If you have to get 3 more bulbs/switch out 3 bulbs, I would get 1 KZ Fiji Purple and 2 ATI Aquablue's to add to what you already have.
Pure actinics don't have very high PAR, the ones I suggested will be better in that area.
Here's a link to GrimReefer's study:
http://tfivetesting.googlepages.com/
Click on Lamps on the left, then click on PAR readings and Combinations.

While we're throwing out bulb ideas, I echo what Weetie said about the AquaBlue ATI bulbs. You might want to check out the Aquascience 22k bulbs as well. I added one to my fixture and love the color. Pretty much the same as the AquaBlue's with just a little actinic pop. Great PAR and pulls out the reds, blues, and purples nicely as well.

Tons of choices with T5s....which is never a bad thing

ahhh always loved your tank

make me wish i went with a 40br sometimes

Thanks, everybody.


Well, the thing is, I think I might have a little too much light for what I'm keeping. the rics are splitting like crazy, but they are shrunken as small as they can get.. I assume to get away from so much light. I'd rather just add bulbs that will help the color pop better without increasing the light reaching the bottom level.
Thanks for the link, I'll def check it out.


Hmmmmmmmmm... so much to think about..
Thanks for the info!

I think I was having that problem with my dual MHs in the 40. Everything shrunk up so small, especially the shrooms, rics and yumas. The yumas got very bleeched looking and lost their color. Since I went down to one MH they have expanded and colored back up.

I guess I am just a giesmann fan. *shrugs*

I don't think I'll ever go back to fluorescents, T5's or otherwise.

I am the same way. I just bought a used 2-250w PFO acrolight with VHO's to replace my 8x54w tek for my 75g. It seems I always had better luck with MH's.

You might just be right.
I am only recently learning that there are instances where T5HO can actually be too strong.
You have different switches for the bulbs on that fixture, correct?
I would suggest keeping 2 of the bulbs off for a few days and see how the corals respond.
If they respond well, you have 2 options.
Either continue to only keep 4 bulbs on, or change out some of the bulbs for something with lower PAR but a nice color PoP as you mentioned earlier.
You could also try to raise the fixture higher off the tank, not sure if that's a workable option for you.

Good thinking, Weets! I can raise the fixture. The mounting legs allow it. And yeah, two switches, one of which controls only two bulbs. I'll give that a try also.

Thats what I did Lani...I took 2 10k bulbs outta the 46, everything was looking really PO'ed
everything is looking happier just running the 4 bulbs 3x actinics and 1x 10k till I can get the better bulbs on the NEP

raise the fixture, I just did on mine. Also replace the 10K with the 12K.

Trust me, they can take the light, just give them time to acclimate to it. Like Weetie said raise the fixture if you can.

Hows you alk n calc doing? And the other scleractinians?

Ok, I've raised the fixture, and it's noticeably darker. I think the rics and gsp will be happier with this. Still need new bulbs that will make the colors pop, so that's still up for debate.


Haven't gotten my bonus from the boss yet, so I haven't dropped the cash on the Salifert tests. The other stonies are doing great though, they look healthy.

can i haz pichers?

Appytirteengeepoho

Ok ok, Imma go take pics now.


Ummmmmmm...... I didn't quite catch that..

I think he said: happy 13.000 post hoe

Lanlan need coffee?

See Kim, Maria speaks NRF !

( But ya forgot the flowers Maria )

Ya knows I wubs ya right?

Haha, now I see it. I'm just a little slow lately.
I lub you too, buddeh.

Pics in a bit.

Here's a recent one from my tank... Now if it would color up some.

Nice piece, Isaac.

Ok.... I took too many pics...
I'll post a few, but there rest can be viewed here.

FTS (right-click and view image to view larger)






Hi-fin's home.. in the center of the tank


Lil setosa is making a comeback




Frogspawn is recovering, but still only 1/4 as good as it looked in the 20H










Wee baby yuma




el fab's cloves w/flash








The mandy is fattening up strictly on the pods that are present in the tank. I haven't spot fed her in a couple weeks and she's gaining weight fast.


Little bit of the zoa color explosion I was talking about due to the electrocution

Great shots! You need a tang

Beautiful Kim

Bwahahaha........ No.
I need a school of masked gobies.


Thanks, Richie.

Look where the clown goby is...

Yeah... he's been hanging around the frag rack a bit...... even caught him trying to bite a few acro polyps.... >.<

Wow, how do you get those macro shots? That is insane.

Gorgeous pics & corals. I really like how your tank isn't all smashed full of rock. Nice, open scape.

Great shots Lani, I soo need a 100mm.

Clown Gobies are not funny, I dont know why they call them clowns.

Thanks, girly.
Good dedicated macro lens is the key!
And I want to try to rescape the tank this weekend... we'll see.


lol, crazy.

PULL THE CLOWN GOBYYY

This is about a close as I can get with my Cybershot PAS (POS, ).

Diane used to use a small magnifying glass to enhance her stock lens.

That shot of the mandarin is just awesome.

Thought I'd let you know.

Bill

I just noticed that the mandarin seems to be saying FUUUUUUUUU! I think someone needs to 'shop up a funny one for the lounge...

Are those pics straight off your camera? They're sweeeeeeeeet!!!

If they called them acropora eating gobies no one would buy them.

Nooooo, Frank is cool.


Ah, Diane's magnifying loop trick worked really well too.
You get some pretty good shots with your pos.


Thanks.


lol, I hadn't thought of it that way!


Well, not straight off the camera. Ran them through Photoshop to fix some of the color imbalance and contrast.


I don't think Frank will cause much trouble.. I think he's just curious about them... keeping on eye on him though.

gorgeous pics as always!!!!

I love your bubble shroom.( I know they have a name, but I never remember it ) I think my pistol shrimp took it some where, because one day I woke up and all the ricordea were gone!!!! I found one blocking one of his entrances and eventually found the others but the shroom is still a mystery......

dum dum dum duuuuummmm...

Hey, Lizzie! Sorry you lost the St. Thomas mushroom (Rhodactis sanctithomae).

The GSP has been open for a full day, since the fixture has been raised, which it hadn't done in a couple of weeks. Also, the rics seem to be 'relaxing' a bit, so this is good news. Won't have the new RO/DI membranes until next week, so I'll postpone any water changes until then.

Wow, a GSP getting too much light? That's the first I've ever heard of that really happening...

It was so funny, right after I wrote that I went to look at the tank and it was sitting on the sand bed!!! it was weeeeeird......
But it was cool

Strange, right? But yeah, it looked great today!

Your corals are a lot like my pets - entirely unusual. Don't do anything they're normally meant to. WAT. Perhaps they're just overpowered with hawtness or something?

Awwww now, c'mon. Don't be blushin' on account of li'l ol' me! And it still makes me sad I can't get a frag of that Blasto...

I'm just not used to compliments, that's all.
And wish I could send a blasto frag to ya!

I compliment you all the time , and you can send one to me!

Haha, that's pro'lly a good thing honestly Women who are are kinda scary rly.. it's almost like they expect you to kiss up to them or something. We're not on-demand satisfaction machines! ... well, not like THAT anyway...


I know. I'll um... jump a plane, come over and get it by hand. I've always wanted to visit the south anyway... see my roots or some junk like that.

Haha, that's true, but you spoil me.
And I will!



Interesting tidbit of info you dropped in the 'love' thread.

Which interesting tidbit would that be, ma'am?