10 Tube Combinations
Date Published - 28th August 2013 - Published by - iQuatics Ltd
The combinations we are suggesting below are a guideline only. Every fish keeper has different opinions on the colours that they prefer. The most popular combinations that we find are used in the aquarium hobby are marked with a *.
Colours can vary slightly depending on the position of the tubes. You can position the tubes however you like in your own aquarium setup.
Combination 1:
3 x White 3 x Aquablue 50:50, 3 x Blue Plus, 1 x Purple*
This combination will give you an overall slight blue tint to the tank enhancing the natural fluorescence of the corals and fish. The Purple tube will enhance the reds and purples within your tank as well. The Aquablue are fantastic contributors to healthy coral growth as well as washing out the yellow tint to the white tubes. The blue plus will penetrate to deeper levels giving you more light at the bottom of your tank.
Combination 2:
4 x White, 4 x Blue Plus, 1x Aquablue 50:50, 1 x Purple*
This combination is mainly for colouration, it does help towards growth but a combination mainly for aesthetic purpose. Good for enhancing blues and red hues in your tank. The blue plus and purple tubes will help to balance out the slight yellow hue given off by the white tubes. Suitable for tanks of a medium depth (up to 18-24 inches)
Combination 3:
4 x White, 3 x Aquablue 50:50, 2 x Blue Plus, 1 x Purple*
This is a very well balanced combination of bulbs, helping to promote growth and maximise the volume of light at all depths of your aquarium. Overall this combination will give you a blue tint to the tank, helping to highlight the fluorescence of your corals and fish.
Combination 4:
5 x Aquablue, 4 x Blue Plus, 1 x Purple
Overall this option will give you a larger blue tint to the tank, penetrating the light to the lower depths. Coral growth will be good and fluorescence of your fish enhanced, however you may find it too blue for your taste.
Combination 5:
2 x White, 2 x Aquablue, 2 x Blue Plus, 2 x Actinic, 2 x Purple*
This combination will give you an overall slight blue tint to the tank enhancing the natural fluorescence of the corals and fish. The Purple tube will enhance the reds and purples within your tank as well. The Aquablue are fantastic contributors to healthy coral growth as well as washing out the yellow tint to the white tubes. The blue plus will penetrate to deeper levels giving you more light at the bottom of your tank.
Combination 6:
5 x White 5 x Actinic
You will have a nice balanced colour as the 3 actinic tubes will wash out the yellow hue in the white tubes. Coral growth will be limited as the actinic tubes help to bring out the coral fluorescence but don’t contribute towards the coral growth dramatically.
Combination 7:
4 x Aquablue 50:50, 4 x Blue Plus, 2 x Purple
Overall this option will give you a larger blue tint, penetrating the light to the lower depths of the tank. Coral growth will be good and the fluorescence of your fish enhanced, however you may find it too blue for your taste.
Combination 8:
10 x Aquablue 50:50
The overall coral growth will be good and the volume of light in your tank will be maximised at all depths, however using 6 of the same tube will mean you can’t slightly change the effect by altering the position of the tubes, unlike the other combinations. You will have a clinical blue tint to your tank with this setup.
Combination 9:
5 x White 4 x Blue Actinic 1 x Purple
This combination will help to bring out the natural colours of your corals and fish but you will have a slight yellow hue across the tank. The actinic tube will help to reduce this hue and will bring out the fluorescent colours in your corals. The Purple tube will enhance the reds and purples within your tank as well as providing an increased PAR for overall growth at all levels of your aquarium.
Combination 10:
10 x Tropical
* This is the most popular combination for a tropical setup as the pink hue enhances the reds in your tropical fish and the low kelvin promotes healthy plant growth.
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