Help me choose bulbs

Discussion in 'T5 Aquarium Lighting' started by Limerboy, May 22, 2009.

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  1. Limerboy

    Limerboy Spanish Shawl Nudibranch

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    OK guys finaly picked up a Tek fixture for my 50 gallon tank second hand. Its the 36 inch fixture with 4 bulbs. i was jsut wondering what bulb combination would be best for me. I want to be able to play with soft, lps and sps coral...

    After reading the bulb thread i like this combination:
    2 ATI Blue+
    1 KZ Fiji Purple
    1 UVL Super Actinic

    im jsut wondering if maybe this is too blue(maybe i can replace the UVL with and also if the wavelengths will be ok for me as i want a general tank with everything eventually (or maybe im asking too much with the different types of coral)
     
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  3. PharmrJohn

    PharmrJohn The Dude

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    Congrats on the purchase. It's a sweet fixture dude. Best to choose either an SPS dominant or LPS/Softie dominant though, as element levels tend to differ somewhat.....Otherwise, my lighting prefs are already put down to paper on the 'which is weaker' thread.
     
  4. Limerboy

    Limerboy Spanish Shawl Nudibranch

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    thanks pharmr after reading your posts i will stick with lps and softies (i would maybe try some acropora in the top section of the tank but only a small frag to see how it will do). I really would like to try to fiji purple because of some zoas i have but im not sure what other benefit it has...maybe i should go with this for the mixed reef i plan on doing...

    2 ATI Blue+
    1 UVL Actinic White
    1 UVL Super Actinic
     
  5. james37128

    james37128 Coral Banded Shrimp

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    Looks like a good combination, congrats on the tek fixture!!!
     
    Last edited: May 23, 2009
  6. marlinman

    marlinman Zoanthid

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    ATI and UVL are great bulbs. I have ATI Blue Plus and they are nice. I would ask the grim reefer at www.reefcentral.com what he thinks. Look for his thread, http://reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=1553614&perpage=25&pagenumber=7
    the guy is a T5 guru.
     
    Last edited: May 23, 2009
  7. Dr.Fragenstein

    Dr.Fragenstein Panda Puffer

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    Or instead of going to RC ask someone here... Contrary to the name the Fiji Purple has a good amount of red to it. Nice PAR as well.
    On a 55 four t5s would be enough to grow SPS, not sure why people are hesitant to grow LPS, and SPS together, unless you have killer flow and your candy canes rip like in my tank!
    Anyway I would try the first combo but take the super actinic out and try a Aquablue+
     
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  9. Limerboy

    Limerboy Spanish Shawl Nudibranch

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    thanks Dr frag ill go with your advice and see the results. I have read alot of your posts so im pretty confident with what u have to say. Thanks all for the advice