I would do a 4 bulb tek and skip the fishneedit stuff............

Yep, you've convinced me.

I run a FNI 4 bulb T5 fixture on my 40 AGA Breeder with ATI bulbs ,2-blue plus ,1 aquablue special and 1 purple plus.Corals need to be acclimated properly for lighting.The fixture is setup on the tank with the mounting legs that come with it.
Im actually thinking of raising it up some.

Ok now, another simply answered question.

My future tank (very, very far future) is gonna be similar in dimensions to an ADA 90p which is ~36"x18"x18"

I'm planning a mixed reef, this will be my first true foray into SPS, but the main focus is to get a little bit of everything. (plenty of zoas, acans, etc.)

I'm (obviously) looking at T5s for lighting, my original plan was for a Tek Elite 6x39w but from doing quite a bit of looking around it's seeming like I could possibly get away with 4x39w instead.

In that case then I was looking at a standard Tek 4x39w, but I do want active cooling. Aside from ATI (a bit higher than I'd like to spend) and Aquamedic (just overpriced for the product imo) I don't see many 4x39w fixtures with active cooling.

So I suppose the question is, should I go with the 6x39w or the 4x39w (if 4 bulbs, any fixture recommendations with active cooling?)

Thanks for the help!

A four bulb fixture should be fine. The cheapest option would be to get a retrofit kit and make your own canopy with cooling fans.

I would if I was a handy person. Added that it's gonna be a rimless tank and I wanna go for a sleek fixture simply hanging overtop, I probably should have specified

Thanks a ton!

finally i got this combo :
1 x ATI T5 Röhre Actinic 24 Watt (ATI-ac24)
1 x ATI T5 Röhre Aquablue special 24 Watt (ATI-as24)
1 x ATI T5 Röhre Blue plus 24 Watt (ATI-bp24)
1 x ATI T5 Röhre Purple Plus 24 Watt (ATI-pc24)

should i start using all? i'm planning to have LPS and zoas.

That should look good. I and some other members have a similar combination: 2 blue plus, 1 aquablue special, 1 purple plus.

i forgot to mention, the lamp has no crylic protection sheet, should i get one or can i hang the lamp with the bare tubes. is it really important to have the acrylic?

I never run a sheild...............

has anybody ran this?
If so id really like to see some pics...

from front to back

Ati aquablue
Ati true actinic
Ati purple plus
Ati aquablue

Id like to get a bluish purple look maybe a lil more purple... what color would i get with this?

yuhuuu i got them already:

I am curious to know what 5 bulb combo you guys think would work best for an LPS/Soft corals tank. The fixture that I currently use is a 24" Aquactinics fixture that holds 5 bulbs. This fixture has 2 switches. First switch controls bulbs 1,3 and 5 and the second switch controls bulbs 2 and 4.

The first combo I ran was the following;

Front to back.

ATI Blue Plus
ATI Aquablue Special
ATI Blue Plus
GE 6500K
ATI Blue Plus

As you guys can see the 3 ATI Blue Plus were used for dusk and dawn effect and I found the tank too blue. Then when the GE 6500K and ATI Aquablue Plus were on the tank was too bright as these two bulbs overpowered the 3 ATI Blue Plus Bulbs. All in all this was not a good combo.

Second combo I tried was the following;

Front to back.

ATI Blue Plus
ATI Blue Plus
ATI Purple Plus
ATI Aquablue Special
ATI Blue Plus


For this combo I used 2 ATI Blue Plus and 1 ATI Purple Plus for dusk and dawn and It actually looks pretty good. The other 2 bulbs (ATI Aquablue Special and ATI Blue Plus) come on later and the tank does not look bad when the 5 bulbs are on. However, I would like to get rid of one of the ATI Blue Plus and switch it for something else but I am not sure what bulb to go for. Open to suggestions from you guys.

Is the anyone out there using a 5 bulb Aquactinics fixture? If so, what bulb combo are you using?

