36" 6x39W Lights T5 - Recommendations

[Cassette87]

Just found this thread, and it's been amazingly helpful since I'll be replacing my 24+month old bulbs. I know.. shame on me... Bought the system used a year ago and never replaced the original owner's bulbs.. so they actually may be older.

In any case, I'm curious why there has been no talk with regard to the True Actinic Bulbs?

 

[nanoreefing4fun]

Glad you found this thread helpful ! My new bulbs shipped & will be here Wednesday

I'm curious why there has been no talk with regard to the True Actinic Bulbs?

Tell us more about them & add a link to them...

 

[Cassette87]

Glad you found this thread helpful ! My new bulbs shipped & will be here Wednesday



Tell us more about them & add a link to them...

Awesome! No one gets as excited about lightbulbs as a reef-keeper

Problem is I don't know much about them other than that I haven't seen anyone mention them! Here's the link: ATI True Actinic 03 T5HO Fluorescent Bulbs

 

[nanoreefing4fun]

I am learning about bulbs too... a think some of these are "actinci bulbs" maybe someone else who knows can clarifiy.

http://www.reefgeek.com/product/39W_Aquablue_Special_T5_HO_Fluorescent_by_ATI

http://www.reefgeek.com/product/39W_Blue_Plus_T5_HO_Fluorescent_by_ATI

http://www.reefgeek.com/product/39W_Purple_Plus_T5_HO_Fluorescent_by_ATI

 

[Cassette87]

Hmmm.. guess I'll just order one and see how it goes. I have a feeling I'll prefer it in place of the purple plus based on my past experience.

 

[Cassette87]

Okay! Just placed my order with marine depot; ordered the following:

3X ATI 36 Inch 39W Blue Plus T5HO Fluorescent Bulb
2X ATI 36 Inch 39W Aquablue Special T5HO Fluorescent Bulb
1X ATI 36 Inch 39W Purple Plus T5HO Fluorescent Bulb
1X ATI 36 Inch 39W True Actinic 03 T5HO Fluorescent Bulb
1X D-D Giesemann Powerchrome 36 Inch 39W Midday T5HO Fluorescent Bulb

I ordered teh True Actinic ATI in the case that I don't care much for the Purple Plus, and ordered the Giesemann in the case the tank appears too blue to me!

in any case I can do comparison photos of any combination for you guys, since I'll have a few different ways to try this out!

 

[nanoreefing4fun]

Cheers Andy - sure you corals will Love them - let us know how you like the looks !

 

[Cassette87]

Lights are here, will be posting pics soon, are there any particular combos anyone wants to see?

 

[nanoreefing4fun]

Cool ! :chair: :lurk:

 

[Cassette87]

Okay!

So the colors of the FTS's all wash together as you guys have said, so i figured the best way to shoot the bulbs was to do a before and after FTS (of the setup I decided on)

First up, old FTS:

Old Bulbs: (yes, 2 were out)

ATI Actinic:

ATI Blue Plus:

ATI Aquablue Special:

ATI Purple Plus:

Giesemann Midday:

I decided to go with:
(front to back)

ATI BP
ATI ABS
ATI Actinic
ATI BP
ATI ABS
ATI BP

I felt that the Actinic made the corals flouresce just a bit more than the purple plus, and didnt add as much of a purple overtone

Final FTS:

Old Again:

 

[nanoreefing4fun]

Great pics & shots Andy - your corals are going to LOVE um !!! How you liking the new look? Looks great to me !

 

[Cassette87]

Thanks! I'm loving it! Amazing the difference in the colors of the coral!

 

[nanoreefing4fun]

 

[ErnestoC]

Just to be sure.... will theseT5s work with my RSM 250?

ATI Purple Plus T5HO Fluorescent Bulbs

ATI Blue Plus T5HO Fluorescent Bulbs

ATI Aquablue Special T5HO Fluorescent Bulbs

I plan to get new T5s as my RSM is about 2 years old and I got it used about 2 months ago so I don't know if my T5s are old or not...

Could this be affecting my tank? I am getting green algae or bacteria on the rocks and sand...

Thanks for all your help!

 

[nanoreefing4fun]

If your lights are older than 9 months... it is a good idea to replace them, some say.. 12

 

[ErnestoC]

If your lights are older than 9 months... it is a good idea to replace them, some say.. 12

I wish I really knew how old they are... the one who sold me the tank told me they were ok but never how old....

I will get them and start to count from there.

 

[ErnestoC]

I followed Dan's setup and I am more than happy, my tank looks great and the colors that my corals show are amazing!

This is how it looked before:

This is how it looks today:

ATI Bulbs:
Aquablue (Front)
Blue
ATI Purple Plus or Fiji Purple
Blue
Blue
Aquablue

Thanks Dan for your input on this!

 

[nanoreefing4fun]

Looks Great !

 

[oakleyx]

Your welcome! Your tank looks great!!

 

[ErnestoC]

Thanks guys!