Replacing T5 Bulbs

[Old Glory]

Hi I need to replace the bulbs that came with my light fixture. It is a 4 bulb 48" T5 fixture. I have a 90 gallon tank with some LPS, Mushrooms, Zoas, and a Toadstool. I am looking to eventualy try a few SPS like monti caps.

My thoughts on new bulbs were:

2x ATI Atinic 03
2x Giesemann Midday Power Chrome

I want to make the colors pop and ensure growth. Is this a good combo?

Thanks!

OG

 

[PasstheTorch]

I would go with 2 blue+ especially if you want some sps down the road. Still give you pop and blue but also the par or a daylight bulb to help your coral

 

[JohnK]

Yea, I'd avoid the actinic bulbs, they give you pop but little PAR. Blue + pops OK and has lots of PAR.

If I were to do a 4 bulb set up I would go with 2 blue + and 2 aquablue.

 

[WoodRiverTroutBum]

I have 2 blue plus and 2 aqua blue specials and really like it. I have thought about switching one of the ABS for a Purple plus but not sure if that will have negative effects on coral health/growth.

 

[Old Glory]

Hi thanks for the replies. With the 2 ABS and 2 Blue+ set up is it overly blue?

 

[JohnK]

Crisp white/blue. The aquablue special looks white to the eye but it actually has a heavy concentration of blue on the spectrual graph. Kind of hard to explain, but the two bulbs look real nice together.

 

[danzig]

when i had my t5 4 bulb fixture set up i had 2 blue+ and 2 ABS and it looked great, not too blue.

 

[Old Glory]

Thanks! What about subbing out a Blue + for a Coral + to bring out some reds?

Back
ABS
Coral +
ABS
Blue +
Front

 

[FinsUp!]

I'm thinking of switching out the 10k and the Fiji purple on my fixture for 2 ABS so that my bulbs are as follows:

Blue +
ABS
Blue +
ABS

It's too white for my liking right now and the fiji purple gives the light a reddish tinge. from what I've seen the 2x blue+ 2x ABS combo is really nice.

 

[PasstheTorch]

I would not replace your blue + with a coral plus. It will look really white, it will give you a 12k look
2 blue + and 2 abs will give you 14k

2 blue + and two coral + will give you 20 k

2 blue + one coral + and a purple plus will be 18k+ a little red hue.

( all are just estimates on kelvin but pretty accurate)

 

[SteveDola]

2 blue + = good par/nice blue
1 coral + - gives an array of red/pink and blue/white
1 KZ new generation - good par and 12k color

for 4 bulbs this would be my choice. gives a 15k-18k color with a little red in it to help pop colors other than green/blue. I like the coral+ rather than the purple + because of the increased par and whiter appearance. Purple + is basically an actinic bulb IMO.

 

[MofoCorals]

The best color I have ever gotten is from
2 ati blue +
1 ati aquablue
1 kz Fiji purple

Also got great growth from them in my 55 gallon.

 

[vypa]

The best color I have ever gotten is from
2 ati blue +
1 ati aquablue
1 kz Fiji purple

Also got great growth from them in my 55 gallon.

+1
I have 2 ati aquablue special, 1 ati blue+, & 1 purple on my T5.

All on.

Blue+ & purple.

 

[Old Glory]

Thanks! Been doing a lot of reading and looking at combo suggestions online. I am oing to order a few extras and see what combo works best. My "stock" bulbs were 2 10000k and 2Atinic. The tank is much whiter than the pics above.

Thank you for all your help.