Lighting spectrum ideas

[jody]

I have been doing some research this morning, and I hear all kinds of different mixed articles, some say u can get a reef off on just 10k bulbs, but some insist that their must be more than 50% actinic. Some say the more 10 k the brighter and more intense. Some say the blue is more intense? Personally on my reef I have half 10 k, and half true actinic “witch the bulbs are purple and dull?” and the purple bulbs really don’t seem to do much? I’ve wanted to replace them with 50/ 50’s so my tanks 3 parts 10 k 1 part actinic? Any how any other ideas and discussion on this would be interesting to learn.
just trying to gather some more advanced research.:blob:

[stinga]

John will come in and explain it all nice and clear :read:

[Invigor]

John will come in and explain it all nice and clear :read:

haha

I'm assuming you have power compact fluorescents. for the best growth, go with the most 10k you can stand, and add blue if necessary until you're happy with the colors. there is tons of controversy over if actinics actually do anything, and to be honest, I don't think anyone has found an answer yet...sure tests show this and that, but personal experience is what counts to me.

Personally, 50/50s have never impressed me. I'm running a 2:1 of white:blue which is what I like. Since this isn't about what I like, and what you like..try the 3:1 like you said you were going to, and if you don't like it, you'll know for next time ;)

[jody]

well yeah, the more i learn i hear systems like 500 watt 10k halide and 80 wats p.c actinic . and those reefs are doing awsome, so i may go all 10 k with my 96 watts x4 then just keep my 50/50 on my 2x 55 watt p.c

[stinga]

That's what i would do.

so i may go all 10 k with my 96 watts x4 then just keep my 50/50 on my 2x 55 watt p.c

[jody]

cool, anyone know where i can get 2 x 96 watt 10 k powercompacts?

[McNasty]

This is just what I have read and , seen in dif systems.

10k Lights show best Growth but colors are not as intense as you would see with 14k or 20k giving the best colors as blue punchs the water deeper and cuases colors to floures more. With 20 K bulbs great Color but slower growth seems to be the general consensus.

Adding atinics does not aid in growth but helps achieve the bluer deepwater look you would see on the reef and does nothing for growth , is more astetics?? not sure how thats spelt LOL then anything. I myself run 14k buls with t5s and I like the look and color I have but every one has thier own prefs as for how and what they light there tank with.

[jody]

what would be an example of 14k ? what color ?

[jody]

hey does anyone know of prices" cheap wyze" for metal halides and ballasts and such, say 2 x 250 watt 10k ready to plug in and go?
and how complicated are they and how are they are your power bill,
how much hotter do they get that power compacts?

[Invigor]

as blue punchs the water deeper

umm, no.

The reason they fluoresce more is because of the peak spectrum 14k-20k bulbs have in the 420nm-470nm range. Ever been to a bar with black lights? bright colors scream under these lights because that's what they do...I sure wouldn't call those lights punchy. I would have to say that a 10000k lamp has much more "punch" than a 14000k.

The reason it gets blue the further down you go in the ocean, is because the reds, yellows and greens get filtered out before the blue does.

what would be an example of 14k ? what color ?

whitish with enough blue to notice it. it would be like 1x10k + 2 actinics. whereas 20k would be like 1 10k and 3 actinics...very very blue with very low intensity, but screaming fluorescent colors.

a 2x250w setup will cost about $15-20/mo to power depending on how many hours they're on in a day...el-cheapo way would be JL. get a dual probe start ballast, 2 XM 10000k lamps, and 2 PFO cable/mogul setups...and reflectors if you want.

[jody]

wow , thanks for all of the info! great help you are!!!:blob3: , one lats question.
my actinics are brighter purple? " 96 watt" but my 55 watts, actinic is bright blue!

[Invigor]

actinics can be purple or blue.
I forget which is which, but there are 420nm actinics and 470nm actinics..one appears purple, the other is blue
wow , thanks for all of the info! great help you are!!!:blob3: , one lats question.
my actinics are brighter purple? " 96 watt" but my 55 watts, actinic is bright blue!

[jevan23]

actinics can be purple or blue.
I forget which is which, but there are 420nm actinics and 470nm actinics..one appears purple, the other is blue

470 should be blue, 420 should be purple:dance:

[jody]

cool, maybe my purples are old but there a very dull color, they dont have that punchy eye killing blue to them as the blue bulbs

[Asmodeus]

The real color of actinic's are actually a light purple. True actinic or super actinic's are the better they are the what you would find in the deeper Water's. Actinic's all they do IMO is draws out the nice colors in the corals like the green's and yellows. The other actinic's are actually only 20K bulbs that you can get. THe phillips Normal actinic's are just blue lights and that is it.

If you put a T-5 super actinic up against the plain actinic you will see that the normal actinic is alot brighter then the super actinic. hence the 20 K look

THe reason the blue is more visable is due to Invigor or stinga stating that the REd's greens are filtered out and then all you have left is the Blue.