corals do not benefit from it). If you have 8 buls, one can be actinic but with 4 I would not do that.

Kool! i just ordered 2 blue plus and 2 aqua......thanks! i think ill get them lit up and order the light and 4 more bulbs once i see what i got.
you both were alot of help. thankyou.

 

[mnat]

Here is a link to PAR ratings of the major T5 bulbs. PAR is the measurement of what the corals actually use from the light. The higher the number the better:

http://sites.google.com/site/tfivetesting/par

Bulb combo really comes down to personal choice and what you want your tank to look like. We use all giesmann bulbs and a KZ bulb just because that is what we like. Our 5 bulb setup right now back to front is:

Giesmann actinic plus 22k
Giesmann daylight 6k
KZ figi puple
Giesmann daylight 6k
Giesmann actinic plus 22k

When we go to our 6 bulb seutp we will be using something similar just not sure of what the extra bulb will be. The rule of thumb has always been the lower the k rating the more yellow/white the color will be and should get more growth. The higher the k (or true actinic) the bluer the bulb is going to be and the more your corals will flouresce. The trick is to get a good combo of growth and actinic. If you are going with the 8 bulb setup you have SO many choices of what you choose. The other thing is to find a reefer around you with a T5 setup and check our their tank in person, see what you like.

 

[JRWOHLER]

Look around for the par postings on the various bulbs.
The UVL Aquasun and Ice Cap 10 K (since made by UVL) have good par for instance.
I have posted a few times the different links.
Then it comes to preference.
I like 2 10K 2 12K 2 blue actinic and 2 actinic(Giesmann Pure Actinic)
Think eventually will be 2 Aquasun UVL 2 Actinic White UVL 2 Blue Plus ATI 2 Giesmann Pure Actinic.
That should give me the look I like with best par.