t-5 bulb questions

alright after 3 weeks of looking and debate i have taken a left turn and i am going to a 4 bulb t5 setup with 2 icecap retro leds as back up. I have the icecap 660 ballast right now running my vho's. So I was thinking of getting the icecap t5 bulbs but they have 5 to chose from and i can only have 4 in my system. So heres the question what combination would you choose. They have a 10k,12k,14k, antinic and a twilight. The more opinions and facts would be super helpful i am ordering or going to buy in the next few days.

Thanks,
Pat

 

Two twilights, 1 14K and 1 12K. Get the 10K to give you a bulb to play around with for color and growth. Actinics have minimal PAR and would be a bad choice in a 4 bulb unit.

 

bump

 

go with ATI bulbs & KZ Fiji Purple, better PAR. I would get this set-up if I was running a 4-bulb in this order:

ATI Blue +
KZ Fiji Purple
ATI AquaBlue Special
ATI Blue +

 

I've been using this setup for a few months. Looks great.

 

Actinic generally don't have much PAR, but I used them in a 4 bulb fixture and really like them. Just to let you know, any T5 bulb can be used, but by overdriving them, you will use useful life and it shifts the color spectrum a bit. Also I believe the Ice cap bulbs are made by UVL or Icecap makes the UVL bulbs, one way or the other, but either way, I think UVL and Icecap bulbs are all the same. I would go with two actinics and two 12K bulbs. I had that combo for a while and liked it. I had good growth and color. You may want to consider add an ATI Blue+ instead of an Actinic, so 2 12K, 1 Blue+ and 1 Actinic. The Blue+ has more PAR and the Blue+ and Actinic as a sunrise/set combo looks really nice.

 

Aquarium Lighting; Kelvin, Nanometers, PAR, Bulb, Watt, MH, LED, Light Basics.


should answer any questions

 

Yea I am also adding 2 of the icecap retro LEDs so it will kinda have 6 bulbs all this info is great. Who makes the better bulb

 

If this Reef Addicts - IceCap's Retro LED Moonlighting is what you are talking about, they are meant to be moonlights, so really don't count as normal lights.