t5 lighting

[anthony8969]

hi, just bought t5 lighting and my coral are doing grate butt i dont like the color. I want the growing power of all the 10000k but i need too change some of the the blubs to more of a blue/purple color plese help me thanks anhtony

 

[anthony8969]

sorry, i forgot it is a six blub 3 10000k and 3 420 atinik

 

[dragonzim]

Check out the AquaBlue and AquaBlue + bulbs from Geissmann. Good color on them...

 

[mikeu]

ATI Blue + is another bulb to look at.

 

[metweezer]

The higher the k rating of the bulbs the bluer the appearance. I think!

 

[kellenr]

Originally Posted by metweezer
http:///forum/post/2677964
The higher the k rating of the bulbs the bluer the appearance. I think!
The "K" stands for Kelvins, the temperature of the light in the spectrum.
You can always try going 2-10,000k & 4-420nm Actinic. Or you can play with it and do 2-10,000k, 1-6,500k 50/50 & 3-Actinics, which will be more blue but not as much as the 2 & 4.
Changing brands I don't think will really change the color on the tank much, the 10,000k's are still going to wash it out.
Another option is to add another single or double fluorescent fixture and run Actinics only on it. Maybe like a T-8 or similar, something lower watt but will give good color. This is what I have on my 29gallon:
1x 65watt 10,000k
1x 65watt 420nm Actinic
2x 18watt 420nm Actinic
Total of 166watts
...it has a nice 'bright' look yet still has a deep blue tint and really highlights the tank colors. Just an idea.
Here's some light spectrum/heat charts below to help you.

 

[iyachtuxivm]

I had a 4 bulb T5 on my tank it had 2 actinics and 2 10k. I liked the look enough it was plenty blue but didnt have the shimmer of MH. I switched to a 150mh 14k and 2x24 actinics almost too blue now. Are your actinics 420 or 460, 460 is much more blue IMO. Try that maybe you have 420.

 

[kellenr]

Originally Posted by iyachtuxivm
http:///forum/post/2678607
I had a 4 bulb T5 on my tank it had 2 actinics and 2 10k. I liked the look enough it was plenty blue but didnt have the shimmer of MH. I switched to a 150mh 14k and 2x24 actinics almost too blue now. Are your actinics 420 or 460, 460 is much more blue IMO. Try that maybe you have 420.

460nm are more 'blue' they're wavelength emits more toward the 'solid blue' spectrum.
420nm are more toward the 'indigo and violet' part of the spectrum.

 

[iyachtuxivm]

Originally Posted by KellenR
http:///forum/post/2678806
460nm are more 'blue' they're wavelength emits more toward the 'solid blue' spectrum.
420nm are more toward the 'indigo and violet' part of the spectrum.
Thats what I said

 

[wangotango]

How many switches does the fixture have?
I've got a 5-bulb fixture and I'm running this and it's somewhere between a 12k and 14k look:
UVL 75/25
ATI Blue Plus
UVL Aquasun
ATI Actinic 03
ATI Aquablue Special
You could just add another blue plus or actinic.
-Justin