Better bulbs

[clancaster23]

Well, got my Odyssea T5HO light today and I love the way it looks. It came with two actnics and two 10k white lights. When I'm all finished I want a nice reef tank going so wanted to know are these the bulbs I want in it or should I change them for something else? The color looks pretty good as it isn't "too blue." I don't want it too blueish and would like to keep it sort of bright but still provide the lighting the corals/fish will need.

 

[little_fish]

Those are fine bulb colors for your tank. Some people like a more blue tank, so they have more blue bulbs than white, and you can also add a pink bulb which can bring out another range of colors.

But most bulbs need to be changed out every 9 months or so. The stock bulbs might need to changed out a little sooner though.

 

[Hiker4twenty]

How many bulbs in the fixture and what wattage? Over a 75g you'll want to have at least a fixture that will house 6x54W T5's. The color choice is a personal preference, but those bulbs in the fixture work just fine.

 

[clancaster23]

Well it's a 4x54w setup for 216 total. I posted a few posts about it and got a general thumbs up for having softies and LPS so I got it. I am looking into a metal halide but they are out of stock for the one I want right now.

 

[daugherty]

call reefgeek.com and tell them what you want your tank to look like as far as color and they will help you out alot

 

[14 gallon nanocube]

when you want to get new bulbs.Or when it's time to change them out go with ATI bulbs

 

[daugherty]

ati are great bulbs.

 

[AmberSunrise]

I love my ATI purple bulb, I really dont like the blue look either. The purple brings out all the colors nicely, appears very bright but doesnt wash the colors out to all look the same.

 

[clancaster23]

Are they these: http://www.reefgeek.com/lighting/T5_Fluorescent/Bulbs/ATI/54W_Purple_Plus_T5_HO_Fluorescent_by_ATI

 

[fastrd400]

Yes, that is them. You only need one purple plus bulb.

 

[Ace5high]

Just as a heads up that fixture comes with "blue bulbs" not true actinics. I believe they are like 460's stock. You may consider getting at least one actinic bulb to replace a 460. Either would work fine im sure but I like having at least 1 actinic bulb in mine

 

[clancaster23]

Would I replace that with one of the actnic bulbs or the 10k's? I'm guessing the blues but not sure.

 

[AmberSunrise]

Yes, that is them. You only need one purple plus bulb.

I actually plan on adding another 2 bulb fixture to mine and have the 2 purple plus bulbs on one fixture so that I can have the purple only dusk/dawn feature.

I saw a blog where someone did this and it looks SO awesome