Question on Actinic Bulbs

dobejazz · 03-21-2006, 10:08 AM

Without going way over my head

And as it pertains to PC lighting fixtures are Actinic bulbs helpful for the corals or is it more to adjust the look of the tank?

on my 24g I was running 2 36w PC's one 10,000k and 1 50/50 the tank was very white. I have added 2 more 36w 50/50's and the tank looks much prettier.

My plan is to run 2 50/50 and the 10,000 together with 1 actinic bulb to come on 1 hour before and run 1 hour later. Is this a good plan?

Geoff · 03-21-2006, 02:05 PM

actinics are just for our viewing pleasure. some people use them as a ramp up for the corals in the morning. easing them into more light. it would not matter whether or not it was actinic or not, it is just the fact that it is less wattage in the morning than mid day.

G~

Caoineag · 03-21-2006, 03:19 PM

I was under the impression that the actinic light is useful to anyone not running MH, since this person is talking about pc where every watt counts wouldn't this be a different story cause it is needed for photosynthesis versus a situation where it is just for viewing?

Geoff · 03-21-2006, 03:29 PM

the actinic spectrum is beyond the spectrum needed for photosynthesis. this spectrum is associated with bacterial excitement within the corals. this is where the flourescing characteristics of a coral come into play. flourescing has nothing to do with photosynthesis. this is why it is purely for our benefit. if coral growth is the concern than going with something along the lines of a 6.5K bulb is more helpfull.

G~

Caoineag · 03-21-2006, 03:35 PM

so it just makes the corals prettier, wondered why the brain I had decided to go metallic blue versus its original dark purple.

So you prefer 6,500K over 10,000K for corals, or are you saying that if photosynthesis is the sole goal, than 6,500K is more appropriate because I am aware that hair algae loves the 6,500K for photosynthetic reasons but was again under the impression that higher ratings were more appropriate to reef settings for the purposes of corals and other light lovers.

Geoff · 03-21-2006, 03:58 PM

there is a reason the iwasaki 6.5K bulb is the king of growth in corals. this is as close to the normal spectrum of sunlight. there is a reason HA grows better in this spectrum. this is the wheelhouse for photosynthesis. most of the corals we keep are photosynthetic so it makes sense for the best growth than keep it in this spectrum.

having algae problems due to old bulbs is kind of an missleading statement. what is going on is people are trying to push the boundary for what a coral can survive on the bare minimum of photosynthsis in the corals. the corals will rely more on the other symbiots in their tissues for any limits in photosynthesis. HA on the other hand do not have these symbiots in their structure so they are dependant on this normal "sun" spectrum for thier photosynthesis needs.

as bulbs age they do shift down into the yellow spectrum. which is more "sun" like. so algae has a better chance for food production. the big question is what is fueling the HA.

G~

dobejazz · 03-21-2006, 04:15 PM

So I'll be ok running 1 full atinic bulb with the 10,000k and 2 50/50's
for a softy tank what combination of bulbs would work best (good for corals, but still nice to look at ?) I did not like the way the tank looked with 1 10,000 and 1 50/50

Caoineag · 03-21-2006, 05:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Geoff

there is a reason the iwasaki 6.5K bulb is the king of growth in corals. this is as close to the normal spectrum of sunlight. there is a reason HA grows better in this spectrum. this is the wheelhouse for photosynthesis. most of the corals we keep are photosynthetic so it makes sense for the best growth than keep it in this spectrum.

having algae problems due to old bulbs is kind of an missleading statement. what is going on is people are trying to push the boundary for what a coral can survive on the bare minimum of photosynthsis in the corals. the corals will rely more on the other symbiots in their tissues for any limits in photosynthesis. HA on the other hand do not have these symbiots in their structure so they are dependant on this normal "sun" spectrum for thier photosynthesis needs.

as bulbs age they do shift down into the yellow spectrum. which is more "sun" like. so algae has a better chance for food production. the big question is what is fueling the HA.

