ATI Hybrid Fixture

[kien]

Originally Posted by Steve...

Any thoughts on Blue + combo and Actinic? Still gathering ideas...

I am personally not a fan of actinics. I tried them once and didn't like them at all. They didn't really add anything to my tank. Not enough blue and not enough growth spectrum. The 22K T5s I find add a nice colour pop while still providing usable PAR.

[lastlight]

Yes those bulbs and the blue plus put lots of useable light out. Actinic I think have barely any par and also require more frequent replacement than other t5.

[Wheelman76]

Actinics are not as low in PAR as most people think. Humans eyes are not able to see that spectrum of light very well , so even though actinic bulbs may look very dull or dim , there is lots of usable spectrum. In fact actinic bulbs are very high in PUR which is probably more important then PAR.
Here are a couple of good reads on the subject.
http://www.advancedaquarist.com/2009/3/review
http://www.advancedaquarist.com/2012/10/aafeature

[Myka]

If you like actinic, the UVL Super Actinic can't be beat. It has high PUR. Otherwise, I also like the ATI Blue Plus and Coral Plus bulbs.

I haven't used the ATI Hybrid fixture (so jealous right now), so I'm not sure what bulbs would compliment the LEDs the best. Do you feel the LEDs lack anywhere? What are you trying to achieve with the T5s (color, PAR/PUR)?

Originally Posted by Wheelman76

Actinics are not as low in PAR as most people think. Humans eyes are not able to see that spectrum of light very well , so even though actinic bulbs may look very dull or dim , there is lots of usable spectrum. In fact actinic bulbs are very high in PUR which is probably more important then PAR.

Beat me to it.

[lastlight]

I'm still learning about T5 and don't even have any. Thx guys!

[kien]

That's interesting to learn about the actinics. I recall putting a PAR meter under them once and got a fairly low reading compared to 22Ks. Havin said that, it was a highly unscientific experiment I will have to read about what this PUR is all about. I've never heard of that term before!

[riceboy]

For my make shift hybrid sunbrite f series with tek light t5 supplimenT, I went with 3 blue+ and one figi purple. Love the color and my leds are all ramped at 100%

[riceboy]

Originally Posted by Myka

If you like actinic, the UVL Super Actinic can't be beat. It has high PUR. Otherwise, I also like the ATI Blue Plus and Coral Plus bulbs.

I haven't used the ATI Hybrid fixture (so jealous right now), so I'm not sure what bulbs would compliment the LEDs the best. Do you feel the LEDs lack anywhere? What are you trying to achieve with the T5s (color, PAR/PUR)?



Beat me to it.

I find the leds are lacking spread from the top view your corals look awesome but not so much from the front of the tank and sides. So I added the t5 for the spread so I don't see brown sides of corals and wicked top view but more color throughout the whole tank

[Steve...]

Thanks for everyone's input ! My main objective is to make my corals pop and bring out the colours of my fish. Right now, my daytime settings are to white so my corals don't look as vibrant. Once the t5 goes off and the blue LEDs kick in, my corals look a lot nicer and you appreciate the piece even more. Too many options not sure what to do ... I guess the only way is to experiment some more

[mikepclo]

I've been messing around with my t5 setup. I've noticed with more blue (5xblue+,2x actinic and purple) I get best color pigments from majority of my acros. But visually by eye the colors will be washed out. So luckly you have a hybrid which you can increase the white so it's visually more appealing just for viewing purposes. Unscientific at all but my theory(as of now) is color pigments are produced to block the uv spectrum. Here's a example of a pc that is directly under 2 actintics with 4xblue+,2x actinic, purple and coral+ combo. I have 2 actintics front of fixture as it's more Lps friendly in shallow tank. That being said, blue leds will give you pop than actinic or blue+ but led won't give you the florencent glow that t5 will. Just got to find the right balance so to speak.