is actinc needed?

[blue]

I am started my tank over the weekend and was ondering if actinc light are needed? Im using two 400 watt 6000K halides right now i might change to 10K's im not sure but is the acctinc light neede for the corals? Im keeping SPS LPS and clams.
Thanks,
Blue

[blue]

come on guys were i know there are some lighting kings around that can help me out

Blue

[thezookeeper]

Hi blue. Are you using Iwasaki's or no? If so, they are 6500k. This may help us answer your question. I think actinics add a spectrum that the corals can benefit from. Just how much actinic you use is up to you and how you feel it looks. If they are Iwasaki bulbs, being 400 watters they are probably pretty yellow looking. I would add actinics no matter what. If it is the 400 watters and Iwasaki, I would definately make them VHO's. HTH


Joanne

[blue]

No there not iwaskis thy are a 600k GE/Hungarian bulb they have a nice white color to them i was going to add actincs just cant afrd it right now i was going to add 2 or 4 VHO's i will probably swithc over to 10K bulb at bulb change time which is next year. Is it a bad idea to swicth to 10K's if i want SPS corals in my 80 gallon tank?
Thanks,
Blue

[Angel 1]

In a word, Nope! The 6000K lamps have lots of blue light(you just can't see it because peaks in the red and yellow range wash it out). The only reason to add actinic is if you want the tank to look more blue.

[chromis]

blue, if you want great colors on your sps then you are going to want iwasakis. They have the best PAR (besides HQI). I am contemplating 2 X 400 iwasakis on my 55 but the heat is a huge issue.

[blue]

Chromis there really isnt that much heat from the light. I just went to a seetmetal shop and got a hodd built and hung it from the ceiling i have no fans at all. My heater still comes on during the day to keep my water at 79-80 I live in texas were its past 100 degrees and my house is at 79 degrees so heat is no problem at all.

Blue

[chromis]

Thanks blue, I do have a 55 though and you have an 80 but when you include my sump then I probably have about 80 gallons. I am going to have a hanging fixture modeled after PFO w/fans. What kind of fans are you using? Do the lights heat up the room substantially? 250's and 400's are the same price so I dont want to regret going with the 250's.

[blue]

Actually im not using any fans. I was going to order some but heat never became a problem so i decided to not order them. We will se what happens. So far everything is doing good.

Blue

[organicreefer]

hi blue,wow you have 2 400 watters and no heat issues...you must be in the minority and actually have youre lights mounted 12 inches above the water.right now i have a single 400 watt sunburst on my 90 (its 30 by 30 inches square so i get good coverage with just this light)and i have it about 11 inches and heat isnt an issue for me either.im setting up a new hood for my 120 and it will have 4 vho actinics 2 175 watt and 1 400 watt halides and i think heat may be more of an issue ,well see im going to keep the lights at least 9 inches from the water and add a couple fans in the hood.