Thanks

If you want a more purple look replace the actinic with a purple plus.

My head is spinning after reading all of this and trying to decide on a bulb combo
I am starting up a 20L with a 24" 4bulb Tek fixture.

Seems like the popular combo is the Fiji Purple/ATI Blue+/Aquablue Special/ATI Blue+.

I have a 150W 14K Phoenix bulb over my BC14 now and I like that color but would like a little more purple (and not as bright) in it for the 20L. Does the combo above get me there?

I would like to get close to a nice purplish 20K look but would also need decent PAR. Tank will contain SPS/LPS/softies/clam/etc.

You help is appreciated.

Thanks!

do you think on the very top i could have SPS? or just LPS anywhere?
4x24W ati the tank is 17 inch high.

Hedson, you could keep SPS near the top with 4 bulbs

Does anyone think that an 8 bulb or 6 bulb T5HO setup would be TO MUCH light for a Red Sea Max 130D?

I DONT want to brown out corals or bleach them out from burning the hell outta them with lights, I know on the 8 bulb setup I was looking at you can control the bulbs with 2 switches so 4 bulbs + 4 bulbs

Lol a rsm isnt that wide of tank and no need for 8 bulbs.6 is prob really too much even.I know i would do 4 bulbs but that just me.

Lol I really had no doubt that an 8 bulb was to much so I was mainly only looking at the 4 bulb setup BUT I figured if a 6 bulb was that much better I may as well get that one but I will just go ahead and order my 4 bulb setup and supplement it with some royal blue led's and nite light led's as well

After reading this thread Im pretty exhausted (so many options) ... I'm looking for a bluer 4 bulb combo for my 20 long (right now running stock 10k and actinics) so it seems that 2 blue plus, 1 aquablue special and a purple plus will look good.. but will it cover the white spectrum?

thats a good combo.if want little bluer replace the blue special with a uv super actinic.Par will be tiny tiny bit lower but nothing to really worry about.It dropped like 10 in all areas when i switched mine out.

Okay thanks for the suggesting. Will the tank be okay without the white spectrum (in the case of the super actinic)? Did you notice any of your corals morph color?

I havent noticed anything odd and have been running for sometime now.Everyone that sees tank comments on how well the color is.

I have the same combination, and it is not too blue. The purple plus is fairly whitish, most noticeable when it's on with the aquablue special.

I would switch the blue plus and the aquablue.

Has anyone run three Blue Plus bulbs, with one 65K?

Currently running:

Front
Blue+
Aquablue
Blue+
Purple Plus
Aquablue
Blue+
Back

Very nice 14k color with a tad bit of purple. Hopefully this color gives a good amount of pop and growth.

I ordered 2 blue plus, 1 aqua blue and 1 purple plus. How do most ppl set their timers?

Set the blue bulbs on 1 hour before and after the "daylight" bulbs. A total light period ~8-10 hours is safe. For example, if you had 10 hours, the schedule would be blues on for 10 h and daylights on for 8 h, starting 1 h after the blues.

Is anyone running either of these combos because I just ordered my fixture and will be ordering new bulbs shortly
Option 1)
2) ATI Aquablue special
2) ATI Blue +

Option 2)
1) ATI Aquablue special
2) ATI Blue +
1) KZ Fiji purple
Pics would be GREATLY appreciated

Does anyone have that last combo I posted because I have it in my shopping cart now on BRS but I have'nt placed the order yet because I want to see what the combo looks like

I think it will be a nice looking combo that will really make the colors POP

I just got a 6 bulb tek light with
Blue +
Aquablue special
GE 6500k
Fiji Purple
Aquablue Special
Blue +

Its kinda of close. Just Blue and Aquablue special would create a blue tank i believe. But its a nice color probably 14000K and higher. The GE really tones down the blue. I like the Fiji purple. If you have no red/orange/yellow fish or coral go with option .

