Help with bulb choices for new fixture

[Mikro402]

I'm getting the Tek Elite 6X54 HO 48" fixture. I'm a bit confused with the choices of bulb color, temp, and even manufacturer.
It will go over a 75 gal. reef.(48"WX18"DX20"H)
I hope to try keeping sps lps and maybe clams. Right now I have a leather, frogspawn, torch, monti, and 6 fish.

Thanks...

Mikro

[Chasman]

Mikro

I researched for days trying to find some insite on the lamps to order. I bought a six lamp fixture too. I found every make, color and manufacture under the sun. It was all so confusing. Everybody has their own spin on it. Crazy, crazy.

So I just put a stake in the ground an bought 6 of them. I didn't want a super blue look so I got 2 Aqua Blue Specials, 2 actinics, and 2 blue plus. They were all ATI. I have no idea what they look like at this point. I went by the color spectrum graphs.

Good luck.

Chasman

[reeferbill]

Hi Mikro402 ; It depends on how much you want to spend and color your looking for. I would like to try Giesman german made HO T-5s , 3 @ 54 watt 15000K AquaBlue 60White/40Blue , 2 @ 54 watt x 420nm PureActinic and 1 @ 54 watt 450nm ActinicPlus 60Blue/4oWhite . Arrangement PureAct.15K,ActPlus,15K,PureAct,15K I have heard that these are the best T-5s made. Good Luck and Happy Reefing!!!!

[FoMoCo Master Tech]

The really crappy thing about t5 bulb combos is that you can't really tell if you like it until you buy and see them yourself. Pictures just don't show the true colors like seeing it live would.

[twisted]

i have the same tank and am running an icecap 6 t5 and 2 led tubes. its mixed reef and i have great sps and lps growth. the bulbs i use are

2 ati blue +
2 gies act +
1 uvl super act
1 uvl 12k
the colors look real nice too without that white look to the tank

[twisted]

forgot to add that ill most likely replace the giesman with 2 more ati blue+ come bulb replacement time

[Original Fin]

It helps if you have a couple good reef shops in your area. Usually, they run an assortment of lighting. Most of my locals have Halides, T5's, PC's and leds on their tanks. You can ask what bulbs they use, and see what you think of the color. It really is mostly personal pref as to how much blue and/or purple you add or don't, but ATI bulbs are one of the most popular here at the moment. Geisman get great reviews, but they are also the costliest.

Besides lighting, almost anything reef related of German make is amongst the best stuff, Geisman, Tunze, Eheim, but we pay quite a premium for it over here though