6x54 watt T5; bulb and brand Q

[Mek0ng]

Currently I have a 2x54 watt T5 retro from sunlightsupply. I am adding 4x54watt T5 from reef geek. The tank is a standard 90g

Brand Question:

Each of the retros from reef geek only vary by reflector, they carry:

AquaIllumination Miro-4
IceCap SLR
Sunlight Supply Tek 2

Which is best?

Bulb Question:

I have two new, unused bulbs laying around, UVL actinic white and UVL super actinic, I am going to use those, in addition to what ever new I get, so what new should I get and what order? I was thinking, from front to back this combo:

ATI Blue Plus
ATI 12000K Aquablue Special
UVL Actinic White
ATI Blue Plus
ATI 12000K Aquablue Special
UVL Super Actinic

Any suggestions?

[Pufferpunk]

You need 1 10,000 daylight bulb for growth/health of your corals. I got a new computer & can't find the saved list I had of the bulbs I use & order I have them in, but the color is really nice.

[Mek0ng]

UVL Actinic White is 12k, just like the ATI aquablue, so no 10,000ks

Maybe:

ATI Blue Plus
UVL Actinic White
IceCap 54W 10000K Reef Crest
ATI Blue Plus
ATI 12000K Aquablue Special
UVL Super Actinic

I have been following the HUGE T5 Q&A thread on RC and am kinda confused why GrimReefer often says different bulb setups for the same amount of bulbs. These bulbs are not cheap!

[Jivenjune]

I buy from this guy on eBay. He sells about 4 lights for 40 dollars (shipping included, 48" T5s). It's a generic brand, and I'm not sure of the actual quality of the bulbs, but my discus planted tank is flourishing using a 6700k and a 1200k.

[Pufferpunk]

I'd go with only one white bulb. Have the center 2 your bluest actinics & time them so they go one an hour before & after the others, so you can view the tank only under actinics. See if you can find a pink bulb too, it really brings out the reds & oranges.

[Mek0ng]

Hmmmm Im all mixed up...

I am defiantly going to have them wired so that it gradually brightens 2 bulbs at a time, 3 timers.

Right now in the 2x54watt I have ATI Blue Plus and ATI 12000K Aquablue Special, its too blue alone. I then have 2x65watt 10k PCs turn on and the tank looks great, mid day with enough blue, not too yellow or pink, nice crisp white with enough blue to bring out colors. I am really worried about the purple bulb, I almost want to 'rent' one before I commit!

I am interested in what bulbs you run pufferpunk, you have a 6 bulb right? What size tank?

[Pufferpunk]

90g, some of the bulbs are turned around so i can't see what they are but I think these are the present bulbs & configuration.

(back to front):
Reef Blue (very blue!)
6000K Midday Giesmann
2x Reef Blue
Pure Actinic + (pink)
Actinic +

[Mek0ng]

is the 6,000k yellowish? I was debating between that and a 10,000k.

What do you clean your reflectors with, I havent cleaned mine in a year, they are opaque.

Do you like the current setup?

[Pufferpunk]

Plain, hot water. Same for the bulbs. Clean reflectors & bulbs are very important. That 6,000K looks white to me.

[Mek0ng]

If anyone is interested I emailed reefgeek last night:

Currently I have a 2x54 watt T5 retro sunlightsupply TEK. I am adding 4x54watt T5 AquaIllumination The tank is a standard 90g

I have two new, unused bulbs laying around, UVL actinic white and UVL super actinic, I am going to use those, in addition to what ever new I get, so what new should I get and what order? I was thinking, from front to back this combo:

ATI Blue Plus
UVL Actinic White
UVL Super Actinic
Giesemann 6000K Midday Sun
ATI Blue Plus
ATI Blue Plus

Would that be a good color range or what would reefgeek recommend?

and got this reply:

Your combo looks pretty good. My only suggestion would be to purchase the GE 6500K Daylight instead of the Giesemann 6000K Midday as this is the preferred bulb with many of our customers. If your looking to buy a spare bulb to play around with I would purchase an ATI 12000K Aquablue.

Our most popular 6-bulb combination:

3 – ATI Blue Plus
1 – ATI 12000K Aquablue
1 – GE 6500K Daylight
1 – KZ Fiji Purple or UV Lighting Actinic White

(For a bluer look replace the ATI 12000K Aquablue with another ATI Blue Plus)

If you have any additional questions, just let me know. We are here to help!

I think I might buy a few extra bulbs when I order, to play around with, maybe a fiji, 6500k and 10000k, and sell what ever doesnt work out.

[Pufferpunk]

Maybe that'll be my next Daylight bulb then.