bulb arrangement
 

So I picked up a new 8 bulb T5 fixture a week ago. Today I received the lens cover and a couple of new bulbs. I've always had my bulbs mirrored front to back but I think I should change it up a bit with 8 bulbs. What would you recommend with these bulbs?

2 ati true atinics
4 ati aquablue specials
2 KZ fiji purple

I think if it were me I would probably go something like this

true actinic
fiji
aquablue
aquablue
aquablue
aquablue
fiji
true actinic

I like the above setup but i would do the following:

aquablue
fiji
true actinic
aquablue
aquablue
aquablue
fiji
true actinic

question, why did you go with ati actinics instead of ati blue plus' which are a much better bulb with double the par?

Still learning about all the different bulbs. I heard that the aquablue specials are good for growth.
I was thinking of this combo.

true atinic
aquablue sp.
fiji purple
aquablue sp.
aquablue sp.
fiji purple
aquablue sp.
true atinic

I think that is a good line up. The aqua blue is a good bulb with about 335 for par and the blue plus has about 330 for par. While the actinic has about 160 for par. The problem with the actinic is that the spectrum is so narrow. Yes it will pop colors a bit more then a blue plus but with half the par i wouldn't use them if i had the choice. You should take some pictures of your tank when the lights are all set up.

After I learned how the switches worked with the bulbs I've decided to go with fishytime's suggestion so I can work with timing atinics and daylights.

I will post before and after pic but I don't think much will be noticeable. But being a new fixture I can hope it will be better with the new reflector.

Your fixtures controls the front and the back bulb on the same switch?

one switch controls 2 outer on each side and the other the four in the middle

Here are the pictures

http://i379.photobucket.com/albums/o...1/IMGP1615.jpg
before

http://i379.photobucket.com/albums/o...1/IMGP1616.jpg
after

I found it brighter but the pictures show otherwise. It did notice my corals have better color now. I also had to lift my fixture up about 5" with the new reflectors and bulbs. I bleached my strawberry shortcake and I'm hoping it pulls through.

There is a huge improvement in color with those new bulbs, what were you running before? The before pics look washed out and in the after you can see some highlights in the blues and pinks. What is the colony on the center bottom of the tank? It looks like pink acans or zoanthids. Do you have a zoomed in pic of it?

I love the low laying aquascape. I think you should post some pics in a month time to see how the corals colors change with the new bulbs.