ATI bulbs (1 Viewer)

[steved350]

Need to purchase a set of ATI builds. They will be going in an Aquatic life hybrid fixture so I need 4 bulbs. What would you use for growth and good color?


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[FarmerTy]

Need to purchase a set of ATI builds. They will be going in an Aquatic life hybrid fixture so I need 4 bulbs. What would you use for growth and good color?


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While I don't know the perfect combo for a 4 bulb setup, my 8 buld setup is this if helpful. Nice 12k color... White with a hint of blue.

Blue +
Coral +
Actinic
Aqua Blue special
Purple +
Blue +
Coral +
Blue +

If I had to guess for 4 bulbs, blue +, coral +, actinic, and either another blue + or coral +, depending on the color you prefer. More white or more blue.

 

[webster1234]

If it were me, I would do 2 Blue+, a Coral+, and a Purple+. I run that setup on my QT tanks and it works well and I like the color. MY only reason to not use an actinic is that they offer no growth (which is fine if you have an 8 bulb setup like ATX or myself on my big tank). But you also have supplemental lighting from your LED's. Heck, you get great growth from the Blue+. You could even run 3 of those, a Coral+, and then tweak your LED's to something pleasing to the eyes if you like a more blue color.

 

[bpb]

I’ve gotta disagree that actinic bulbs offer no growth. Their spectral range is right in the middle of the range that is most highly used for photosynthesis. Their output levels are just about 20% less overall than the blue+ and coral+ bulb. But they have near 100% PUR


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[RobertP]

There are been some pretty good studies done on the ATI Sunpower T5 fixtures and their different bulbs. I am running a 6 bulb with 4 Blue+ and 2 Coral+ and have seen nice growth. Yeah if I had an 8 bulb I would run add a couple actinic just for the pop.

BRS did this video which convinced me to get a T5 fixture. I cannot recall if this is the one that suggested a mix of Blue+ and Coral+ or not.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZjiH5Pbas-o

Marine Depot has their recommendations listed with the measured par values around the 2 min mark. They suggested for a 6 bulb fixture to run 4 blue+, 1 coral+ and 1 purple but do show the differences.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uybQtJhBOzc

 

[webster1234]

I’ve gotta disagree that actinic bulbs offer no growth. Their spectral range is right in the middle of the range that is most highly used for photosynthesis. Their output levels are just about 20% less overall than the blue+ and coral+ bulb. But they have near 100% PUR


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That may very well be the case. I thought I remembered reading somewhere when I was researching the combination for my 8 bulb fixture that the Actinic was just for the pop and didn't offer much in the way of growth. But looking at ATI's description, it indicates that it is best used for supplemental light to be used with other full spectrum bulbs. So maybe it offers some growth. I would agree on the 20% less output though.