changing bulbs???

[nitro069]

I am looking to get more "pop" out of my corals without going to led or adding anything to my system. I currently have it set up like this.

channel 1 - 2 ati blue plus
channel 2 - 1 ati blue plus
                - 3 ati coral plus
front to back-
Current                          New

1)ch2-blue                    1)blue
2)ch1-blue                    2)actinic
3)ch2-coral                    3)coral
4)ch2-coral                    4)blue
5)ch1-blue                    5)blue
6)ch2-coral                    6)coral
I was thinking about changing out as follows, put bulb 2(blue) in bulb 4(coral) slot and remove the coral plus bulb. place an actinic bulb in bulb 1 slot.

Do you thing this will give me the the "pop" im looking for by adding the actinic? I don't mind if my tank goes a little bluer.
Any suggestions on bulb placement are welcome too.

thanks

 

[davesolo29]

find a cheapish led strip to supplement with.. i find the combination works awesome

 

[phi delt reefer]

The actinics get over powered by the other bulbs real easily.

I would go with Dave's suggestion and get a couple royal blue /violet LEDs running at full blast to add some pop. The more the merrier or they too will get lost in the flood of T5

 

[nitro069]

Thanks guys. Forgot to mention that I am just looking for it in the sun up/down times mainly. Figuring w blue and one actinic. If that were the case oin a 1 to 1 ratio will the blue wash out the effects of the actinic.

 

[teebone110]

Thanks guys. Forgot to mention that I am just looking for it in the sun up/down times mainly. Figuring w blue and one actinic. If that were the case oin a 1 to 1 ratio will the blue wash out the effects of the actinic.

Havent paired up up a blue plus and actinic, but my guess would be the actinic would be overpowered. You could substitute the blue plus for a purple plus, but if you were going to do this, I would just run two actinics. 

 

[phi delt reefer]

blue plus will over power the actinic

i run two UVL Super Actinics for dusk dawn

daylights are
4 blue+
1 aquablue special
1 purple plus


with all the bulbs on the tank looks very 14K to me. Its very bright crisp white with a hint of blue. I would like it bluer though... I find the pictures i take always look bluer than what i see with my eyes.

I've been juggling with the idea of removing the two centre bulbs and putting in some 3UP Royal Blue LEDS with TV Leds (403 and 410 alternating) to add a good punch but with no corals in the tank currently and no plans to add any until the spring, the project is on hold.