T5 bulb recommendation

[jose102173]

I currently have a 8-54 watt fixture on my 110 DT. Bulbs are front to back
Blue +
Blue +
Purple +
Aquablue special
Blue+
Aquablue special
Purple+
Aquablue special
Any better bulb combination. Also thinking about getting a reef brite strip.
Which one would be a good idea?

Thanks,
Jose

 

[jgraz]

I currently use
B+
B+
C+
B+
B+
C+
B+
B+

I like blue though.

 

[jose102173]

I wanted to start adding more sps to my tank was just wondering what bulbs would give me maximum growth and coloration
Thanks,
Jose

 

[mnat]

Mine is similiar to Jgraz, I just have 1 or 2 purple plus just to bring the reds out on some of my fish.

IIRC, the blue+ has some amazing par for the spectrum so you should get your growth and color. Do a search for ATI par ratings and grim reefer (he did some tests a while back) and you should get your answers.

 

[kschweer]

Agreed. I like the bulb combo jgraz listed. Like mike said maybe add a purple+ in there somewhere. I run a combo very similar in my 6 bulb

 

[horseplay]

Your combo is very white. I would start with 6 B+, 1 C+ and 1 P+. If it's too blue then use 2 C+ instead of 1. I like P+ which bring out the red.

 

[jgraz]

And I suppose I should have added that I too will be moving to add a purple bulb to my combo as well. But I will pull a b+ to do so.
I am also preparing to switch to all giesemann bulbs. Mainly because of local availability.

 

[jose102173]

Does the order of the bulbs matter?

 

[kschweer]

Order of bulbs can make a difference, you can play around with location and see what you think. It's usually minimal. I like having 2 blue+ come on first then the rest of the bulbs personally. But a blue+ and purple+ make a good "dawn/dusk" as well. I would recommend a reefbrite strip too, I love mine.

 

[jose102173]

Order of bulbs can make a difference, you can play around with location and see what you think. It's usually minimal. I like having 2 blue+ come on first then the rest of the bulbs personally. But a blue+ and purple+ make a good "dawn/dusk" as well. I would recommend a reefbrite strip too, I love mine.

Which reef brite strip should I get? I have an older t5 fixture with 2 switches four bulbs each.

 

[Sunny]

You have too many aqua blue special. In a 8 bulb fixture, 5 blue+, 2 purple plus and one coral plus.

 

[kschweer]

Which reef brite strip should I get? I have an older t5 fixture with 2 switches four bulbs each.

With 8 bulbs I would recommend the XHO strip.

 

[jose102173]

With 8 bulbs I would recommend the XHO strip.

What color of strip?

 

[Sunny]

I am using a all blue reefbrite XHO with 10 T5 bulbs. Honestly it is no more than a moon light when T5 are lit. You hardly see it.