Actinic Lighting Gurus???

[9supratt4]

So my actinics are 3 years old...yikes!! I am going to replace them ASAP.

I found 2 different Actinic bulbs on ReefGeek.com.

A Super Actinic bulb - http://www.reefgeek.com/lighting/Replacement_Bulbs/Power_Compact_Fluorescent/96W_PC-R_Super_Actinic_Powercompact_-_Square_Pin_by_UV_Lighting

It says it peaks at 420nm.

AND

A 454 Blue bulb - http://www.reefgeek.com/lighting/Replacement_Bulbs/Power_Compact_Fluorescent/96W_PC-R_454_Blue_Powercompact_-_Square_Pin_by_UV_Lighting

It says it combines the properties of a 454nm bulb and a 420nm bulb to help with blue in SPS corals.

Anyone know anything about this 454 bulb?

 

[jwilson]

From what I can tell the light will "feed" the zooxanthellae the same but be a much more blue color . See this page for lots of info on lighting.

http://www.americanaquariumproducts.com/Aquarium_Lighting.html

 

[9supratt4]

That's it?? No one else??

 

[jpelzer]

Actinic is mostly for looks... It makes the corals fluoresce. They use it, but not as efficiently as higher wavelength You'll notice the actinic bulbs are significantly lower PAR than white bulbs... The mix bulb gives some actinic and mostly daylight spectrum, probably a good bulb if it's the only bulb you're running.

 

[Hotdogg]

Use the ati blue plus...combines actinic with daylight...great pur, and makes your colors pop

 

[mnat]

Supra is looking for power compact not T5 actinics which is what makes this question difficult. Not too many people out there still running them.

 

[Fish Brain]

I know in the Nano world, they say they 454's will give the tank a purple color that will take some time for you to get use to. As Mike mentioned, not too many people are using PC's. Would a LED retro be a possibility to replace the PCs for blue supplementation?

 

[NyteGTI]

until I went with LEDs my nano had PCs. had a 50/50 bulb of 454/10K & a 454 bulb. the tank was definitely a mild purple color but leaning more towards the blue end of purple. but it wasn't as blue as the RB LEDs I have now.