T5 Bulb Combo Suggestions for 75 gallon reef 6 bulbs

[ltkenbo]

I have a 75 gallon reef tank with a 6x54w bulb current nova extreme pro fixture. I'm looking for bulb combos for some new bulbs. I only have 4 bulbs in right now and they are old (recently started my tank back up). I currently have:
2x ati aqua blue special
2x ati blue plus

Obviously I need 6 bulbs, but I also want something that is more blue, and brings out the color better, but at the same time provides good PAR (unlike actinics).

I was thinking maybe this combo:
4x ATI blue plus
1x ATI purple plus
1x ATI aqua blue special

How do you think this would look? Would it bring out the colors better but at the same time provide decent lighting for corals? I only have LPS and softies right now, but maybe in the future would like a couple Sps and maybe a claim.

 

[ltkenbo]

Or what about a GE 6500K daylight instead of the aquablue? Or would this wash out the colors too much?

 

[ltkenbo]

Looking at my tank again, I guess mine is tinted blue some, but what I have looks a little too plain, it doesn't bring out the colors well, that's why I was thinking the 6500K one and the purple plus, I'd seen someone that had done that combo and it looked good (one above but 6500 instead of aquablue), but wondered what others thought...

 

[kbuser92]

I personally wouldn't go below 10-12,000°K, but 8,500°K should be alright. 6,200-6,500° is natural daylight and it just doesn't pop. I prefer the blue, and in fact, I have 10,000° bulbs of my Malawi and planted tropical tanks.

 

[ltkenbo]

I personally wouldn't go below 10-12,000°K, but 8,500°K should be alright. 6,200-6,500° is natural daylight and it just doesn't pop. I prefer the blue, and in fact, I have 10,000° bulbs of my Malawi and planted tropical tanks.

What's your exact bulb setup? Any pics?

 

[kbuser92]

Maybe:

AquaBlue Plus
True Actinic
Purple Plus
True Actinic
AquaBlue Plus
AquaBlue Plus

 

[kbuser92]

What's your exact bulb setup? Any pics?

I have an Odyssea 24" T5HO 4-bulb fixture. 2x10,000°K and 2xActinic. I need to replace it, though, and am looking at the ReefBreeders fixtures.

 

[kbuser92]

All bulbs, 10,000 °K only, Actinics only. Bulbs are all really old so its a little more yellow than it should be.

 

[ltkenbo]

The thing is most actinic only have like 50% of the PAR that normal bulbs do even though they do make everything look great. What about this:
3 blue plus
2 coral plus
1 purple plus

 

[kbuser92]

The AquaBlues are going to have the best PAR. And supplementing with Actinics will get it really blue. The AquaBlues are 15,000°K and actinics are 421 mm.