T5 Bulb Selection for SPS Frag Tank

[KingBlingTX]

I looking for some thoughts/suggestions for the bulb selection on a new 40 breeder frag tank build. It will be SPS-dominant. I have the 36" x 6 bulb ATI Sunpower fixture. This is the current bulb set-up:
(all these bulbs are Giessemann bulbs)
Lagoon Blue
Actinic+
AquaBlue+
Pure Actinic
Actinic+
Actinic+

This initial set-up looks just a little blue IMO, but I'm open to any suggestions. I'm looking to optimize for a balance of both color development & growth.

 

[jsker]

@john.m.cole3 might be able to help you out.

 

[SunnyX]

Hello,

For color AND growth I have found a combo of 50% ATI Blue+ and 50% Ati Aquablue Special to be best. While this may appear too "white" to some it has worked well for many years now. 6 Bulbs over a 40 breeder is quite a bit of lighting so you really shouldn't have any issues growing or coloring SPS.

 

[john.m.cole3]

I'm with @SunnyX in regards to running a whiter tank than most do. I'm currently running 2x blue+, 2x coral +, actininc, and a purple plus to help bring out the reds. that's on a 72 bowfront. In 6 weeks I have 6 new heads on my candy cane, 1 new head on a hammer, and my moti cap has encrusted its plug and showing growth on the edges. You just can't go wrong with T5 for ease of use and results!

 

[KingBlingTX]

Thanks for the input. A whiter color tank is not a problem IMO. Aesthetically, I'm not a huge fan of current trend for bluish tanks anyway (20K style). The fluorescent colors are certainly cool, but it doesn't look like a "natural" reef to me. I do need to compare the difference between the ATI & Giessemann bulbs to see which bulb is comparable to ones mentioned. (I only got Giessemann because that's what my LFS had.)

 

[Vaughn17]

Hello,

For color AND growth I have found a combo of 50% ATI Blue+ and 50% Ati Aquablue Special to be best. While this may appear too "white" to some it has worked well for many years now. 6 Bulbs over a 40 breeder is quite a bit of lighting so you really shouldn't have any issues growing or coloring SPS.

Hi Sunny,
Are you the Acro-God Sunny that my really gorgous orange and greenish-yellow milli is named after?

What do you think of the ATI Coral+ bulb? I have been running 3 blue+ with 3 coral+ over a 38 g and have been seeing great coloration (and the look is really bright and not blue, pinkish, or washed out), but I suspect that I would see better growth with the Aqua Blue Special instead of the Coral+.

 

[SunnyX]

Hi Sunny,
Are you the Acro-God Sunny that my really gorgous orange and greenish-yellow milli is named after?

What do you think of the ATI Coral+ bulb? I have been running 3 blue+ with 3 coral+ over a 38 g and have been seeing great coloration (and the look is really bright and not blue, pinkish, or washed out), but I suspect that I would see better growth with the Aqua Blue Special instead of the Coral+.

Lol, i'm not an "Acro-God" . :P

I like the Coral+. It gives off a crisp white light and my SPS have done well under it. I currently run 3xBlue+, 2xCoral+, and an Aquablue Special. It’s been about four months now and my blue’s and pinks look extremely well. You can’t go wrong with a 50/50 combo of blue and white bulbs. The Coral+ and Aquablue are very similar so I don’t think that you would see much of a difference in growth. The greatest way to increase growth is to run a high import/high export system. One where you feed heavy/skim heavy. I have found that food is often the limiting factor when it comes to coral growth. If you’re running six bulbs over a 38g you have more than enough lighting so I wouldn’t make any changes in that department.

 

[Vaughn17]

Thanks, Sunny!

Yeah, I have learned the hard way that acros need to be fed a heck of a lot to thrive and grow. Still learning, of course, because there is so much to learn in this hobby.