T5 lighting question

[polarbear]

So I getting ready to buy my lights tomorrow and had a question about 2 different lights. I was looking at the ATI coral plus which are new to ATI and the KZ 14k new generation. I know a lot of you have used the KZ bulb but has anyone used the ATI coral plus? The people at reef geek advised that there is not much difference but when I read up on them I see that the ATI bulb gives out 15k compared to the KZ 14k. What do you guys think?

[avilamillar]

I just got an ATI coral plus bulb but have never tried the KZ 14k. I really like the color of the ATI. I think the perfect combination for a 6 bulb fixture would be

2 ATI blue plus
2 ATI coral plus
1 ATI purple plus
1 KZ fiji purple

[polarbear]

I wish they showed a video of the different bulbs in action. The person from reef geek suggested that I get the following for a 7 bulb fixture since I told him I wanted more of a blue tint instead of the washed out white look. I actually have a 8 bulb fixture but had taken out one of the lights to make room for my LED stunner strips. Im thinking of mounting those in a different location so I can go back to the 8 bulb fixture.

4 ATI Blue plus (5 of these if I go back to my 8 bulb fixture)
2 ATI Coral Plus
1 KZ Fiji Purple

[Big_Pun]

I run a six bulb and have 4xblue plus, 1xfiji, 1xGE 65k. it's a crisp blue color. if you have time you can swing by check it out, I do plan on taking a blue plus out for a coral plus

[polarbear]

i know pictures dont capture to tank lights very well all the time but could you possibiliy send me a picture?

[Big_Pun]

iPhone pics up a lot if the blue. took this a month ago. so bulbs a lil old(7 months) I just changed 3 out this week, also in that pic im using purple plus. I switched to Fiji which i like better.

http://img.tapatalk.com/a6934c86-52db-6934.jpg

[polarbear]

The tank look great. I like the bluer look so I hope my bulbs turn out ok. I ordered them already and went with the following:

5 ATI Blue plus
2 ATI Coral Plus
1 KZ Fiji Purple

[Big_Pun]

the reason I use a GE 65k is for growth and help neutralize the blue a lil. hopefully the two coral plus will be white enough.

[polarbear]

ya hopefully its not to blue. I dont think it will. As for growth, I was told that the combo I chose would be good. what do you think?

[avilamillar]

I think it will be alright if you like a blue look.

Here's how my tank look with a 1:1 ratio of blue plus and coral plus, that is kind of what I think your's will look like

http://i304.photobucket.com/albums/nn167/avilamillar/photobucket-50016-1328903402985.jpg

Here's how it looks with 2 blues, 2 whites, and 2 purples

http://i304.photobucket.com/albums/nn167/avilamillar/photobucket-49923-1328903427207.jpg

Hope it helps

[polarbear]

have you gotten good coral growth with your combo?

[polarbear]

what size tank do you have avilamillar? how many bulbs do you have in your fixture?

[Big_Pun]

June 2011- Jan 2012

http://i663.photobucket.com/albums/uu357/stangchris/926c6cf2.jpg

http://i663.photobucket.com/albums/uu357/stangchris/0b84c55a.jpg

[polarbear]

man the color on the 2nd pic is sick. Is that the same fixture and light combo in both pictures?

[Big_Pun]

first pic I had less blue plus, used to use icecap reef crest and GE. the jan pic is with a purple plus instead of the Fiji I run now.

[polarbear]

sweet i cant wait to see mine.

[avilamillar]

Its a 100G tank. 6 bulb fixture with 2 blue 2 white and 2 purple. I have tons of coral growth, post some pics when you get ur new bulbs :)

[polarbear]

Cool. I will.

[polarbear]

So I got my lights in today. So excited. So now I have to decide if I'm going to replace one bulb at a time every 3 days or replace all of them at once and cut back on the time they are on and increase it as the days go by.

What do you guys think would be the best route to go? I'm replacing all 8 of the bulbs.

[Gseclipse02]

one at a time ....

[polarbear]

So I replaced 2 bulbs yesterday. I know one at a time but I changed out 2 bulbs and put in 2 blue plus bulbs in. I could already see the differnece. Ill add 2 more tomorrow and 2 more on Sunday then the last 2 next Tuesday. I need to attach my LED stunner strip in a different location since I currently have it in a bulb space. See Its an 8 bulb fixture but when I bought the LED strip I decided to get rid of one of the bulbs to make room for the strip. Now I want to add the bulb back and there is no space on the lid of the canopy to attach the LED strips.

I was thinking of attaching them on the inside lip of the relector but am not sure if the T5 bulb will get to hot and melt the LED strip. What do you guys think?