Question regarding lighting for frag tank.

Hello everyone ...

I know we see a million threads a month like this ... but I need some help making a decision.

I have a 55 gallon frag tank, with a 4x54W T-5 fixture over top of it. Current bulbs are two actinics, and a fiji purple, and a 12000K bulb.

Photo Period: 10am Actinics on
12pm other two on
8pm other two off
10pm actinics off

I hate the results I currently have. Growth is slow and hardly noticeable. My display has a 400 watt Lumenarc LIII Stealth, with an Ushio 20K bulb, and growth is phenomenal.

The parameters are near identical, skimmer is overrated for the tank, water changes are occurring every 16 days (due to work schedule)

So, before I completely crack and throw away t-5's and swear them off for life ... I'm going to order 4 new bulbs, and give it another whirl.

I'm looking for growth, I had the actinics just for looks ... but thats not important to me at all at this point.

What is the best 4 bulb combination, spectrum wise, and why? Any and all input is appreciated!

 

for best growth you should go with 6500K to 10000K bulbs. this will be really white and the corals will have their "natural" daytime colors

 

If you are looking for growth alone then buy the GE6500K for all 4. If you want growth and a little color do 2 GE and 2 10000K. Do all 10000K if you want color and growth. Don't use actinics they have a PAR rating around 120 to 150. You could also replace the actinics with ATI blue pluses.

The USHIO bulb is probably closer to 12000k spectrum wise.

 

+1 best growth comes under the spectrum that more closely matches the sun. I've heard that though ugly, 6500k bulbs give some huge growth.