Gieseman T5 pure actinics w/ Ushio 10000K 400 Watt Halides

[brandyrb]

I just impulsively ordered bulbs on marine depot and I'm wondering if anyone else has tried the Giesemann Pure Actinic T5 bulbs?

If so, are they blue, do they look good with 10000K halides?

I'm starting a 300 gal and I ordered 3 400 Watt 10000K Ushios and 6 24" 24 watt Giesemann Pure Actinic bulbs.

Any experience w/ this combination. The pure actinic bulbs were more expensive than the AquaBlue+, so I thought they might be better :doubt:. I posted a similar question on reefcentral and was told by one guy that it will be too yellow in his opinion.

Man I wish there were pictures to see the difference in T5 bulbs...

 

[sgwill122]

I run both the actinic and aquablue, I think things may not be as blue as most would like without the aquablue. I would run 3 of each.

 

[kevinpo]

Hi Brandy,
I have a display fixture at the store that has all the bulbs side by side. For me the Pure Actinic (420nm) ones are too purple. I like the Actinic+ (450nm) better.

HTH,
Kevin

 

[brandyrb]

Kevin do you sell the ATI blue plus? I've read those are more desirable than the giesemann. If not, what do you sell and how much?

I'm going to set three of the pure actinic bulbs aside until it's time to change them out and buy three of the blue plus either giesemann or ATI.

We are considering running our VHO's too. What do you think?

3X 24" 24 Watt T5 Giesemann Pure Actinic
3X 24" 24 Watt T5 Giesemann or ATI Blue Plus
3X 400 WATT 10000K Ushios (How do these compare to Reeflux?)
2X 6' VHO's - one daylight, one blue actinic

 

[kevinpo]

I carry just the Giesemann brand. I have not seen the ATI so I don't know about them. I have run the Ushio bulbs for several years and they are quite a bit more yellow than the Reeflux 10,000K. They will be slightly more blue if driven by a HQI type ballast. A good reliable bulb that needs a lot of blue supplementation IMO. I ran them with Radium 20,000K bulbs and VHO actinics (420nm) which balanced the color very nicely for me. I experienced good bulb life and fast growth rates with them. They tend to bring out the red and purple colors with less blue than the Reeflux.

HTH,
Kevin

 

[brandyrb]

Kevin,

So would you use 3 pure actinics and 3 aquablue+ or 6 aquablue+ with the Ushios?

I tried changing the order with Marine Depot, but I was too late. The shipping process already began. Is there anyway you would swap out some of the pure actinics for aquablue+ when they are shipped?

Marine Depot said I could return them, but I'd have to pay shipping and they would charge an additional 5% for instore credit.

Mike and I will be in Wednesday to buy more stuff we need...
sand, calcium reactor media, lockline, etc...
Do you have a Milwaukee replacement probe for the SMS122 controller? Marine Depot doesn't sell this and we need one.

Thanks...

 

[theJ]

I have both ATI Blue plus and the Giesemann equiv that Kevin sells at his shop. In my opinion, the ATI is a brighter (whiter) blue while the Giesemann is a deeper blue, closer to the end of the spectrum. They are both great bulbs, but I would probably go with the ATI because of the amount of bio florescence in my tank, and I like bright blues as opposed to the darker blues. I do like the Giesemann bulb a lot though (I have other Giesemann bulbs too), its such as small difference from the ATI, its going to be what seduces your eye the most.

 

[brandyrb]

Well another customer service rep from Marine Depot sent me an email saying that they were packing my order right then and asked me to confirm what change I wanted to make. I asked them to swap out three of the pure actinic bulbs for three aqua blue+, so I will have three of each. Hopefully it all works out... I was bummed when I found out that I spent $150 on purple bulbs that I thought were blue...

Brandy