Actinic 03 vs. Blue 7,100K

[segraves1]

http://www.hellolights.com/96watts1.html

which is better and why?

[dakar]

Actinic 03's generally have a spectral peak at 420nm (dusky purple) and the so called 7100K peak around 450nm (bright blue). Current has a PC bulb that peaks at a slightly lower wavelength right on @ 460 (super bright blue), these are our personal favorites for actinic.

The choice really boils down to what colors you are looking to achieve. They will all induce the fluorescing colors we all love, each a little differently.

Not sure if this helps much....

[segraves1]

so you use the 460? where do you get it from?

[dakar]

We've been ordering our actinics from marinedepot.com great customer service and no tax (unlike F&S for us). The 460's when mixed with the yellow hue of the Iwasaki halides just results in a super bright and crisp white, really chases away any yellow tints.

[segraves1]

what Watt bulb are you using? do you have a part number?


I noticed there are 130Watt bulbs....what ballast would be used to run that?

[dakar]

what Watt bulb are you using? do you have a part number?


I noticed there are 130Watt bulbs....what ballast would be used to run that?

The bulbs we have been using are 65w PC's 460nm.
Here's a link to them.
http://www.marinedepot.com/md_viewItem.asp?idproduct=PC1652

The 130 watt tubes must be a new item, either that or I've never noticed them before. None the less you'd need something along the lines of a Fulham Workhorse 7 to fire each one of those, they run around $40 for the ballast. The other option would be the IceCap ballasts, but they are way too much $$$ for my tastes, like $160 each or so.

[davejnz]

The 03's flouresce greens better where the blue's flouresce yellows,oranges better IME.The only 03 bulb i really like is the VHO-URI actinic.The rest of the bulbs don't come close.The URI has some spectral output in the UVA(<400nm) range which i assume is what makes them so good.
I prefer the blue actinics over the 03's,they seem to have more output and compliment my Iwasaki MH well.

[Merrillizer]

I have an Orbit 4x65 setup and really think it is too white/yellowish with both the actinics and daylights on. They are dual actinic and dual daylight PC's, so the actinics are 420/460.

I really enjoy the darker true 03 Actinic better, I think it gives the water and aquascape a "deeper" feeling and look. I will be swapping out the dual type bulbs this Orbit came with for some 03 Actinics and will also probably swap out the dual daylights for 10k's.

[davejnz]

I don't care much for those dual PC bulbs either.

[dakar]

IME...The dual daylights are where the yellow is coming from, they are generally 6500K/10000K... moving to the true blue (450-460nm) range will chase that yellow right out of there. The dual 420/460 actinics are junk too.. I do not like them at all...