T5 Bulb Combos

[Jimmy]

I have a 24" 4x24w T5 setup that has this bulb combination:

 

Front

Hagen PowerGlo 18,000k

Hagen MarineGlo Actinic

Hagen PowerGlo 18,000k

Hagen MarineGlo Actinic

 

I'm looking into getting new bulbs because my Tubs Blue Zoas are blue, but not bright blue as they had been under my 14k halides, and I want them to look like they used to. Any suggestions on bulbs/combinations?

[jason the filter freak]

Go back to a halide? Use super actinic and atinic + bulbs

Edited November 22, 2007 by jason the filter freak

[zotzer]

Here is what I have in mine. Some of these bulbs are new, so there is a bit of a pink cast with all of the lights on, but that should diminish after they burn in for a few weeks:

 

Front to back:

AquaBlue

Super Actinic

AquaSun

460 Actinic

 

For even more blue, you may want to switch out the first bulb to a blue plus (but it's less par)

 

I don't have a lot of blue coral in my tank, but James gave me some zoas that glow the neatest blue/teal color in both actinic and full lighting with this configuration.

 

Good luck. Picking the right lamp configs has been an interesting challenge for me so far. Whatever you do, stay away from the actinic white lamp. Yucky!!!

 

Tracy

[steveoutlaw]

I would use 2 super actinic and 2 aquablue plus. When I had my 65g tank, I had a 6x39w fixture and had 2 super actinic, 3 aquablue plus and 1 daylight bulb. Color and growth were great.

[Jimmy]

Go back to a halide?

 

I'm not really looking to get another chiller.

[rioreef]

I dont go with any actinic.

 

I have 3 blueplus and 3 aquablues. Nice White(blue) look for me. Actinic takes up space that a higher par rating bulb could be lighting your tank. Don't like the yellowish the daylight bulbs put in.