Lighting Question

Fredericks

Fredericks

Member
Say you have a 6 bulb current nova pro above a 46 gal bowfront reef. What would your optimum bulb configuration be.

Trying to stick with URI bulbs

bulb choices are,

Super Actinic V-HO 7100K (420nm True Actinic)
Actinic White V-HO 12K
36" Aquasun V-HO 10K
75/25 V-HO 14K
454 V-HO T5 12K, 420nm Actinic

Andrew
 
First and formost realize that the Sunpaq ballasts that Current USA uses are not true T5 spec ballasts and white bulbs will be underdriven and appear slightly blue. This is not a bad thing, and I ran a Nova Extreme Pro over my 75g with GREAT results. That being said, is there any reason that you are trying to stick with UVL instead of moving to ATI/KZ/Geissman (better bulbs)?

With the bulbs that you specified I would run:

Front​
  • 454
  • 75/25
  • Super Actinic
  • Aquasun
  • 454
  • 454
Back​

Honestly the best bulb combo as far as PAR and an 20k look would be a mix of ATI bulbs (blue+ is the highest PAR T5 bulb on the market) and KZ bulbs.

Front​
  • ATI Blue+
  • ATI Blue+
  • ATI Purple+
  • KZ New Generation (ATI Aquablue Special if you want closer to a 17k look, GE6500k if you want closer to a 14k look)
  • ATI Blue+
  • ATI Blue+
Back​

That combination will get you the best color/growth in either 20k, 17k, or 14k. Do you have a specific color you are looking to achieve?

WeePee said:
when i ran six T5 bulbs i used:
2 actinic, 1 460nm, 1 red, 1 purple, 1 12k
Click to expand...

Do you have any photos of the tank with that lighting? The red spectrum must have been extremely overpowering running both a red and a purple bulb.
 
I'd like to go for the same lighting look that Mark Mikina [mmreefcrazy] has on his 120g Oceanic Tech thats on the home page.

SkullV said:
First and formost realize that the Sunpaq ballasts that Current USA uses are not true T5 spec ballasts and white bulbs will be underdriven and appear slightly blue. This is not a bad thing, and I ran a Nova Extreme Pro over my 75g with GREAT results. That being said, is there any reason that you are trying to stick with UVL instead of moving to ATI/KZ/Geissman (better bulbs)?

With the bulbs that you specified I would run:

Front​
  • 454
  • 75/25
  • Super Actinic
  • Aquasun
  • 454
  • 454
Back​

Honestly the best bulb combo as far as PAR and an 20k look would be a mix of ATI bulbs (blue+ is the highest PAR T5 bulb on the market) and KZ bulbs.

Front​
  • ATI Blue+
  • ATI Blue+
  • ATI Purple+
  • KZ New Generation (ATI Aquablue Special if you want closer to a 17k look, GE6500k if you want closer to a 14k look)
  • ATI Blue+
  • ATI Blue+
Back​

That combination will get you the best color/growth in either 20k, 17k, or 14k. Do you have a specific color you are looking to achieve?



Do you have any photos of the tank with that lighting? The red spectrum must have been extremely overpowering running both a red and a purple bulb.
Click to expand...
 
Fredericks said:
I'd like to go for the same lighting look that Mark Mikina [mmreefcrazy] has on his 120g Oceanic Tech thats on the home page.
Click to expand...

Well in that case, you'll want to spend a few more bucks and move up from UVL.

He used a combo of ATI & KZ bulbs. He also used 8 bulbs which might make it hard to match using only 6.

That being said, I would say you could run 3 ATI Blue+. Then run 1 of each of the following; KZ Fiji Purple (and don't skimp and get the ATI Purple+), ATI Aquablue Special & KZ New Generation.
 
I use UVL for my VHO's but run ATI or Guiesmann for my T5's...agree wtih all that for T5, I'd step up from UVL, but VL makes better VHO's.
 
EricTheRed said:
KZ Fiji Purple (and don't skimp and get the ATI Purple+)
Click to expand...

