Need Help Picking Out T5 Fixture!

wattsupdoc

wattsupdoc

Active Member
Stick with ATI, UVL, or Geisman bulbs, you'll be OK. I run UVL's. $ 10K's ans 4 super actinics. Really it's just a prefference thing with those brands. I cant speak for current, but those three brands are considered to smoke the others. Also I did hear the GE lamp listed above was a good choice, but only that spectrum from them.
 
reeffreakgeek

reeffreakgeek

Member
Originally Posted by Eaglephot
Cool! Thanks all!
I ordered 6 kits so that will be 12 fixtures! I can't wait to see what these lights do for my tank!
I got 6 T5 HO SlimPaq Actinic 460nm bulbs by Current and 6 T5 daylight SlimPaq bulbs which are 10,000ks by current. Those are good, right? Just making sure!

I sure wish you would of ask us first.ATI and UV bulbs have much better PAR than the slimpaqs.You would get better colors mixing different bulbs from those ATI,UV and GE midday bulbs.
 
nycbob

nycbob

Active Member
maybe u can return some of them after receiving the bulbs. just tell them u didnt like to color.
 
hammerhed7

hammerhed7

Active Member
I just ordered a nova extreme pro 36" with the individual reflectors for my 46 reef, I know they are new and not alot of people have them yet, I decided to give it a try, on sale at the doctors for $295, for a 6x39, worth a shot I guess
 
eaglephot

eaglephot

Member
Originally Posted by reeffreakgeek
I sure wish you would of ask us first.ATI and UV bulbs have much better PAR than the slimpaqs.You would get better colors mixing different bulbs from those ATI,UV and GE midday bulbs.
Please tell me exactly what to get. Not just brands. I need brands, colors, codes, bulb names etc whatever.
Give me a list that will give me the best color and best lighting. I can get 12 total bulbs 6 on each side of the canopy. I'll just return the bulbs I ordered. Thanks so much for your help everyone!

I ordered 6 T5 HO retrofit kits from hellolights. I have read on here that those are pretty good.
 
isistius

isistius

Active Member
Originally Posted by Eaglephot
Please tell me exactly what to get. Not just brands. I need brands, colors, codes, bulb names etc whatever.
Give me a list that will give me the best color and best lighting. I can get 12 total bulbs 6 on each side of the canopy. I'll just return the bulbs I ordered. Thanks so much for your help everyone!

I ordered 6 T5 HO retrofit kits from hellolights. I have read on here that those are pretty good.
this is a really tough call. there are so many options, and what it really comes down to is color preference. i currently have a 5bulb fixture, and i'm running a ge 3500k, ge 6500k, and 3 geissmann actinic plus. i decided on this combination because this was over my frag tank - so i wanted growth, hence the 3500k and 6500k bulbs. the bluse were just for MY viewing pleasure. however, since i am moving everything (including the light) into a different tank, i will be switching the bulbs out for ati's - 3 12000k aquablue specials, and 2 18000k true actinic 03. this will give me real nice growth due to the par of the 12000k bulbs, while amazing fluorescence due to the 18000k bulbs. there is a thread on ** that is amazingly in depth on the par values of the t5 bulbs out there.
but like i said, what it really comes down to is preference. and if you really don't like the look, you can change the bulbs easily b/c the are relatively cheap, and you may only need/want to replace 1 (or a set).
hth
 
eaglephot

eaglephot

Member
Originally Posted by Isistius
this is a really tough call. there are so many options, and what it really comes down to is color preference. i currently have a 5bulb fixture, and i'm running a ge 3500k, ge 6500k, and 3 geissmann actinic plus. i decided on this combination because this was over my frag tank - so i wanted growth, hence the 3500k and 6500k bulbs. the bluse were just for MY viewing pleasure. however, since i am moving everything (including the light) into a different tank, i will be switching the bulbs out for ati's - 3 12000k aquablue specials, and 2 18000k true actinic 03. this will give me real nice growth due to the par of the 12000k bulbs, while amazing fluorescence due to the 18000k bulbs. there is a thread on ** that is amazingly in depth on the par values of the t5 bulbs out there.
but like i said, what it really comes down to is preference. and if you really don't like the look, you can change the bulbs easily b/c the are relatively cheap, and you may only need/want to replace 1 (or a set).
hth
OK. So should I get 6 12000K aquablue and 6 18000K true actinic? 3 on each side? If I get aquablue and actinic, will the tank be REALLY blue? Or does the aquablue have some white/brightness to it?
 
