T5ho

Hi all


i have a 4x18w t5ho fixture over a 5 gallon nano, 2x 10000k and 2x actinic blue with a total wattage of 72w = about 14 wpg and a tank of 12'' tall(i know it's too much but with proper acclimation i'd be fine and i wanna be able to keep anything under it), anyway so i'm not a fan of 50/50, can i replace one of the 10000k with an actinic blue to get a much bluer look? 1 10k and 3 actinic blues?

i'm also thinking maybe i could get a fiji purple but i'm not sure if i can find any bulbs with the right size, aquatraders don't sell any fiji purple.

BTW the fixture is an odyssea 20'' 4x18w 72w, the light bulbs are exactly 17.10'' pin to pin, i don't want to buy another brand bulb that would not fit in the fixture, if anyone knows any bulbs i could get 18w for that size ?

Thanks

 

Go by the wattage and not the length of the bulb, any 18w t5ho bulb will fit the fixture. The color is up to you but getting somewhat of a full color spectrum is best. Look on the box the bulb came in and it will show you the wavelengths that bulb will produce and how much. I myself just took out a 6500k bulb because it was causing hair algea to grow.

 

Oh that clearly proves my stupidity sorry, i didn't really get the wavelengths part so just to make this clear, would 1 10000, 2 actinic blue, 1 fiji purple be fine for all kind of coral anemones?

i'm thinking of replacing the 2 10k with 1 12k and a 420nm actinic purple from current usa and just use the 2 actinic blues for now?

 

DON'T feel stupid, nobody was born with the knowledge of anything ) The 420-470nm wavelengths are for more shallow water and the 10-20k bulbs penitrate deeper. Just don't go past the 420nm wavelength as this get into the uv sterilizers and will hurt instead of help. Yes using a combo of these gives you what you need, from there it's simply the color you like from your tank. There's a article I foung very helpful but can't remember where, if I can find it I will post it for you.

 

Check this out
Aquarium Lighting; Reef, Planted Light Information. PAR, Bulb, Watt, Kelvin, Nanometers, MH, LED.

 

But i thought you can't grow corals under only actinics (450-460nm) but would need a combo of daylight + actinic even for shallow?

Anyway i think i would reconsider and just use 2 10k/2 actinic blue for now, and later i may add supplemental LEDs with the 450-460 nm wavelengths range.

Thanks for your kind words and link!

 

A combo of super blues and 10k and up, look at the box or search the wavelengths of your colors, then search what corals and types of corals need.

 

Acinics will help the corals color but not there growth. You need a combination of daylight and actinics to get them to grow.

 

Blue bulbs penetrate deeper than white bulbs. Actinics are good for color only, there wavelength is 420nm. Most blues are 440nm to 470nm.

Coralife, I believe AquaticLife and UVL have 18" bulbs. Use a 75/25 UVL for the Fiji Purple.

 

Will re-read the article, don't want to steer anybody wrong. It's been over a year since I read it. Maybe read the article and see if it's correct to your knowledge, there are bad articles out there. Sorry if info was incorrect !!