Im Going Topless!!!

Its no joke im going topless with my tank;D. makin an upgrade. i ordered a 20" Nova Extreme Pro 6x18w t5 HO, has 3 actinic bulbs and 3 10000k bulbs. 16.5 inch bulbs

so im getting rid of my stock biocube hood and will be mounting the new lights when they arrive. Now having no experience with T5, im curious to what are the best bulbs for this system? having six bulbs to utilize, im wanting to get a nice wide range spectrum of light....

pics on arrival......probly end of the week

 

Hmmm, Giesemann and UV are good bulbs. As for color combos Im still a newbie on that.

 

Whoa now!! hahha Congrats! I don't know much about bulbs, but I do know you should get a fiji purple. My favorite!

 

Unfortunately Current is the only manufacturer of 20" bulbs. There are 3 choices. 10000K
460nm and actinic. The bulbs you have now will work for your tank. If it looks to dark to you add a 460 or two or a 10000k in place of the actinic. You will need to light acclimate your corals with the new light. The T5 is much stronger than your PC bulbs.

 

I have the nova system as well 48 in. (x6 54 wat 3 day 3 actinic) factory bulbs but adding a purple i think will add to the spectrum well. I did something kinda funny when i got my nova fixture tho... i couldn't deal with the crazy light beaming into the room without the hood so i just cut a hole in my canopy when the fixture was going and boom no light in the room... but now i cant sell my canopy for much if i wanted to

 

Oh wait, I just read the topic only at first....

 

Congrats on the upgrade. I too removed the stock hood and went topless not too long ago. Get ready for the huge increase in evaporation.