wangotango

wangotango

Active Member
What did you end up buy as far as retrofits? Personally I would have saved and bought something of better quality like an Icecap retro instead of 6 Helio or Current.
I wouldn't go with a split of actinic and 12k either, you're going to want some lower kelvin bulbs like a 6700k or 10000k in the mix as well.
-Justin
 
eaglephot

eaglephot

Member
Originally Posted by WangoTango
What did you end up buy as far as retrofits? Personally I would have saved and bought something of better quality like an Icecap retro instead of 6 Helio or Current.
I wouldn't go with a split of actinic and 12k either, you're going to want some lower kelvin bulbs like a 6700k or 10000k in the mix as well.
-Justin
I got whatever was on Hellolights.com. I heard here that they were good. I need them by Friday when we have our big Christmas party otherwise I would have returned them and gotten the Icecaps. I just don't know what I am doing.
. It will be fine. Anything is better than what I have now for my corals. I need to buy bulbs today or I will have to use the SlimPaqs from drs. So, give me a list. I don't have much of a $ limit for this. I also need to know WHERE to by bulbs.
 
wangotango

wangotango

Active Member
I can't post a link or PM you one, but I'm sure that if you google a search for ATI, UVL, or Geisemann T5ho bulbs you will find a vendor.
The bulb combo really depends on what look you want. If you want a crisp white look, then a combo of pure actinic with a mix of 10-12k bulbs will give you that. If you want more blue, then you need more higher kelvin bulbs like a 14k.
Something to chew on:
(4) pure actinic
(2) 10,000k
(1) 6700k
(2) 14,000k
(3) 12,000k
You can always swap out a 14,000k for another actinic too, but I'm thinking the above combo will be whitish with a hint of blue.
-Justin
 
eaglephot

eaglephot

Member
Originally Posted by WangoTango
I can't post a link or PM you one, but I'm sure that if you google a search for ATI, UVL, or Geisemann T5ho bulbs you will find a vendor.
The bulb combo really depends on what look you want. If you want a crisp white look, then a combo of pure actinic with a mix of 10-12k bulbs will give you that. If you want more blue, then you need more higher kelvin bulbs like a 14k.
Something to chew on:
(4) pure actinic
(2) 10,000k
(1) 6700k
(2) 14,000k
(3) 12,000k
You can always swap out a 14,000k for another actinic too, but I'm thinking the above combo will be whitish with a hint of blue.
-Justin
OK. Great. I'll check it out.
By the way, is that Kingda Ka or Dragster? Both are AMAZING!
 
eaglephot

eaglephot

Member
OK. I have in my shopping cart:
4 39W Pure Actinic 03 T5 HO Fluorescent by Giesemann
2 39W 12000K Aquablue Special T5 HO Fluorescent by ATI
2 39W 10000K AquaSun T5 HO Fluorescent by UV Lighting
2 39W 75/25 14000K AquaBlue T5 HO Fluorescent by UV Lighting
2 39W 6500K Daylight T5 HO Fluorescent by General Electric (they don't have 6700Ks. Is this ok?)
How is this? Will this give me clear, bright white with a semi good amount of blue?
 
eaglephot

eaglephot

Member
OK. Scratch the above post. I ordered (in order of how they will be installed, front to back):
Blue Plus
True Actinic
Aqua Blue
Aqua Sun
Pro Color
Blue Plus
The above list is for both sides so 12 bulbs total. It should be really nice.
Thanks for everyone's help! I can't wait to see how it looks!
 
reefraff

reefraff

Active Member
Your right there except I would get a UVL Super Actinic or ATI Actinic over the Giesemann if possible. Also use the Aquablue to seperate the Aquasun and Procolor.
Like this
Front
Blue Plus
True Actinic
Pro Color
Aqua Blue
Aqua Sun
Blue Plus
You might end up having to move that front blue plus to the spot where the aquablue is. The Aquasun and Pro Colors both have red in the output so if you have them righ together you will see a reddish stripe in the tank.
 
eaglephot

eaglephot

Member
Originally Posted by reefraff
Your right there except I would get a UVL Super Actinic or ATI Actinic over the Giesemann if possible. Also use the Aquablue to seperate the Aquasun and Procolor.
Like this
Front
Blue Plus
True Actinic
Pro Color
Aqua Blue
Aqua Sun
Blue Plus
You might end up having to move that front blue plus to the spot where the aquablue is. The Aquasun and Pro Colors both have red in the output so if you have them righ together you will see a reddish stripe in the tank.
I already ordered the bulbs. Can't switch now. It should still be ok, right? OK. I am glad you sent me that new order and told me about the bossible red stripe! I don't want that! LOL. I'll send pics when I have them up! :)
 
frankthetank

frankthetank

Active Member
I'm not attempting to hijack this thread... I've been following it very closely. I am almost soon to be in the same boat as Eaglephot.
I found some UVL T5's which brought me to a question. Stating that I prefer a slightly bluer tint to my aquariums to bring out some flourescents in corals and fish. Would this combo do the trick?
All UVL bulbs front to back:
14k
actinic
12k
actinic
10k
actinic
Or would a 2nd-14k substituted for the 10k be better? I know I want the 6500k... I hate that color.
 
eaglephot

eaglephot

Member
Originally Posted by FranktheTank
I'm not attempting to hijack this thread... I've been following it very closely. I am almost soon to be in the same boat as Eaglephot.
PLEASE by all means, hijack this thread!
 
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