| Author |
 Topic Search  Topic Options
|
jw3571 
Guest
Joined: May 10 2008
Status: Offline
Points: 170
|
 Post Options
 Thanks(0)
 Quote  Reply
 Topic: Help with new T5HO Bulbs
Posted: August 22 2010 at 11:04pm |
|
I need new bulbs for my Nova Extreme Pro fixture. It's a 6 bulb fixture. I like a really blue look. No yellow. I read in the post below that some people have recommended the figi purple bulbs. I've read that those can cause algae blooms. Is this true? I'm having a horrible hair algae outbreak so i don't want to do anything to make more algae.
|
 |
sanddune600
Guest
Joined: February 20 2008
Location: Logan
Status: Offline
Points: 1825
|
Post Options
Thanks(0)
Quote Reply
Posted: August 22 2010 at 11:40pm |
|
I am loving this combo although this is the only combo I have tried
ATI Blue Plus
KZ Fiji Purple
ATI Blue Plus
GE 6500k
KZ New Generation
ATI Blue Plus 's
|
|
Andy Jorgensen
My number is four three 5 7 six four 8 0 three four
|
|
badfinger
Guest
Joined: May 18 2009
Location: Murray, UT
Status: Offline
Points: 2079
|
Post Options
Thanks(0)
Quote Reply
Posted: August 22 2010 at 11:58pm |
|
My six bulb combo is
Front
Ati blue+
Ati blue+
Fiji purple
Ati blue +
Ati blue +
Ati aquablue
Back
And I love it!
|
|
Ryan Thompson
Guest
Joined: April 11 2006
Location: Lehi
Status: Offline
Points: 3546
|
Post Options
Thanks(0)
Quote Reply
Posted: August 23 2010 at 9:08am |
|
For a really blue look with 6 bulbs go with 4 ATI Blue Plus and 2 KZ Fiji Purple.
I personally have never had algae issues with Fiji Purple bulbs. Algae is caused by bad water quality first and then lighting may aid to it. You have too many nutrients in the tank if you have bad algae going on.
This might not be the thread for it but post your parameters and a full tank picture. Most of us here can probably help you solve the problem.
|
|
bugzme
Guest
Joined: May 22 2004
Location: West Jordan
Status: Offline
Points: 4815
|
Post Options
Thanks(0)
Quote Reply
Posted: August 23 2010 at 9:19am |
I run
front
ati blue +
fiji
kz new generation
ati blue +
ati blue +
ati blue +
Never had an algae problem with t-5's
Edited by bugzme - August 23 2010 at 9:20am
|
|
Jeff
125 tank
50 gallon sump
T-5 lighting
Rum drinker, Carbon User
I KNOW ROCKS THAT ARE YOUNGER THEN ME!! I AM A Realist! I write what I think!!
|
|
jw3571
Guest
Joined: May 10 2008
Status: Offline
Points: 170
|
Post Options
Thanks(0)
Quote Reply
Posted: August 23 2010 at 1:58pm |
Thanks for the responses. Where's the best place to buy these bulbs online? Also, here are my current bulbs.
1 ATI Pro Color
2 ATI aqua blue special
2 Geissman midday 6000k
1 Geissman actinic plus
As I said earlier, I don't really like the look with all the lights on. Too yellow.
|
|
bugzme
Guest
Joined: May 22 2004
Location: West Jordan
Status: Offline
Points: 4815
|
Post Options
Thanks(0)
Quote Reply
Posted: August 23 2010 at 2:00pm |
|
I buy mine at reefgeek.com
|
|
Jeff
125 tank
50 gallon sump
T-5 lighting
Rum drinker, Carbon User
I KNOW ROCKS THAT ARE YOUNGER THEN ME!! I AM A Realist! I write what I think!!
|
|
sanddune600
Guest
Joined: February 20 2008
Location: Logan
Status: Offline
Points: 1825
|
Post Options
Thanks(0)
Quote Reply
Posted: August 23 2010 at 2:28pm |
|
Reefgeek x2
|
|
Andy Jorgensen
My number is four three 5 7 six four 8 0 three four
|
|
Mark Peterson
Paid Member
Joined: June 19 2002
Location: Murray
Status: Offline
Points: 21436
|
Post Options
Thanks(0)
Quote Reply
Posted: August 23 2010 at 2:45pm |
|
Adding new bulbs at this point is not the best thing to do. It will increase the light intensity and make the hair algae problem worse. I'd go check out some other tanks to see what I like, but hold off on adding the new bulbs until we get the hair algae under control.
