View Full Version : T-5 Bulb Selection
ooja3k
10-13-2007, 6:34 PM
Im looking to upgrade the standard bulbs in my 36" Nova Extreme T-5 fixture...
Right now it has the stock 2 Slimpaq 10000k and 2 Slimpaq actinic plus
I'm thinking about getting:
2 - D&D/Giesemann Aquablue Plus
1 - URI Super Actinic
1 - URI Aquasun
What do you guys think???
What T-5 bulb configurations are you guys running/would recommend???
archer772
10-13-2007, 10:08 PM
With those bulbs you should get good par and I think the color will be about like a 10k, you might think about 3 Blueplus and the 1 actinic, with that it might bring you closer to a 12k-14k color wise but it depends what color you like either way those combo's will give good par.
Amphiprion
10-13-2007, 10:55 PM
The Aquasun is a good tube, however, I would suggest the ATI tubes for your other selections in place of D&D. They have a higher PAR on average. I am curious to know what their re-released SunPro tube can do--it was even brighter than the Aquasun before. All BluePlus and an actinic tube would give you more like a 20K look. What you have now will give you more of the 12-14K look (with a decent amount of PAR).
archer772
10-13-2007, 11:09 PM
The reason I thought his choice would give a 10k look is because I am running 2 D&D's 1 GE Starcoat and 1 Actinic and that is a little more yellow than a 10k look at least to me it is
ooja3k
10-13-2007, 11:31 PM
i was going to go with that selection to avoid getting too blue of a color....
so maybe i would replace the aquasun with a sunpro...
where is a good place to get ATI bulbs?
ooja3k
10-14-2007, 12:26 AM
reefgeek.com only has the new ati Pro color... not the sun one...
im now thinking 2 10000k aquasuns and 2 super actinic...
what about that setup?
ooja3k
10-14-2007, 12:29 AM
or what about 4 12000k actinic white bulbs???
http://www.reefgeek.com/lighting/Replacement_Bulbs/T5_Fluorescent/39W_12000K_Actinic_White_(50!50)_T5_HO_Fluorescent _by_UV_Lighting
ooja3k
10-14-2007, 12:41 AM
i give up...
i don't even have the money to do it now.....
after christmas!
ooja3k
10-14-2007, 12:54 AM
reefgeek.com only has the new ati Pro color... not the sun one...
im now thinking 2 10000k aquasuns and 2 super actinic...
what about that setup?
i actually think i will go this route...
i have a credit at drsfostersmith so it might work....
Amphiprion
10-14-2007, 8:05 AM
reefgeek.com only has the new ati Pro color... not the sun one...
im now thinking 2 10000k aquasuns and 2 super actinic...
what about that setup?
My bad. It seems they only have it in 48" 54w tubes. What you decided on will work, but it is lacking a bit in PAR. The superactinics just don't have nearly enough PAR compared to the "blue (insert name here)" bulbs. I would go for just one actinic and try a blue bulb instead of the other one. I think you will be happier with that.
Archer, you may be right about that. I read the initial post incorrectly in that I thought it was referring to a different aquablue bulb, which is a 12K tube. It may indeed be more yellow than that.