6 T5 and reefbrites combo question.

[Reefs anonymous]

i have a ATI 6x 36 T5 and looking to add 2 reefbrites (probably nonXho version because the tank is only 17" deep) my question is what bulb combo do any of you who mainly keep sps and that has this setup uses? I'm looking for color pop on sps tank that's 17" deep. Currently I'm running 4 blue specials, 1 atinic, and 1 purple plus. I have a coral plus extra at the moment that's new that I can use. Thx for input.

 

[-Logzor]

Your current combination is very white in my opinion, I run about the same only all blue+ in place of your blue specials. The thing is all that bright white may wash out the weaker non XHO's. So you could swap a few of the blue specials for blue+ and have a really nice look.

Or you could get the XHO's swap out for more actinic and turn you reef into a foam and glow dance pary ;)

 

[Reefs anonymous]

Your current combination is very white in my opinion, I run about the same only all blue+ in place of your blue specials. The thing is all that bright white may wash out the weaker non XHO's. So you could swap a few of the blue specials for blue+ and have a really nice look.

Or you could get the XHO's swap out for more actinic and turn you reef into a foam and glow dance pary ;)

My mistake, I'm using the 4 blue plus. I always confuse the names because the giesemann are so close in name and colors.

 

[-Logzor]

My mistake, I'm using the 4 blue plus. I always confuse the names because the giesemann are so close in name and colors.

I had a feeling, it would be a ton of white! So I think the non XHO will be OK with that combo but if you really want the pop get the XHO I absolutely loved them.

 

[Reefs anonymous]

I had a feeling, it would be a ton of white! So I think the non XHO will be OK with that combo but if you really want the pop get the XHO I absolutely loved them.

How many xho's you got and what's your bulb combo when using them? Thx

 

[Rakie]

Small Disclaimer: I was literally about to start a thread/rant on how poorly my corals responded to bulb switching, specifically Aquablue Special, and Giesmann Tropic 6500k -- They're great lights, but they were too much for my system. Those bulbs with 6500k spectrum are strong. And not all corals (even SPS) are ready to handle them.

I have a 6x24 ATI and an XHO: tank is 24x24x18 (45g Cube, 2" shorter than a 50g) and I will tell you right now -- You will NOT notice the XHO when you have T5's on. I can't notice it at all when I have all 6 bulbs on, but it's there with only 2 bulbs on.

My bulb combo: before I messed everything up was 3 Blue+, 2 Coral+, 1 Actinic (the actinic could have been switched out for a single purple, or another Blue+ pretty easily). Here's a pic with the 3B+, 2C+, 1Act -- This was taken a few days before I ruined it all (lol)

These next two pictures were a few days prior

So that's what my setup looked like with those bulbs BEFORE the XHO. Shortly after this a bunch of bad happened...
- Alk spike
- no3 spike
- Giesmann 6500k burned some SPS
- New bulbs + new lighting schedule made it worse
- Added XHO -- Couldn't visually see much difference...
- XHO Burned corals again -_-

So right now everything looks like 50 shades of beige. IMHO, if you *really* want more pop -- The XHO probably isn't what will make you happy. Especially because at 60 watts for a 24" bar it puts out a TON more light than it looks like. You can easily cook a frag with 'em.