Looking for suggestions... T5 bulb Combos

[Myka]

For a really blue look:

UVL Super Actinic or UVL 454 or ATI BluePlus
KZ Coral Light II (15,000K)
UVL Super Actinic or UVL 454 or ATI BluePlus
UVL Super Actinic or UVL 454 or ATI BluePlus
KZ Coral Light II (15,000K)
UVL Super Actinic or UVL 454 or ATI BluePlus

OR

This combo would be fairly blue:

UVL Super Actinic or UVL 454 or ATI BluePlus
KZ Coral Light II (15,000K)
KZ Fiji Purple
KZ Coral Light I or UVL Aquasun (both are 10,000K)
KZ Coral Light II (15,000K)
UVL Super Actinic or UVL 454 or ATI BluePlus

You could switch the outside two and have the Coral Light II on the outside.

OR

This will be fairly white, but have a nice blue tint:

KZ Coral Light I or UVL Aquasun (10,000K)
UVL Super Actinic or UVL 454 or ATI BluePlus
KZ Coral Light II (15,000K)
KZ Coral Light II (15,000K)
UVL Super Actinic or UVL 454 or ATI BluePlus
KZ Coral Light I or UVL Aquasun (10,000K)



All of my suggested combos will give you good growth, and good PAR. These are all my favourite bulbs.

I find some tanks can't handle Fiji Purple bulbs since there is a lot of red spectrum in them they may promote algae growth. I find their use better on established tanks over a year old without any algae issues. Some people LOVE the look of Fiji Purple others HATE the look. They are purple-red.

The ATI BluePlus and the UVL 454 have a very similar look. The ATI is more expensive and can be difficult to locate, although it has slightly higher PAR. The UVL Super Actinic has low PAR, but high PUR so it is indeed a good bulb. It is more blue-purple than the 454 and the BluePlus which are more of a true blue.

KZ Coral Light I has higher PAR than UVL Aquasun, but is more expensive.

FYI, in general actinic bulbs are mainly aesthetic as they have low PAR and there is no scientific proof that corals or fish require the actinic spectrum. They shouldn't make up the majority of your bulbs. The UVL Super Actinic is an exception as described above.