T5 bulb colors

[zensaiyan]

so i have been contemplating going with changing my bulbs in my aquactinics t5 fixture. current bulbs are:

2 aquablue +
1 actinic +
1 pure actinic
1 10K aquasun

all are Giesemann brand bulbs. i feel like the color in my tank is a little too white and that the fluorescence of some of the corals are not meeting their true potential. i was thinking about changing out the 10K aquasun and one of the aquablue +, and buying 2 more actinic + and 1 more pure actinic (buying 3 new bulbs just to swap the bulbs around to see what i like). i am worried about coral growth with the new combination though. it seems that corals grow best under 10K lighting, and that is one of the bulbs that i will be removing. does anyone know if changing the bulbs around will:

A. decrease coral growth significantly?
B. will the new bulb combinations 'blue up' my tank significantly?

any suggestions or comments would be appreciated.

[Jim Tansey]

I don't see how it could be too white with that combination but I would not remove the only 10K you have.

Jim

[wrassefan]

I think the aquablue plus are 11k and that does make is more white. I think I like the look of 3 6500k sun bulbs with 2 blues and 1 actinic...jmo

[zensaiyan]

I think the aquablue plus are 11k and that does make is more white. I think I like the look of 3 6500k sun bulbs with 2 blues and 1 actinic...jmo

is this the setup that you have? do you happen to have a picture i could see?

[Casino]

I would have:

2 10K aquasun
2 pure actinic
1 actinic +

[wrassefan]

is this the setup that you have? do you happen to have a picture i could see?

I have 4 bulb set up on my frag tank (75 drilled). I overdrive with an IC660 ..I use 2 GE starfire 6000k sun bulbs, 1 blue and 1 actinic (both are Giesmann but I still like the ATI bulbs better). I have heard good things about the actinic bulb from URI. I think Liam is using them.

[Jill & Brian]

if you feel the tank is too white, i whould change out an aquablue+ for a GE 6500. Also the URI/UVL actinics are supposed to be much better for florescing than the geismann.

The GE is the cheapest bulb you can buy, and it has the most par output, so it is a win win.

-Brian

[zensaiyan]

isn't a 6500K a yellowish color bulb?

[chief]

I have same Aquatinic Tx5's.
my original setup was:
1 ATI Blue Plus - 311 par
3 ATI 12000K Aqua blue Special - 336 par
5 ATI Blue PLus - 311 par

2 UVL 10000k Aqua Sun - 345 par
4 GE 6500k Daylights - par 340

I then tried switching my Aqua Blue Special out because my tank was too white... so I switched it with my xtra bulb "Super Actinic". all i can say is WOW! what a HUGE difference. every coral is so much more florescent and brighter it's like a new tank. all my pink's are extremely bright and greens look aweseome now.

[zensaiyan]

i think i am going to pickup a blue plus and a super actinic, and switch out an aquablue with them to see how each looks.