Actinic question

GeorgeW · 04-07-2006, 01:09 PM

I threw down on a custom drilled 37 with an overflow and I'm going to use a 250 W 10K HQI for lighting. I want to suplement with T5 Actinics, but I see there's two varieties. The pure Actinic and the Actinic + Blue bulbs.

Any thoughts on which one is better? Does it matter? Or should I just get a 20K bulb for the main light?

MattTVI · 04-07-2006, 01:22 PM

up to you, you have plenty of light for a 37 w/ that 250 alone, so, imo, it's up to you to choose what k rating you like best... :-) You might prefer a 14k bulb...

GeorgeW · 04-07-2006, 01:50 PM

Does anyone know some specific store setups I can go look at to see 14K? I had 10K on my 75 before and it has that just-below-the-surface-in-the-Carribean look (very agreeable and nice shimmers). I've seen 20K before and it's pretty blue (though quite nice with SPS), but never seen 14K.

JT · 04-07-2006, 01:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GeorgeW

Does anyone know some specific store setups I can go look at to see 14K?

I have 14KK 175's over one of the coral tanks here in the shop.

GeorgeW · 04-07-2006, 02:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JT

I have 14KK 175's over one of the coral tanks here in the shop.

Sweet. I was planning to head up there this week-end. I'll see you all there.

amuruges · 04-07-2006, 05:05 PM

George I am in smyrna, I have a 14K on my nano if you wanna swing by and check it out you are welcome to... let me know... I like the look of 14K's

milhouse74 · 04-07-2006, 05:06 PM

I hear amazing things about the Hamilton 14K bulbs. I have a 250 HQI over a 30 cube, and it is a 20K bulb and I am very unhappy with it. I will probably be going 14K shortly.

David

Aquazoa · 04-08-2006, 08:14 PM

You may find this interesting.........

Aquazoa · 04-08-2006, 08:14 PM

You may find this interesting.........
Typically

Aquazoa · 04-08-2006, 08:14 PM

You may find this interesting.........
Typically in the industry there are 2 types of actinic bulbs, one with a 420 nanometer peak that is really a violet wavelength and one with a 450 nanometer peak that is a true blue. Either can be successfully used to insure that the <450 nanometer absorption peak of chlorophyll A is represented as the pigment peaks in absorption at 450 nm (as well as 670 nm) although there is heavy absorption in the violet range up to where blue begins. I do find that coral fluorescence tends to come out more under the 420 nm bulbs however.
See Martin Moe's Marine Aquarium Reference, Systems and Invertebrates for the spectral absorption graph of chlorophyll.
I think I hit some keyboard functions that erroneously posted the prior attempts at a reply. Oh well, live and learn!

JT · 04-09-2006, 09:30 AM

Aquazoa: This is why I really like Current-USA's Dual Actinic PC Lamps. One side of the PC peaks at 420nm and the other side peaks at 460nm.

Schwaggs · 04-11-2006, 12:46 PM

IMO there isn't a better Actinic bulb than the Super VHO Actinic bulb by URI. It peaks at 420 and is the only true Actinic IMO. My current setup uses 250 HQI and T5 blue bulbs. I originally had BLV 10K bulbs which produced a nice, white look and produced decent growth and coraline algea. About 6 weeks ago, I switched to 14k Phoenix bulbs with the same T5 blue bulbs. This combination produces more blue light but not too blue like 20K bulbs. Coral coloration is much better with this bulb. Coraline algae growth is better and has deeper colors (more than just pink). I think my coral's growth rate is better with this bulb as well...

mojo · 04-11-2006, 02:44 PM

I agree with Schwaggs on the Phoenix. You may want to compare the Hamilton 14k with the Phoenix 14k. The Phoenix gives off a bluer light (but not 20k-ish), but still has a higher PAR rating.

I use the Phoenix and only use actinics for the dawn/dusk effect.

MattTVI · 04-11-2006, 03:03 PM

George,

What brand and type of ballast do you have?

GeorgeW · 04-11-2006, 03:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MattTVI

What brand and type of ballast do you have?

The HQI's are both Reefstars. Going by the sink-the-Titanic weight of both, they're magnetic. I have not yet purchased a balast for the actinics and haven't definitively swung to T5 or PC for it.