Cichlid keepers what t-5 bulbs do you use?

[ohdannyboy]

ive recently upgraded my t8's to t5's im using the arcadia range of bulbs, what im really looking for is a nice crisp white with maybe a hint of blue ive tried the plant pro which is a bit to yellow/green for me and the tropical pro which is a bit too purple

what do you guys use? ive been told the marine bulbs will give me a major algae bloom i have a uv sterilizer would this make a difference?

 

[elting44]

I use a 50/50 6500/Actinic. I dont have much algae issues.

 

[ohdannyboy]

could you post a pic of how it looks please

 

[Aquanero]

10K should give you the look your looking for. The crisp icy white lite with a spike in the red spectrum will bring out both the blue the red.

 

[elting44]

could you post a pic of how it looks please

This is a pic w/ no flash, only the 32 w 50/50

 

[cichlid2006]

I use 2 x 10,000k white tubes and 2 x actinic blue tubes, a total of 4 x 54w T5 lights. The "white" tubes are a bit on the yellow side but the 2 blue tubes cancel that out nicely. I think they may be a bit yellow because they are cheap tubes that came with the luminaire. When the "white" ones die I will buy a better brand of tube.