|
Reefkeeping Tips, & quick, easy setup tricks:www.utahreefs.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=9244 Pay it forward - become a paid WMAS member 
|
|
bugzme
Guest
Joined: May 22 2004
Location: West Jordan
Status: Offline
Points: 4815
|
Post Options
Thanks(0)
Quote Reply
Posted: August 23 2010 at 4:37pm |
|
Old lamps = algea IMHO. Lower your phosphates and raise your mag. Get a good CUC and pull alot out by hand
|
|
Jeff
125 tank
50 gallon sump
T-5 lighting
Rum drinker, Carbon User
I KNOW ROCKS THAT ARE YOUNGER THEN ME!! I AM A Realist! I write what I think!!
|
|
Ryan Thompson
Guest
Joined: April 11 2006
Location: Lehi
Status: Offline
Points: 3546
|
Post Options
Thanks(0)
Quote Reply
Posted: August 23 2010 at 5:11pm |
|
New bulbs aren't going to aid the algae in growth IMO. In my experience algae does not like blue light. It loves the midday bulbs and this tank has 2! Not to mention the Aquablues that are pretty much the same thing.
ATI stopped producing the Procolor because A LOT of people reported algae issues with it and it was way too red. They have now designed the Purple Plus which should be identical to the Fiji Purple. I hope to have one soon although I won't count on it.
With 6 bulbs I would run a MINIMUM of 3 blue bulbs. The combo mentioned above has one. Between the bulbs and nutrients, algae is loving your tank.
|
|
Mark Peterson
Paid Member
Joined: June 19 2002
Location: Murray
Status: Offline
Points: 21436
|
Post Options
Thanks(0)
Quote Reply
Posted: August 23 2010 at 7:47pm |
|
Begging your pardon, but if this tank has a hair algae problem, the bulbs should not be changed until we get a handle on the algae. The lights are not the reason the hair algae got out of control. It was the lack of herbivores to eat it when it was just a small problem. And because part of the solution to eliminating a bad hair algae problem is to put the tank in darkness for two days and blue/actinic light for a day, the present lights will do fine. Unfortunately, we don't know just how bad the problem is. It would be best to hold off on changing anything until we know the extent of the problem.
|
Reefkeeping Tips, & quick, easy setup tricks:www.utahreefs.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=9244 Pay it forward - become a paid WMAS member
|
|
bugzme
Guest
Joined: May 22 2004
Location: West Jordan
Status: Offline
Points: 4815
|
Post Options
Thanks(0)
Quote Reply
Posted: August 23 2010 at 8:18pm |
|
I think Mark thinks he knows everything so I'll be quiet! Mark are you saying bad lighting doesn't cause algae problems? How about phosphates? Are they a problem? The only time I have ever had an algae problem is when my bulbs were 15 months old and I neglected my tank.
Edited by bugzme - August 23 2010 at 8:25pm
|
|
Jeff
125 tank
50 gallon sump
T-5 lighting
Rum drinker, Carbon User
I KNOW ROCKS THAT ARE YOUNGER THEN ME!! I AM A Realist! I write what I think!!
|
|
jw3571
Guest
Joined: May 10 2008
Status: Offline
Points: 170
|
Post Options
Thanks(0)
Quote Reply
Posted: August 23 2010 at 10:01pm |
|
Don't I need some sort of daytime bulb like the GE 6500 than someone mentioned above?
|
|
CapnMorgan
Guest
The Capn'
Joined: August 19 2009
Location: Tooele
Status: Offline
Points: 3537
|
Post Options
Thanks(0)
Quote Reply
Posted: August 24 2010 at 6:16am |
|
No not unless you prefer it. 6500K is targeted more towards plant growth, which is great for refugiums of planted FW tanks but will only encourage algae growth in a reef IME... 10000k-12000k are much better "daylight" lamp choices for a reef.
|
Steve My Old 180G Mixed ReefCurrently: 120G Wavefront Mixed 29G Seahorse & Softies Running ReefAngel Plus x2 435-8
|
|
Mark Peterson
Paid Member
Joined: June 19 2002
Location: Murray
Status: Offline
Points: 21436
|
Post Options
Thanks(0)
Quote Reply
Posted: August 24 2010 at 10:23am |
Yes, it's true that with some lights, they tend to shift spectrum to produce more of the light spectrum that grows algae. Many of us have seen how PO4 levels are not that bad in a hair algae dominated tank. So running PO4 remover while growing hair algae or a good amount of any algae, is of little benefit. I need to find a way to say this so it makes sense.  Algae problems and old light bulbs are the common result of neglect. One does not cause the other. New hobbyists are not to blame. We have all been there. We did not know how to control algae. We did not know to stock plenty of Herbivores in our tank. We did not realize how a neglected patch of hair algae could quickly spread and become an plague. This is my story which happened in 1996, just after we founded the WMAS. http://www.garf.org/ugly.html
Edited by Mark Peterson - August 24 2010 at 10:27am
|
Reefkeeping Tips, & quick, easy setup tricks:www.utahreefs.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=9244 Pay it forward - become a paid WMAS member
|
|