G~

Well heck if I had known that I would have all 4 bulbs on my 55 at 6,500K. If its what the corals and macros like I see no problem with that nor any reason to starve them for fear of HA. I will have to swap out when my bulbs reach end of life (one at a time of course) to that spectrum and gently acclimate. I never had the bulbs to avoid algae, I just had them because that is what comes with on the pre-made lights one buys.

Sorry if I sort of hijacked your thread dobejazz, but as you can see I have no real knowledge on the subject either. Glad you posted this.

dobejazz · 03-21-2006, 05:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Caoineag

Well heck if I had known that I would have all 4 bulbs on my 55 at 6,500K. If its what the corals and macros like I see no problem with that nor any reason to starve them for fear of HA. I will have to swap out when my bulbs reach end of life (one at a time of course) to that spectrum and gently acclimate. I never had the bulbs to avoid algae, I just had them because that is what comes with on the pre-made lights one buys.

Sorry if I sort of hijacked your thread dobejazz, but as you can see I have no real knowledge on the subject either. Glad you posted this.

Not a problem ! this is all very confusing for me !

Geoff · 03-21-2006, 06:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dobejazz

Not a problem ! this is all very confusing for me !

sorry, do not mean to confuse you. what do you need clearification on.

G~

Geoff · 03-21-2006, 06:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Caoineag

Well heck if I had known that I would have all 4 bulbs on my 55 at 6,500K. If its what the corals and macros like I see no problem with that nor any reason to starve them for fear of HA. I will have to swap out when my bulbs reach end of life (one at a time of course) to that spectrum and gently acclimate. I never had the bulbs to avoid algae, I just had them because that is what comes with on the pre-made lights one buys.

i know of a better solution for ya.

if you go to HD they carry (LOA) Lights of America stuff. they have a whole line of PC lights that are 6.5K in temp. they have a 65w one that goes for $40. an 85w for $50, and a 100w for $60. these are all full powered 6.5K bulbs. i may use some on a frag tank on the new system.

G~

dobejazz · 03-21-2006, 09:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Geoff

sorry, do not mean to confuse you. what do you need clearification on.

G~

Nope your fine Geoff Lighting in general K,Par ect confuse me, but you explained it well in terms I can understand!

combiemaster · 03-22-2006, 01:08 AM

i think it best to balance the actinics to the white light. not using 50/50s
i have one 10,000k and one actinic 65w it gives it a nice little blueish purple look when both are used together and when you use the 10,000k its pure white sunlight. when you use the actinic by itself you get a blueish white light really nice look. I have the Coralife set. The moonlights are also built into the set and they look really nice at night.
as for the order i use my lights are aticnis in the morning for one hours then both on (10,000K and actinics) then at eve i cut off the 10,000K and run the actinic for 1-2 hours then cut it off and turn on the moonlights. sets your fish on a timer hehe.

Geoff · 03-22-2006, 10:19 AM

actually sun light is listed at 5.5K in every other industry except marine aquariums. anything dealing with plant growth or sun replication list 5.5K as the sun spectrum. for some reason it just does not look right to our eyes.

in Japan they actually use halogen lights on their reef systems. these are in the 5.5K range.

adding the blue is just for our benefit, does nothing for the corals. all we are trying to do is replicate different depths of the ocean. blue is the last spectrum to be removed by the SW. with the depths of our systems, this is pretty much irrelevent.

G~

Caoineag · 03-22-2006, 11:21 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Geoff

i know of a better solution for ya.

if you go to HD they carry (LOA) Lights of America stuff. they have a whole line of PC lights that are 6.5K in temp. they have a 65w one that goes for $40. an 85w for $50, and a 100w for $60. these are all full powered 6.5K bulbs. i may use some on a frag tank on the new system.

G~

Sounds like a deal to me. I am all for growth, especially since some of the algaes I grow take forever!!!