Lighting combination opinions...

[deynon09]

I have an Aquamedic 2x250 mh, 2x54 t5 lighting system, and I think I need to get new bulbs. I have a few Acros towards the top of the tank, some Candycanes and other lps on the substrate, etc. and I have a blue Ultra clam that I got from Jeremy at the meeting. I want to get good growth from my sps but good color as well.

That being said, my thought is to go with the Pheonix 14K and some regular actinics, as per some opinions on posts I read from the search I did.

The other option I've heard (and I couldn't find anything answering this question on the searches... yes, I did look) Get a "brand" (what's the best for this??) of 10K's and get the Geissmann "super actinics" for the T5's. Does anyone have experience with these T5's? Do they give a richer color for the money? or are they just regular actinics?

What has anyone else found that works well for a rich blue quality to the lighting combined with good growth?

 

[paulthomas]

I have an Aquamedic 2x250 mh, 2x54 t5 lighting system, and I think I need to get new bulbs. I have a few Acros towards the top of the tank, some Candycanes and other lps on the substrate, etc. and I have a blue Ultra clam that I got from Jeremy at the meeting. I want to get good growth from my sps but good color as well.

That being said, my thought is to go with the Pheonix 14K and some regular actinics, as per some opinions on posts I read from the search I did.

The other option I've heard (and I couldn't find anything answering this question on the searches... yes, I did look) Get a "brand" (what's the best for this??) of 10K's and get the Geissmann "super actinics" for the T5's. Does anyone have experience with these T5's? Do they give a richer color for the money? or are they just regular actinics?

What has anyone else found that works well for a rich blue quality to the lighting combined with good growth?

Is that a SE or DE Phoenix? If single-ended, you might look at Giesemann's 14.5K SE lamps. Sanjay really likes them and I believe, is currently using them with IceCap ballasts. For T5s, I went with what Jeremy at Premium Aquatics suggested. He said to give the Giesemann Pure Actinic 03 and ATI Blue Plus lamps a try for good dawn/dusk effect, color and growth. As for actinics, he said that the Pure Actinic 03 is as good as it gets for T5.

 

[afboundguy]

You could also get ATI Blue + bulbs instead of actinics. They pop just as much IME plus you get the PAR of a daylight bulb and that sweet blue color...

 

[JayM]

If it's DE get the Ushio 14k bulbs. Awesome color, awesome Par.

I'm a blue+ fan too. I run 1 of those, and one geismann actinic+.

not sure I'm using the actinic+ when those bulbs go, might go 2x UVL blue+

 

[this is me]

For dawn and dust effect, I'm running the ATI blue+ and totally ditched the actinic. I don't like the purple from the actinic light. Purely personal preference I guess.

 

[UncleJT]

If it's DE get the Ushio 14k bulbs. Awesome color, awesome Par. I'm a blue+ fan too. I run 1 of those, and one geismann actinic+.

+1

 

[deynon09]

I'm waiting on the light meter to see if I actually need to change the bulbs yet. Does anyone have a similar config that I could come see? Thanx for the thoughts...

 

[JayM]

well, my fixture is a maristar...but it is a 2x250 DE with Ushio bulbs and actinic/blue plus....

 

[stingythingy45]

I would also suggest the Ushio 1400 K
bulbs for growth especially DE.
This is not a tip.......but reality.

 

[deynon09]

Hmmm. Okay, Ushio seems to be the favorite. I'm curious as to what a poll would say, but from the opinions I'm getting here, I think the Ushio's would have it. Good to know. Thanx everyone for input.

 

[UncleJT]

If I wasn't running single-ended moguls, I'd be using the Ushio 14KK DE.

 

[Joel A]

if i wasn't running an ATI t5 fixture... well wait.. nevermind

 

[deynon09]

if i wasn't running an ATI t5 fixture... well wait.. nevermind

funny... for those of us who are jealous...

 

[stingythingy45]

funny... for those of us who are jealous...

Not I.
I'll take the shimmer of halide over t5 any day.

 

[deynon09]

true, true

 

[stingythingy45]

true, true

Yup,if you can take the heat,$$$ for the electric bills,it's the way to go.

 

[Joel A]

Not I.
I'll take the shimmer of halide over t5 any day.

you're just saying that cause you just got your first metal halides

 

[stingythingy45]

you're just saying that cause you just got your first metal halides

And you're just saying it,cause you have a high end T5 set up.

 

[deynon09]

I've actually looked on some other forums and heard that the Ushio's 14K's are a little more like a 10K on other bulbs. I really want to have a little blue with the MH's. Also as I look at the connectors for the Ushio's, they look round with porcelain on the ends. My sockets are a flat, metal "slide in" config. Does that make a difference with the type of bulb I can get? I know the Phoenix bulbs will fit without any problem. How does that fit into the whole equation?

 

[UncleJT]

I've actually looked on some other forums and heard that the Ushio's 14K's are a little more like a 10K on other bulbs.

Supplement with T5's that have some blue in them such as the ATI Blue+ lamps. They are a combination of Blue and Actinic 03.

The Ushio lamps will fit your Aquamedic hood no problem. I've run Ushio DE's in Aquamedic hoods before. All DE sockets are the same and all bulbs should be the same. I'm not sure what you are looking at.