Bulb combos
Printed From: Utah Reefs
Category: Specialized Discussion
Forum Name: Equipment
Forum Description: This is the place to ask question about reef equipment.
URL: http://www.utahreefs.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=69100
Printed Date: July 14 2025 at 4:04pm
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Topic: Bulb combos
Posted By: xessive force
Subject: Bulb combos
Date Posted: January 18 2014 at 7:36pm
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I have a 36 inch 4 bulb t5 fixture. I currently have 2 10k bulks and 2 420 actinic bulbs. I prefer the look of the actinic bulbs and was wondering if the actinic puts out enough usable light to use three actinic bulbs and one 10k bulb. They are the zoomed brand bulbs. http://www.zoomed.com. As always your thoughts and opinion are greatly appreciated. Matt ------------- Yesterday is history, tomorrow is a mystery, but today is a gift that's why they call it the present. |
Replies:
Posted By: badfinger
Date Posted: January 18 2014 at 7:40pm
| I would switch to ATI or other high end brand. Ati blue plus bulbs have great par and great pop of coral. |
Posted By: Mark Peterson
Date Posted: January 18 2014 at 8:58pm
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Aloha, The Actinic wavength (420 nm) fluoresces colors. 10K bulbs typically wash out color, basically whitening the color the Actinic was fluorescing. It's surprising but a blue-pink combination makes colors pop and grows coral really good too. A friend and I just got ZooMed t5's for our 4 tube fixtures because they are affordable. We like either of these combinations below which really bring out coral color: Coral Sun (Actinic 420 nm) Coral Blue (460 nm blue) Flora Sun (pinkish/purpleish hue) Ocean Sun or Ultra Sun (white hue) or this: Coral Sun Coral Sun Coral Blue Flora Sun Flora Sun is usually considered a fresh water light tube for color enhancement and plant growth. In a reef aquarium coral respond positively to the blue-pink combination. Actinic light is on the border of being invisible to human eyes. Though it does not look bright to our eyes, it is actually very intense. Regarding whether Actinic light is usable for coral, it was originally developed something like 40 years ago for another industry. The reef hobby discovered that it is the Actinic and blue wavelengths which reach the coral where they grow. These old pics illustrate the principle very well:    ------------- Reefkeeping Tips, & quick, easy setup tricks: www.utahreefs.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=9244 Pay it forward - become a paid WMAS member 
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Posted By: xessive force
Date Posted: January 18 2014 at 9:57pm
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Very interesting I have never seen those photos before. I did not see the coral blue at ones at the chain pet store I stopped by (I know it's a hobby sin) and due to the sale price I purchased the bulbs. They did have the flora bulb in, but I did not consider it. Maybe I will see if I can exchange one of the bulbs. I am going to go with the coral sun x3 and ultra sun and see how things respond. What is the best way to make sure your corals like the light choices you have gone with? To my eyes I like the blue light but want to do what is best for the tank life. ------------- Yesterday is history, tomorrow is a mystery, but today is a gift that's why they call it the present. |
Posted By: ReefdUp
Date Posted: January 18 2014 at 10:24pm
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I'd also go with the ATI's... They're just absolutely amazing. I'd go with either of the combo's for your fixture: 3 x ATI Blue Plus & 1 x ATI Purple Plus Or... 2 x ATI Blue Plus & 2 x ATI Coral Plus ------------- www.reefdup.com Diving since 2009, reefkeeping since 2007, & fishkeeping since 1987 200g, 75g, & 15g Systems PADI Advanced Open Water |
Posted By: phys
Date Posted: January 19 2014 at 1:33am
| ATI's for sure! They have 4 main colors for their bulbs (that I know of), a mix of mostly blue would be beneficial. Some red makes things look great! |
Posted By: Mark Peterson
Date Posted: January 19 2014 at 8:40am
The reason we are suggesting a fluorescent tube that emits a small amount of red light is to enhance other non-fluorescing colors, like red, yellow, green, and orange. Try this color combo. Coral love it. It makes colors "Pop" yet retains that background blue tinge.  Zoo Med ATI of corresponding value Coral Sun True Actinic 03 Coral Blue Blue Plus Coral Blue Blue Plus Flora Sun Purple Plus <Edit> I forgot to acknowledge that, of course, beauty is in the eye of the beholder. Mahalo, Mark  ------------- Reefkeeping Tips, & quick, easy setup tricks: www.utahreefs.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=9244 Pay it forward - become a paid WMAS member
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xessive force wrote:Posted By: JohnnyHeavens
Date Posted: January 24 2014 at 11:49am
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Great pics Mark! Is that you? That scuba gear is unreal. That's a wood frame rig? o.O ------------- @Home 300g System 150g-Cube Reef+60g Frag+WaterChange 150g Tall FOWLR RIP @Work RSM 130D w/LEDs txt anytime @ eightO1-seven5five-eighteen99 Scuba! PADI Pro DM/AI/TecDeep NSS/CDS-Full Cave Diver |