That time again. Need bulbs. Recommendations?

[MPevine11]

40 gallon breeder.


What kind of 36 inch light bulbs/color combo should I go with? Open to any suggestions


(Currently have 2x aquablue spezial & 2 blue plus)
Should I change it up?

 

[reefstarter]

if it works why change it , Id say thats plenty over a 40 . if you wanted a bit more intensity maybe add 1 coral plus . but that will make it look less blue

 

[MPevine11]

What does the purple plus do? Was thinking of switching one out for a purple plus

 

[dilligaf29]

i use 1 coral+ 1blue + 1 purple + 1 blue + all ati bulbs i like the look

 

[P-Nut]

40 gallon breeder.


What kind of 36 inch light bulbs/color combo should I go with? Open to any suggestions


(Currently have 2x aquablue spezial & 2 blue plus)
Should I change it up?

This is what I have. It works.

 

[Jim Tansey]

I use 2 Blue+ ,2 Coral+, 1 Aquablue, 1 Purple+. The only one I don't like is the Purple+, I changed it to the back of the tank it gives more of an orange tone.

Jim

 

[Nanoreef15]

here is what I use
4 blue plus
1 coral plus
1 purple plus
2 actinic

== 8 bulbs

 

[Bobbofin]

40 gallon breeder.


What kind of 36 inch light bulbs/color combo should I go with? Open to any suggestions


(Currently have 2x aquablue spezial & 2 blue plus)
Should I change it up?

I have 2 coral plus and 2 blue plus in my fixture on my 40 breeder. It's what ATI recommends for a nice 16,000k look. I tried swapping one of the blue plus for a purple plus and did not like the look at all.

Here's info right off the www atinorthamerica dot com website

16K - 20K - Bluish white with a noticable blue and red under-tone

4-Bulb combination
3 ATI Blue Plus
1 ATI Purple Plus

6-Bulb combination
4 ATI Blue Plus
1 ATI Coral Plus
1 ATI Purple Plus

8-Bulb combination
5 ATI Blue Plus
2 ATI Coral Plus
1 ATI Purple Plus

10-Bulb combination
6 ATI Blue Plus
3 ATI Coral Plus
1 ATI Purple Plus

12K - 16K - Cool white with a noticable blue and red under-tone

4-Bulb combination
2 ATI Blue Plus
2 ATI Coral Plus

6-Bulb combination
3 ATI Blue Plus
2 ATI Coral Plus
1 ATI Purple Plus

8-Bulb combination
4 ATI Blue Plus
3 ATI Coral Plus
1 ATI Purple Plus

10-Bulb combination
5 ATI Blue Plus
4 ATI Coral Plus
1 ATI Purple Plus

10K - 14K - Crisp white with just a hint of blue

4-Bulb combination
2 ATI Blue Plus
1 ATI Aquablue Special
1 ATI Purple Plus

6-Bulb combination
3 ATI Blue Plus
2 ATI Aquablue Special
1 ATI Purple Plus

8-Bulb combination
4 ATI Blue Plus
2 ATI Aquablue Special
2 ATI Purple Plus

10-Bulb combination
5 ATI Blue Plus
3 ATI Aquablue Special
2 ATI Purple Plus

 

[Bobbofin]

here is what I use
4 blue plus
1 coral plus
1 purple plus
2 actinic

== 8 bulbs

Must be really blue like with MH Radiums, with the actinics things must POP!

 

[The Reef Pit]

I ditched the purple a long time ago, what I run now all ati is 3 blue plus ,1 coral plus 1 aqua blue special , and 1 actnic

 

[MPevine11]

What size tank are you all running? I feel like 6 bulbs would be to much light?

Maybe not

 

[Bobbofin]

What size tank are you all running? I feel like 6 bulbs would be to much light?

Maybe not

On my 40 breeder I have a Current USA Sundial 4x24w fixture. It lights it perfectly fine. My SPS are growing fine. With a water depth of only 13" with the sand bed and area above the water line I would highly discourage a 6 bulb fixture unless you were doing SPS only. With a 6 bulb fixture you would not be able to put LPS or softies in the tank at all, it's just to shallow and would be to just too bright for them. Just buy the two coral plus and two blue plus bulbs and you'll be fine. I absolutely love the color of the tank with this bulb combo. It's what ATI recommends for a 12-16k look. It's not too white but not too blue either. I hope that chart I pasted in helps. I would never put a purple plus bulb in a 4 bulb fixture. Maybe one in a 6 bulb fixture but it's just too much in a 4 bulb fixture. It makes the tank have purple hue not blue.

 

[JTM4UG]

I have a 6 bulb anti over my 29 mixed reef
3 blue plus, 1 purple plus, 1 aqua blue special and 1 actinic and I love it.

 

[saltwaterB]

if it works why change it , Id say thats plenty over a 40 . if you wanted a bit more intensity maybe add 1 coral plus . but that will make it look less blue

Actually the Coral plus will make the original configuration more blue and less intense...Coral plus is like a 15K light and Aquablue Special is more like a 10K...

I was going to suggest; (2) blue plus (1) Coral Plus (1) Aquablue special one of my favorite combos.