Actinic Lighting W/ MH

[Newbi_Damsel]

I currently am running a 40 gallon reef with a 20 gallon sump.... I have variety of mushrooms and polyps.... Im currently using a USHIO 175W 10000k bulb... Problem here is that i want my shrooms and polyps to show there vibrant colors.... I understand i need actinics to fullfill this, soo could i just buy a new 175w 20000k bulb and get the effect im looking for or do i have to grab a whole new ballast? Money is kinda tight on a college salery. lol...

Thanks Guys.....

[sompa]

the same ballast will work just fine

[Newbi_Damsel]

So i can sue a 20000k bulb instead of my 10000k and not have to buy a new ballast to get my desired effects?

Sry, wasnt to sure wether u meant i could do that or i would have to buy a new ballast.....

[jerryc]

k has nothing to do with it you can run it if you wont it

[Newbi_Damsel]

ok, maybe i wasnt very clear.... from what i understand, the greater the spectrum, the "bluer" the bulbs runs... I thought with a blue spectrum, i can get the vibrant colors, or is that just not enough.... would i have to grab an extra balast for actinics?

Sry if i ran in a circle there...

[perpetual98]

You'd only need another ballast if you were going to run more bulbs in addition to your halide. For example, you were running your 175W 10,000K halide AND a couple of VHO or PC actinics.

[jerryc]

ok, maybe i wasnt very clear.... from what i understand, the greater the spectrum, the "bluer"[ [[ YES ]]] the bulbs runs... I thought with a blue spectrum, i can get the vibrant colors, or is that just not enough[[[ YES ]].... would i have to grab an extra balast for actinic? [[[[{Only if you wont to add more thin the extra lamps]]]]]]]

Sry if i ran in a circle there...


The extra k will give you the blue you wont with out changing your ballast

But i do like my actinic i use VHO that i believe is the best for just actinic
and you do have to have a separate ballast to run them

[unleashed]

I currently am running a 40 gallon reef with a 20 gallon sump.... I have variety of mushrooms and polyps.... Im currently using a USHIO 175W 10000k bulb... Problem here is that i want my shrooms and polyps to show there vibrant colors.... I understand i need actinics to fullfill this, soo could i just buy a new 175w 20000k bulb and get the effect im looking for or do i have to grab a whole new ballast? Money is kinda tight on a college salery. lol...

Thanks Guys..... yes just buy a new 175 w 20k mh bulb and you will have the bue effect of actinics the higher the k the bluer the bulb

[Newbi_Damsel]

right, thats all i wanted to know... i could grab another ballast for actinics, but that would cost a bit more...i need to get another bulb, soo i hope that itll work fine... thnxs again guys....

[jojo22]

So did you get a new bulb yet?? If so how did it work out?

[Newbi_Damsel]

I havent yet purchased it... Im stuck between a rock and a hard place... Money is holding me back... But it is at the top of my list and i plan on getting it ASAP... and thnxs for all the replies....