Different T5 bulbs in one fixture

[Darby]

I bought a Nova Extreme 48" 4 bulb light (with the moonlights) online last month. When it arrived, all of the bulbs were smashed. Rather than go through teh rigamaroll of returning it, I figured that I'd just clean it out and get a refund for teh bulbs so I could buy some locally. Did that, but then discovered that the broken glass has severed one or more of the LED power lines, as well as one of the wires for one of the lights. So, back it went, and a new one came, with only 1 broken light (luckily still in it's sleeve!).

Anyways, the NE comes with aome pretty high wavelength bulbs, 18Kks. The replacements I bought were only 10Kks, as well as a 6.5Kk. Would it be assinine to put an actinic, an 18Kk, a 10Kk, and a 6.5Kk all in one fixture, or should they all pretty much be the same wavelength?

I already have a pair of T8 actinics (one at teh front, one at the back) of the canopy, which is why I only went with on in the center of the new fixture...

 

[Wes]

you can put any combination of bulb types in it you want. many people often put half and half of 10ks and actinics like your 18k. ive seen a combo of 2 actinics, 1 10k and 1 6.5k to get growth but keep the bright blue

 

[Darby]

Excellent, that's what I was hoping. With the 2 T8 actinics, and the one in the T5 fixture it should stay pretty blue, while offering all sorts of wavelengths.

Thanks

 

[Jeff]

It depends on what look you're going for. Say you want a 14k 'look' then you might want three bluer bulbs and a whiter bulb.
The guy to ask about t5 bulb combos is Grim Reefer on reefcentral.com. He answered my question in a pm but his 'advise' thread has been split about 7 times and he can specifiy exactly what name bulbs in what order you would want in the canopy for a certain look. Here's the current thread:

http://reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=1429542

 

[gmax]

Yeah and the current USA bulbs that come with the fixtures are crap. I would consider switching them out for better bulbs in a hurry.

If you have any reds and pinks in your tank, consider one of the bulbs being an ATI Pro Color bulb. It really brings out the red/pink spectrum.

I have 8 t-5 bulbs over my 55 and I have all kinds of different bulbs, just none of them are the stuff that came with the Nova Extreme.

 

[DaveJ]

@gmax wrote:

Well said...

I'd recommend 2 ATI Blue Plus on the outter sockets and 1 ATI Pro Color and 1 Geissmann Daylight in the center.

 

[gmax]

The GE daylight is a pretty good bulb too, and usually cheaper than the Giessmann.

I tend to agree with Dave that will be a lot of light and slightly blue like being in the ocean at around 20 feet down or so. If you must one actinic bulb in place of one of the blue plus.

 

[Lance]

@gmax wrote:

I also agree. I changed my bulbs out about a month ago with the Gissman (sp?) and I love the colors and I am even growing SPS under them. I have two 10k and two pure atinic and it gives a good and even better color than the current could ever have done. Bulbs were ~ $110 for all four from Plano Pets.

 

[DaveJ]

@gmax wrote:

Yep the GE is a fine one as well. The reason I go with the dual blues is the color pops are much more vibrant than with the regular actinics, but thats just a personal preference. They also give more par.. so you can stack them unlike the actinics.

 

[Darby]

What I find funny is that in aquarium lighting, everyone seems to be going for blues, while when you dive in the ocean, you want a read filter on your light to be able to see the true colors of the corals and fish!

 

[Wes]

you have to consider our tanks are only a meter at most deep in some of the larger tanks (most about a half a meter) while underwater at only 15 meters red light is almost completely absorbed.