Bulbs for t5 ho!

[Flaxon-Waxon]

I have a Wavepoint 48", 4 bulb (2 actinic blues and 2 10k daylights) over my 55 FOWLR. How do I know when to replace them? Will they begin to dim or is it based off of time? The bulbs have been on it since July. I hear 9 months ish? Also, should I replace them with the same 10k, or is there a way to go a bit brighter/bluer? Thanks...

 

[nuwave59]

They start to blink a little bit, but it's hard to see. You have to change them very 6-12 months. Brown algae and cyanobacteria appears otherwise. If I were you, I'd change one every 2 months.

 

[Flaxon-Waxon]

Really?? Lighting that's on it's way out can cause cyano and algae?

 

[nuwave59]

They start to produce more red light as they go. you don't see it with naked eye (the 10000k ones especially, the actinic will just be less bright.)

 

[Flaxon-Waxon]

Should I stick with 10k or go to 12 or 14?

 

[nuwave59]

10000k is fine

 

[Flaxon-Waxon]

What if I want a bluer look?

 

[Convict2161]

Check out ATI bulbs.


http://www.bulkreefsupply.com/lighting/t5-florescent-1/bulbs.html

Blue plus will give you a nice blue and you can even mix in a purple plus.

You have a four bulb fixture like I had. I had 2 aqua blue specials 1 blue plus and 1 purple plus.

This is the tank with the 2 aqua blue specials off.





In my profile I think there a pic with all the lights on to give you am idea of that it looks like.

 

[Flaxon-Waxon]

So if it's a 4 bulb, should I do a blue plus and a purple, with 2 actinics? I feel that with only 4 bulbs it wont disperse the light properly?

 

[Mrc8858]

Id go with less blue personally. My 6 bulb is 3 actinics 2 purple plus and a 14k but if I did it over on a 4 bulb I'd go with an actinic, a blue plus, a purple plus, and a 10k.

 

[bavass]

ATI website


16K - 20K - Bluish white with a noticable blue and red under-tone

4-Bulb combination

• 3 ATI Blue Plus
• 1 ATI Purple Plus

4-Bulb combination

• 3 ATI Blue Plus
• 1 ATI Purple Plus

12K - 16K - Cool white with a noticable blue and red under-tone

<U>4-Bulb combination

• 2 ATI Blue Plus
• 2 ATI Coral Plus

10K - 14K - Crisp white with just a hint of blue</U>

<U>4-Bulb combination

• 2 ATI Blue Plus
• 1 ATI Aquablue Special
• 1 ATI Purple Plus

</U>

 

[Flaxon-Waxon]

Thanks my dudes! Oh yea. Would bulbs that are on their way out contribute to an algae problem as stated earlier?