So Friggen Confused..... T5 bulb comparison help

[The Grizz]

So I have myself so friggen confused that my head is spinning and need a little help. I have been trying to figure out what T5 bulb compare to what, brand for brand. Here are the two ATI bulb's and I would like to know which other brand of bulb would be similar. Looking at Gieseman and Aquascience in comparison.

ATI Blue Plus
ATI Aqua Blue Special

[freddy]

just switched my t5's to geiseman,well 3 out of 4,I have 2 aqua blue plus and a atinic plus,noticed a huge difference,the aqua blue has a nice crisp white look,then I put in the atinic plus and it added a blue tinge not to much but just right,my zoos seem to like the new light alot,my fourth bulb is either going to be another aqua blue plus or another atinic plus.

[fencer]

Here is a link....
http://canreef.com/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=55399
http://www.3reef.com/forums/reef-lighting/t5s-coral-color-fish-color-algea-control-4x54-120g-54829.html

[lorenz0]

aqua special is a 14,000k bulb

Blue+ is a 22,000k spectrum bulb

buy KZ new gens for 14,000k's. they are great growing bulbs and they still have a bit of that blue hue to them compared to most 14,000k spectrum bulbs. I have tried the aqua science and GE 's and our local LFS carry KZ's in stock.

[Zoaelite]

I'm split between KZ and geiseman, both great brands with very nice bulbs. As Lorzeno said the new gen 14k's are a great combo for growth and color. On the new zoa tank I have 3 KZ new gens, 1 KZ Fiji, 2 geiseman actinic plus and 2 KZ actinics.

[lorenz0]

^^^^
thats similar to what is running on the 60gal sps tank right now. Love the combo. Just enough supplimental colors to get that pop but with good growth.

i am obsessed with t5 bulbs and a new combo always comes to mind

[The Grizz]

Well Levi, Lorenzo and Kevin I think it might be an all KZ brand choice, as all of you have amazing tanks from what I have seen and I am going to try some SPS again in the new tank. Kien was kind enough to give me a couple REALLY NICE frags of what I think is green birds nest and I pick-up a huge colony of tellow birds nest for $15 today.

[chris88]

ATI AQUA BLUE = AQUA SCIENCE 15,000K OR KZ CORAL LIGHT
ATI BLUE PLUS = AQUA SCIENCE 22,000K OR KZ SUPER BLUE

It's that simple and the bulb color is almost identicle to the eye. I have used all of them and they are great. For some added red spectrum which in my opinion is needed for sps go with the following:

KZ FIJI PURPLE / AQUA SCIENCE 17,500K / URI ACTINIC WHITE

[The Grizz]

ATI AQUA BLUE = AQUA SCIENCE 15,000K OR KZ CORAL LIGHT
ATI BLUE PLUS = AQUA SCIENCE 22,000K OR KZ SUPER BLUE

It's that simple and the bulb color is almost identicle to the eye. I have used all of them and they are great. For some added red spectrum which in my opinion is needed for sps go with the following:

KZ FIJI PURPLE / AQUA SCIENCE 17,500K / URI ACTINIC WHITE

Well about time you jumped in here chris I was waiting for your input as well:biggrin:

[chris88]

No worries, ATI, AQUA SCIENCE, AND KZ in my opinion are all very similar and close in quality and in PAR. Mix them up and you get the best of them all. I would love to see a 6 bulb combo using all of the these bulbs together. Maybe something like this.

AQUA SCIENCE 17,500K
ATI AQUA BLUE
KZ FIJI PURPLE
ATI BLUE PLUS
KZ NEW GEN
AQUA SCIENCE 22,000K

[The Grizz]

This might be an interesting combo, what do you fellow's think?

Front to Back

KZ New Gen 14K
KZ Super Blue 22K
Giesemann Aqua Blue 11K
KZ Fuji Purple
ATI Aqua Blue 14K
KZ Coral Light 11K
Giesemann Actinic Plus 20K
KZ New Gen 14K

[chris88]

the coral light, ati aqua blue, and the giesemann aqua blue are all the exact same in color to the eye. The ati aqua blue is more 11,000k and the kz new gen is a true 14,000k. I like the combo but i would swap one of the three 11,000k white bulbs for an ati blue plus or an kz superblue. They will make you tank look a bit to yellowish even though they are white bulbs. If you like the white look then go with another new gen or an aqua science 17,500k.

This might be an interesting combo, what do you fellow's think?

Front to Back

KZ New Gen 14K
KZ Super Blue 22K
Giesemann Aqua Blue 11K
KZ Fuji Purple
ATI Aqua Blue 14K
KZ Coral Light 11K
Giesemann Actinic Plus 20K
KZ New Gen 14K

[The Grizz]

Or just go like this:

1) KZ New Gen 14K
2) Kz SuperBlue 22K
3) Kz Coral Light or Geisemann Aqua blue plus Both 11K
4) Kz Fiji Purple
5) KZ New Gen 14K
6 Kz Coral Light or Geisemann Aqua blue plus Both 11K
7)Kz SuperBlue 22K
8) KZ New Gen 14K

[chris88]

I think it is a great with a ton of par but it is going to look very 12,000k ish. I like a white look which makes colors look realistic but most people want a bluer look and find a bluer light will help color up sps. I run the following and i like it and it is kind 14,000k.

BACK:
KZ NEW GEN
KZ FIJI PURPLE
KZ SUPERBLUE
KZ CORAL LIGHT
KZ SUPERBLUE
KZ CORAL LIGHT
FRONT:

IF i had the choice i would swap one coral light for one more NEW GEN which i think its the nicest t5 bulb i have ever used and i have pretty much used them all lol.