I am upgrading my bulbs from the stock Odyssea to ATI in my 4x24 t5 fixture. I need some help with the new bulb combo and setting a new light cycle. I ordered 2 ATI Blue Plus, 1 Purple Plus, 1 Aquablue Special, and 1 True Actinic. I wanted to have the extra bulb so that I can pick the best combo.

Combo 1 front to back:
Blue Plus
True Actinic
Purple Plus
Blue Plus

Combo 2 front to back:
Blue Plus
Aquablue Special
Purple Plus
Blue Plus

What cycle/combo would be the best for day/night? For example, do most people run both blue plus on one timer and the other 2 on a second timer? Or run blue plus/actinic together and purple plus/blue plus together?

I am waiting for the UPS man to show so I can get some real light on my tank!

I did a search and didn't see anything specific on this model, but does anyone have any direct experience with the Coralvue line of T5 fixtures with the combined actinic LED's...? I did some searching online and cannot find a review of this fixture anywhere. I'm intrigued with the combined LED lighting even if it is for an actinic-only mode...

It's three bills and no T5 bulbs included either ---> http://premiumaquatics.com/aquatic-supplies/CV-T5LED366.html

Hi everyone, I have a 12g tank that is 36x8x9 roughly. I am currently running a dual bulb T5HO 78 watt fixture with a 10k and a attinc bulb not sure K on it but it's more purple then blue. I have it suspended close to 6" I think not home at the moment. What bulbs should I run for maximum growth capability?

Thanks

Im run option two, and ive found it to the best.

I like option two the best. Also try using a 460nm actinic, it should provide more blue than purple.

I'm currently running a 30'' AquaticLife 4 bulb fixture on my 29g with 2 ATI Blue Plus bulbs, 1 Purple Plus, and 1AquaBlue Special. I am stepping up to a 40 breeder and will be moving to the 36'' fixture. Should I spend the extra money for the 6 bulb or will that be overkill?

Some would say yes, but for coverage and color combinations I think 6 bulbs rock 40 breeders.
FWIW I have a 6 bulb on my 40 breeder and I have no issue with corals getting too much light. Proper acclimation is the key though. I have some zoas towards the top of the tank and they are looking great.
I would also upgrade based on the fact that those 30 inch fixtures use 24 inch bulbs which wont fully cover a 40 breeder.
I would get a 6 bulb tek light and call it a day. I doubt you'd regret it.

Ok that is the answer I was expecting. Thanks!

Anyone trying one of the following:

ATI Blue+
UVL Super Actinic
ATI Purple+
ATI Aquablue
UVL Super Actinic
ATI Blue+

OR

ATI Purple+
UVL Super Actinic
ATI Aquablue
ATI Blue+
UVL Super Actinic
ATI Purple+

OR

ATI Purple+
ATI Blue+
UVL Super Actinic
ATI Aquablue
ATI Blue+
ATI Purple+


Any thoughts? Sorry of this is redundant...long read from first page.

Anyone see any issue with PAR with this combo?

24" TeK, 4 bulbs over a 20L

Front
ATI Purple+
ATI Blue+
ATI Coral+
ATI Blue+
Back

Sounds good that probably the best combo for a 4 bulb fixture.

No issue with PAR.

Buy a 3rd Blue+ bulb, you will use it in the end.

Try swapping the order of the Blue+ and the Purple+ and also exchanging the Coral+ or the Purple+ with the third Blue+. With three Blue+ and the other two bulbs you can play with the combo to find something you really like.

NEW 4 BULB COMBO IM LOVING.I like the new ati coral + alot.


ati blue +
uv super actinic
ati coral+
ati blue+

Going back to T5's from LEDs. Just ordered a 4bulb ati dimmable with ati blue +, ati blue+, ati coral +, and ati purple. Will post pics of it when it arrives

gonna be way too purple..............

I agree. I'd dump the purple plus for a blue+

uv super actinic is what i swapped in after playing with them bulbs.