T5 Bulb Selection

maxsmart

Member
I have a 4x54w T5 fixture (individual reflectors).
It came with 2 actnics and 2 daylights at 10000k.
I accidentally replaced the 10000k that went out with a 28w one (wondered why the coral's growth slowed down!) and now the other 10000k bulb went out. This seems like an opportunity to upgrade my setup - my priorities are:
1. Health of corals, fish, inverts (I have a frogspawn and some zoos).
2. Appearance
I've read conflicting views on whether 10000k is the best for corals or if I shold put in one 18000k or find a 6500k daylight (I thought 6500k was actnic only? I guess I don't know as much about lighting as I thought I did...).
Basically, what is my ideal setup for the 4 bulbs to make my corals happy?
 

1990jpyj

Member
Originally Posted by MaxSmart
http:///forum/post/2873820
I have a 4x54w T5 fixture (individual reflectors).
It came with 2 actnics and 2 daylights at 10000k.
I accidentally replaced the 10000k that went out with a 28w one (wondered why the coral's growth slowed down!) and now the other 10000k bulb went out. This seems like an opportunity to upgrade my setup - my priorities are:
1. Health of corals, fish, inverts (I have a frogspawn and some zoos).
2. Appearance
I've read conflicting views on whether 10000k is the best for corals or if I shold put in one 18000k or find a 6500k daylight (I thought 6500k was actnic only? I guess I don't know as much about lighting as I thought I did...).
Basically, what is my ideal setup for the 4 bulbs to make my corals happy?
max what kind of tank do you have? gallons and stuff. im just wondering cuz i am looking at that same light fixture and i want to have a few corals. mainly the zoo's and forgspawn, manybe a xena. just wanted to see how your liked the light.
pics would be cool too
 

nycbob

Active Member
65k is very yellow, but will give u more growth. it might even contribute to bad algae growth. go with 10k and actinic for sure.
 

maxsmart

Member
Originally Posted by 1990jpyj
http:///forum/post/2873877
max what kind of tank do you have? gallons and stuff. im just wondering cuz i am looking at that same light fixture and i want to have a few corals. mainly the zoo's and forgspawn, manybe a xena. just wanted to see how your liked the light.
pics would be cool too

I have a 72gal bowfront with megaflow and custom sump. I had very good success with my previous light until it kept blowing ballasts. My new light also blew a ballast, causing me to think maybe I have an electrical problem. (I actually suspect my paper shredder is causing power surges!) I replaced the ballast, now I have it changed from its original 2xactnic,2x10000K setup - I've got 2xactnic, 1x10000k, 1x18000k. When I had the original setup, it was pretty good - I liked the way the old light looked better, but my wife insisted the new light looked "like a city aquarium". I don't know how to describe it, it was sort of an artificial glow. Honestly, between the broken balasts and urchins wrecking havoc on the corals, I can't tell what works well yet. If I didn't have a bowfront, I would have gone with the 8-bulb version for sure. (with individual reflectors) I was stuck with 4-bulb versions because bowfronts have very limited space on top for lights
 
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