Geissman bulb Advice

[ryangrieder]

so i got 6 t-5ho bulbs on my 72 bow. im more of a fan of the purple look rather then blue. right now i have 3 of the new coralife 420 purple actinic bulbs, 1 of the older style coralife 460 blue actinic bulbs, and 2 10k coralife bulbs. i actually like them alot...but there not that BRIGHT. i see so many people with t-5 structures and there tank looks good but its also BRIGHT. mine is decently bright, but could be better. so anyway, im thinking geissman t-5 bulbs because i see alot of you sugguest them. would you say they are bright or maybe do u reccomend something else? remembering the fact that i like the purple more then blue (my corals seem to glow so much nicer with the purple color) which ones do you think i should go with cause i found many types by geissman, should i be looking at those powerchrome ones or what? guide me in the right direction please...

 

[masterswimmer]

The fixture/ballast you're using is going to effect the appearance of the bulbs whatever brand/temperature the bulbs are. What fixture are you using?

 

[ryangrieder]

well i have two. i right now how on it the odyssea 4 bulb professional one with that built in time, and also a 2 bulb t5 odyssea behind it to make 6. i also have a 4 bulb current usa nova extreme but kinda old. but im thinking about that new aquaticlife structure. i REALLY like the giesemann t5 structure but ehh.. a little pricy

 

[ryangrieder]

or i was thinking the Sunlight Supply Tek-Light T5 48" 8X54 Watt Fixture
just found that one for like 385 online which i dont think is that bad for a 8 bulb t5

 

[seldin]

I was talking to Randy at MR swap and he gave me interesting info on bulbs. He likes the Ushio 14K for Pratt reef, which happens to be be what I use along with some T5s. I mentioned that his tank looked "more white" like mine.

He was mentioning that a lot of reefers now a days, like the blue look and that 14k bulb manufacturers don't make the bulbs the same look. So that the Ushio brand at 14K is more white while some other manufacturers make the 14k more blue.

 

[jaa1456]

isn't the USHIO a MH bubl though? thats not a fair comparison. If you really like the purple look put a fiji purple in there. And also the TEK setups do not come with splash shields or legs. Unless the one you are buying has everything included. The shield runs around 20 and the legs aroung 60. Just so you are aware what a full tek set up will cost.

 

[seldin]

Jaa,

Yes, the Ushio is MH. I was sharing an interesting tidbit from the MR swap that I did not know. I realize that each manufacturer would make slight differences, however, a "big" difference that is that noticeable I was not aware of.

 

[jaa1456]

I think the T5 bulbs are more closely together than the MH bulbs though.

 

[KathyC]

On my 120, I run the 5 bulb Aquactinics fixture along with 3 additional T5 bulbs running off an Ice Cap 660 Ballast.

After speaking with Jim -SWC I switched all of my bulbs over the the Geisemann Powerchromes a couple of weeks ago and I LOVE the look, the tank is bright, not overly blue and the colors pop like crazy.

Looking forward to seeing how much they change the growth in there.

 

[jaa1456]

Kathy which bulbs were you running prior to that? I have ATI bulbs and fiji purples. They are for my new tank so I dont really know what they look like, but I hear they are great bulbs as well.

 

[KathyC]

Kathy which bulbs were you running prior to that? I have ATI bulbs and fiji purples. They are for my new tank so I dont really know what they look like, but I hear they are great bulbs as well.

I was running the ATI's and Purple Fiji's and I had one red Pro Coral (I think). I am much happier with the new mix. I'd buy them again in a heartbeat

 

[jaa1456]

hmm maybe I will check those out next

 

[bigcapct]

or i was thinking the Sunlight Supply Tek-Light T5 48" 8X54 Watt Fixture
just found that one for like 385 online which i dont think is that bad for a 8 bulb t5

i have this light 4 bulb and its great,i run 1 geissman miday in the middle with the actinics on the out side and a aqua blue next to the miday bulb wich just burnt out and they r Very bright,im gonna go with 2 middays in the middle now for more growth and my sps

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[NYreefNoob]

Tek is a nice fixture and great price, use one myself, for bulbs ive tried alot of different bulbs and i am really happy with the icecap t5 bulbs { uvl } i run 4 of the twilight 20k's 3 of their 14k's and a ge 6k tank is around a 15k in appearance, the fixture's you got arent crap, nothing personal, ati makes about the best t5 fixture but will cost you, tek has their new line out which has fans, use to run the geisman bulbs which i like as well but got the icecap at ocean gallery when icecap was there on a special, different fixture's and ballast will cause each bulb to have a different color temp

 

[ryangrieder]

well i found that 8 bulb tek fixture for 375. i know it does not come with legs or the shield which im fine with. dont know if its a bad thing but i dont run the shield on any of my tanks just so more air can cool them off. and the legs no big issue, ill either order them or hang it. and no the bulbs dont come with them either but thats ok because im thinking about the same ones kathy spoke about. the powerchrome t-5s.

do u think a 8 bulb t-5 would be nessessary or could the 6 bulb be just fine. no stony in there...yet. right now just softies and lps.

 

[bigcapct]

will be fine i was going for 6 and got the 4 and have no complaints ,now tryn 2 geissman miday bulbs instead of 1 with 1 aqua blue and 2 other actinics

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[KathyC]

well i found that 8 bulb tek fixture for 375. i know it does not come with legs or the shield which im fine with. dont know if its a bad thing but i dont run the shield on any of my tanks just so more air can cool them off. and the legs no big issue, ill either order them or hang it. and no the bulbs dont come with them either but thats ok because im thinking about the same ones kathy spoke about. the powerchrome t-5s.

do u think a 8 bulb t-5 would be nessessary or could the 6 bulb be just fine. no stony in there...yet. right now just softies and lps.

How deep & wide is the tank?

 

[ryangrieder]

72 bow. 48x18x22 i believe