I'm curious as to why you think that the KZ purple is better than the ATI. The KZ has a TON of extra (way more than is necessary) red in the spectrum which has been linked to algae issues. The peaks of the bulbs are in the same place. This being a bulb that is almost entirely for human viewing pleasure it would actually be more visually pleasing as far as coral florescence to go with the bulb that has more orange and less red.

Here is a spectral comparison:

http://reefgizmo.com/2011/01/kz-fiji-purple-vs-ati-purple-plus/

EricTheRed said:
ATI Aquablue Special & KZ New Generation.
Click to expand...

Using both of these bulbs in a 6 bulb fixture will result in a very washed out look.

To get a very similar look to Marks tank use the bulb list I posted above but use the ATI aquablue special INSTEAD of the KZ new generation.
 
I've used the KZ fiji plus for a few minutes and sold it. It puts out great PAR, but it is very birght and washes out the blues from the other bulbs. It was very heavy in the red specturm and did not make my tank look good at all.
 
SkullV said:
I'm curious as to why you think that the KZ purple is better than the ATI. .
Click to expand...

I've tried both and the KZ really makes the reds "pop" more. Yes, their peaks are very similar. The quote from your linked article sums up my preference for the KZ....

"The difference between the two is obvious however — the red spectrum. The KZ Fiji Purple has a lot of red into it, while the ATI Purple Plus has significantly almost none (has higher orange though)."

Obviously with any supplemental bulb as both of these are, it all boils down to a matter of personal preference :)
 
EricTheRed said:
Obviously with any supplemental bulb as both of these are, it all boils down to a matter of personal preference :)
Click to expand...

That is not a matter of "skimping" by buying the ATI though. You alluded to the fact that the KZ is a better bulb. It is not. Neither is better.
 
SkullV said:
That is not a matter of "skimping" by buying the ATI though. You alluded to the fact that the KZ is a better bulb. It is not. Neither is better.
Click to expand...

"Skimping" because the KZ costs a few $ more and is a better bulb. If you want 1 bulb to accent your reds and oranges, get the KZ. If you are more interested in just accenting your oranges, get the ATI. Hence, it is a matter of preference.

It is my opinion that the KZ is a better bulb because it has the ability to enhance more than one color. Just because I say it is a better bulb doesn't mean someone else still might prefer the ATI.

It boils down to this; do you want to pay $20 to highlight oranges or pay $30 to highlight reds and oranges.
 
SkullV said:
Do you have any photos of the tank with that lighting? The red spectrum must have been extremely overpowering running both a red and a purple bulb.
Click to expand...

His tank was pretty blueish purple actually, when he told me he had the red bulb in there the first time, i had to see it for myself.
 
I retread my posts in this thread and realized they they came off as a bit abrasive. I apologize for that and agree with Eric that it is a matter of personal preference. I was more arguing against the negative connotation of the word skimp.
 
I've skimped on too many things in this hobby and many times regretted not paying a little extra for better quality.

Aside from that, in this case, "skimp" was probably not the best word choice since I was actually comparing 2 items that are similar but not the same and each has its own cost. You are correct that a person who prefers the color spectrum of the ATI Purple+ over the more expensive KZ Fiji Purple would not be skimping if they bought the less expensive ATI.
 
What would your recommendation be for Giesemann bulbs for my 6 bulb 36" fixture over my reef tank?

Bulb choices are,


Giesemann PowerChrome 6000K Midday

Giesemann PowerChrome 2200K Actinic+

Giesemann PowerChrome 15K AquaBlue +

Giesemann PowerChrome AquaFlora

Giesemann PowerChrome Pure Actinic

Andrew
 
I'd like to go for the same lighting look that Mark Mikina [mmreefcrazy] has on his 120g Oceanic Tech thats on the home page.
 
Fredericks said:
How was the coraline growth and the coral growth under this lighting arrangement?
Click to expand...

sorry i didnt reply sooner, lost track of this post.

heres a little shot, keep in mine all my rock pictured started as dry reef saver rock. also all these shots were sadly before my DSLR.
3f63ea74.jpg


FTS shot of all lights on, then night lights were a purple and an antic
tanklight.jpg


and one more.
tankcollage.jpg
 
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