Thoughts on t-5 supplementation: cheap bulbs vs. expensive bulbs?

[crazedreefer]

So I am running a 400w halide on my cube and I am very happy with the results...but I only run a 6 hour photo period and I do not want to increase it, but I want longer viewing time, so I am thinking about going t-5 retro...

Now to my question, since this is only going to be for supplementation purposes, could I just go cheap and get like PCI bulbs (half the price, and I am wanting to go with 8 bulbs total, so it adds up) and yield the same color results as the more expensive brands, or should I just buck up and get the more expensive bulbs, i.e. ATI, URI, etc. as they will yield better color? Although I am only using this for supplementation I want the tank to look while the t-5's would be on?

Any help you could give me would be great...

[DesertBandits]

what color are you going for (K)? A 1 to 1 mix of ATI Blue plus with UVL Superactinic gives a nice 20K look.

[crazedreefer]

I am not asking what bulbs get what type of color combo, I am wondering if a cheap super actinic will yeild the same color as an expensive super actinic...not worried about par or anything, simply color.

[twon8]

no, get the good bulbs. the cheap ones are cheap for a reason. get some ati blueplus

what size tank is this?

[crazedreefer]

Originally posted by twon8
no, get the good bulbs. the cheap ones are cheap for a reason. get some ati blueplus

what size tank is this?

You think that they are cheap cause their sucks more so then the par being lousy?

as for tank size it is 60gal. 24x24x24.

[twon8]

they arent' made well and likely won't last as long as a good bulb would

[crazedreefer]

Originally posted by twon8
they arent' made well and likely won't last as long as a good bulb would

Ok, thank you for your time and thoughts... How many do you think I would need to supplement well? Maybe I do not need 8 and only 4...

[twon8]

i think four would be plenty, you could put two on the front and two on back, ore one on each of the sides.

[crazedreefer]

Originally posted by twon8
i think four would be plenty, you could put two on the front and two on back, ore one on each of the sides.

Yeah I was thinking some on each side...The reason I wanted to go 8 was so I could do some blue+ super actinic and 2 12k acitnic white, so when the halide is off it is not just a bunch of blue...Do you think that only 2 blue+ and 2 super actinic would power through the halide when it is on and then offer enough decent viewing pleasure when the halide is off?

I really do appreciate your help!

[barjam]

2 blue+ and 2 actinic would be pure blue. If you wanted it to look normal and not all neon you probably want a daylight of some sort in that mix, maybe an aquablue?

[crazedreefer]

Originally posted by barjam
2 blue+ and 2 actinic would be pure blue. If you wanted it to look normal and not all neon you probably want a daylight of some sort in that mix, maybe an aquablue?

Yeah that is what I am wrestling with right now... is I want to get alot of blue through when the halide is on, but when it is off, I do not want it to look light the t-5 gods, puked blue into my tank ...so that is why I was thinking 8 of them 4 blue+ (or UVL's new blue+ competitor), 2 super actinic and 2 12k actinic white...but it is a ton of bulbs, and trying to have a small budget here...LOL.

[twon8]

i think two blueplus, one actinic and one daylight would be great.

[crazedreefer]

Originally posted by twon8
i think two blueplus, one actinic and one daylight would be great.

Now how would you set that up? what I mean is wont the one side with the daylight have more of that color? or am i just crazy?