ATI Hybrid Fixture

[Steve...]

Its been almost a year and Im looking at getting new T5 bulbs for my fixture. Just wondering what kind of popular combinations anyone is using out there right now. Im leaning towards a little less white and more blue to bring out the colour or my corals and fish. I have four T5 bulbs in my hybrid fixture....

[lastlight]

ATI blue plus is an awesome tube. Lots of par too.

[Steve...]

Originally Posted by lastlight

ATI blue plus is an awesome tube. Lots of par too.

Would you do all Blue plus or a combination?

[freeze]

I do 3 blue + and one coral plus. Blues do what blues do and the coral plus balances out with a little white/pink to give it nice color. The again if it's a hybrid with LEDs, the LEDs should do that. I am all t5's.

[Steve...]

Originally Posted by freeze

I do 3 blue + and one coral plus. Blues do what blues do and the coral plus balances out with a little white/pink to give it nice color. The again if it's a hybrid with LEDs, the LEDs should do that. I am all t5's.

Sounds like an idea!

[freeze]

I find if I just use all blue + my yellows and red looks dingy and dirty, the coral plus makes them look normal and brings out the reds nicely.

[Wheelman76]

Actinics are not as low in PAR as most people think. Humans eyes are not able to see that spectrum of light very well , so even though actinic bulbs may look very dull or dim , there is lots of usable spectrum. In fact actinic bulbs are very high in PUR which is probably more important then PAR.
Here are a couple of good reads on the subject.
http://www.advancedaquarist.com/2009/3/review
http://www.advancedaquarist.com/2012/10/aafeature

[Myka]

If you like actinic, the UVL Super Actinic can't be beat. It has high PUR. Otherwise, I also like the ATI Blue Plus and Coral Plus bulbs.

I haven't used the ATI Hybrid fixture (so jealous right now), so I'm not sure what bulbs would compliment the LEDs the best. Do you feel the LEDs lack anywhere? What are you trying to achieve with the T5s (color, PAR/PUR)?

Originally Posted by Wheelman76

Actinics are not as low in PAR as most people think. Humans eyes are not able to see that spectrum of light very well , so even though actinic bulbs may look very dull or dim , there is lots of usable spectrum. In fact actinic bulbs are very high in PUR which is probably more important then PAR.

Beat me to it.

[lastlight]

I'm still learning about T5 and don't even have any. Thx guys!

[kien]

That's interesting to learn about the actinics. I recall putting a PAR meter under them once and got a fairly low reading compared to 22Ks. Havin said that, it was a highly unscientific experiment I will have to read about what this PUR is all about. I've never heard of that term before!