t five lighting and soft corals

I have a two bulb t five fixture with a 10,000k day light lamp, and a actinic 03 lamp. There is four LED's built into the fixture, and reflectors. Is there better bulbs i can be using? and is it possible for me to keep any time of soft corals or anything like that?

 

what size tank?

 

That's a big un, up there in the quote field... On a 30 gallon (currently) I'm running 420 Actinic bub and one 12,000 bulb on a 6 hour schedule (using a coralife timer) and my softies are DIGGIN it! With my xenia splitting and "jumping" non-stop!

The schedule used to minimize algae, but my cuc died off without me knowing.. once the cuc was back algae went in to instant recession.

 

ten gan nano about 12 in deep

 

Is the T5 a HO (high output) or NO (normal output) fixture?

Either way, if it's a HO, then yes to all of what you have asked- consider the ATI, UV lighting, and Giesemann bulbs, all three are very good bulbs.

If your fixture is NO T5 then you might have some troubles keeping a leather coral (or any softie) as happy as it could be with better lighting.

Not impossible, but consider coral placement in the tank- higher up means more light.

You wont know until you try.

 

I think you should be fine with the mix you have on your 10g system. Just remember to replace your bulbs on a regular schedule and you'll be fine. As for bulbs, I like Hamilton and Geismann.

 

I run all ATI in my T5 fixture. I love their bulbs!!

 

The bulbs I have on hand and the ones I have tried are as follows-

ATI
Coralview
Coralife
Helios (they are longer then standard T5 bulbs)
Hamilton
Giesemann
UV Lighting
ZooMed

(mind you I only have experience with 30", 36", and 48").

For best color- in this order

ATI/Giesemann
UV Lighting
ZooMed/Coralife
Helios
Hamliton
Coralvue

For sheer output- in this order:

UV Lighting
Helios
ATI/Giesemann
ZooMed/Coralife
Hamliton
Coralvue

I have no PAR meter to test this opinion- only my eyes and my critters, and what they prefer.

Oh and BTW, I use industrial quality T5 dual bulb balasts from Howard, as they are very efficient and have a high power factor. My reflector is a CA individual parabolic style of german made HO aluminium.