Actinic Lighting

[Sir Patrick]

Heres a good link-

http://www.reefkeeping.com/issues/2002-08/dw/index.php

[jojo22]

I would leave things as they are, If anything I seem to recall some clip on type low wattage CF lighting that could be gotten in acintic blue, so if you do want to switch the 18 Acintic bulb to a 10K I would look into getting the Acintic clip on.

Also note: I never used an acintic bulb and ran a 10K halide. Here are some colors I got under just 10K lighting.

my tank and SHK_ATK\'s frags!!! video by jojosr22 - Photobucket@@AMEPARAM@@http://vid179.photobucket.com/player.swf?file=http://vid179.photobucket.com/albums/w308/jojosr22/100_0686.flv@@AMEPARAM@@vid179@@AMEPARAM@@179@@AME PARAM@@w308/jojosr22/100_0686

fish tank video by jojosr22 - Photobucket@@AMEPARAM@@http://vid179.photobucket.com/player.swf?file=http://vid179.photobucket.com/albums/w308/jojosr22/100_0022.flv@@AMEPARAM@@vid179@@AMEPARAM@@179@@AME PARAM@@w308/jojosr22/100_0022

[Sir Patrick]

Sorry to get off topic, but-

Sweet tank Jojo!

[jojo22]

Sorry to get off topic, but-

Sweet tank Jojo!

Thank You, I really liked it.

[MizTanks]

Heres a good link-

http://www.reefkeeping.com/issues/2002-08/dw/index.php

Awesome link Sir! Thanks soooooo much!

[Sir Patrick]

Just wish I could find one that shows the colors of each K rating.....

If you have a drs.foster and smith catalog, they have different pics of the same thing under different K bulbs.

If you dont get the catalog, you can sighn up on their website and get them set to you for free.

[Steven Pro]

Zooxanthellae, the symbiotic dinoflagellates in corals, are all golden brown. Coral coloration comes from various proteins the corals make which either act as a sunscreen of sorts blocking excess light. Or, as a mirror when they are underneath the zooxanthellae. In this way, the zooxanthellae get to "use" the light twice, once going through and once after bouncing back. This is usually found in deepwater corals, where there is less light.

[Steven Pro]

In response to your original questions, yes, actinic lighting does contribute some PAR so it can be used for growth, but it has less PAR than most any decent whiter lamp. Actinic lamps are used primarily to bring out color.

For most setups, I don't use more than a 50/50 split between blue and white lamps.

[jojo22]

Steven:

You say you don't use any more than 50/50, it sounds like that is you maximum split. I assume that would be the most "blue" bulbs you would use, correct?? Also the way you stated that it sounds like you prefer less. What do you see as ideal as far as white to "blue" bulb ratio?

[Steven Pro]

I won't use more than a 50/50 split blue to white. Any more blue and it just looks way too unnatural to me. But, I am old school. I "grew" up in reef keeping with the Iwasaki 6,500 K lamps.