8 bulb t5ho combo

[Rmckoy]

Just ordered a new ati fixture
8x80watt 60”

looking for good bulb combinations

I was thinking
4- coral +
2- blue+
2- actinic or purple plus

Or 6 coral+ and 2 blue+

 

[Fish4udog]

Check out ATI they have different combinations depending on what look and growth you want

Best ATI Bulb Combinations for Your 8 Bulb Fixture - ATI North America

It’s easy to spend hours deciding which T5 bulbs to use over your tank. It’s challenging to visualize how your combination of bulbs will look in your fixture. While a lot of aquarium lighting is based on personal preference, here’s a general guide to help you select bulbs for your 8 bulb...

www.atinorthamerica.com

 

[Bpb]

Sounds like you enjoy a more daylight appearance than heavy blues. I can appreciate that. The purple+ Bulb is helpful in correcting the green tint of too many blue+ or aqua blue special bulbs. I don’t personally find them desirable in a combo light on either of those other two bulbs. It’ll give the tank too much of a pink or magenta hue.

6 coral+ and 2 blue+ would look great.

I am heavily partial to the Giesemann tropic 6500k bulb. It is more natural looking white. 3-6500k, 3 blue+, 2 true actinic looks absolutely amazing

 

[DivingTheWorld]

That will be very white, almost a yellow like appearance. IMO, as long as you're running mostly B+ and C+, you'll grow corals. After that, bulb configuration is just so it blends to the color you like to look at.

In mine I run 4 B+, 2C+, 1 P+ and 1 Actinic. I've tried other combinations but always come back to this one. To me, it's not too white, not too blue. But again, it's up to you and what you like to look at.

 

[Rmckoy]

Currently running 8 bulbs 54watt 48”
1 purple +
4 coral + and
3 blue +

 

[Bpb]

3- giesemann 6500k tropic
1 ati coral+
3 ati blue+
1 ati true actinic.

 

[Rmckoy]

3- giesemann 6500k tropic
1 ati coral+
3 ati blue+
1 ati true actinic.

The 6500k give the more white/yellow look ?

 

[X-37B]

4b+ 4c+ before I went to Halides.
4" off the water.
Great color and growth combo.

 

[Reef - Tripp]

4 b+, 2c+,1act,1purple or
4b+,2c+,2 act or
4b+,4c+

 

[Rmckoy]

4b+ 4c+ before I went to Halides.
4" off the water.
Great color and growth combo.

Seams very bright .
similar to what I’ve always had .
I was thinking of changing things up a little for better growth and more of a “natural” look

 

[X-37B]

Seams very bright .
similar to what I’ve always had .
I was thinking of changing things up a little for better growth and more of a “natural” look

It looks more natural in person.
Great growth combo, imo.
Yes its bright as their is no light spill because of the distance to the surface.
The fixture slides out of the way and does not need to be removed for maintenance.
Ultimately its your choice as many combos work well.
Get a few different bulbs until you find what you like.

 

[Bpb]

The 6500k give the more white/yellow look ?

Yes it is a true daylight bulb. Same color visually as the sun high in the sky. I prefer it to the smurf blood water everyone likes. People call the coral+ Bulb yellow, but it looks pink/blue to me. Not yellow at all.

 

[RedReefer]

tropic 6500 (2)
purple plus (1)
blue plus (3)
actinic (2)

 

[RedReefer]

2nd choice
tropic 6500 (3)
purple plus (1)
blue plus (3)
actinic (1)

 

[Rmckoy]

Next question ...
the 48” 54watt fixture I currently have is mounted 5” above the DT
The new fixture is 80 watts each
How to acclimate everything for the increase wattage ?

432 watts to 640 watts
Does 208 watts difference matter or should it start higher above the DT?

 

[Reef - Tripp]

It does not matter, keep the same height the rest of the wattage is for the length of the tube

 

[Rmckoy]

It does not matter, keep the same height the rest of the wattage is for the length of the tube

Thank you .
I was thinking I would need to acclimate corals on the top to account for the difference

 

[X-37B]

Thank you .
I was thinking I would need to acclimate corals on the top to account for the difference

If your concerned just run less bulbs for a week then tutn them all on.

 

[Bpb]

The light won’t be brighter. Just longer. T5 bulbs emit roughly the same relative output. Only difference is the distance over which it is emitted. As in putting a par meter directly under the middle of a 8x24 watt t5ho fixture will read par that will be relatively the same as a reading taken under the center of an 8x80 watt fixture. The 80 watt bulbs are only longer. Not brighter.

 

[Mywifeisgunnakillme]

Just ordered a new ati fixture
8x80watt 60”

looking for good bulb combinations

I was thinking
4- coral +
2- blue+
2- actinic or purple plus

Or 6 coral+ and 2 blue+

That would be very white.

I would go:

6 blue plus
1 actinic
1 purple plus