Do I need actinic lighting with my 10,000K MH?

davids1024 · 03/16/2006, 02:11 PM

I am installing 2 250W Metal halide retro kits (w ith 10,000 Ushio's) into the canopy of my 90 gallon reef, I am also using 2 spider reflectors that take up most of the 18 inch front to back space. Problem is I really will not have any room left for power compacts (I am replacing 4 96watt PC's (2 actinic, 2 10k's).
My thought was to use 1 or both 96 watt actinics.
Questions is, do I really need the actinics? Are people happy with both the look and perfromance of just the 2-250W MH Ushio 10,000's.

nebraskareef · 03/16/2006, 02:19 PM

Corals do not need actinics. You may want them aesthetically speaking, but no-you dont NEED them.

kalare · 03/16/2006, 02:29 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by davids1024
I am installing 2 250W Metal halide retro kits (w ith 10,000 Ushio's) into the canopy of my 90 gallon reef, I am also using 2 spider reflectors that take up most of the 18 inch front to back space. Problem is I really will not have any room left for power compacts (I am replacing 4 96watt PC's (2 actinic, 2 10k's).
My thought was to use 1 or both 96 watt actinics.
Questions is, do I really need the actinics? Are people happy with both the look and perfromance of just the 2-250W MH Ushio 10,000's.

Just get them, you'll probably end up wanting them in the end anyways. 10k, though bluish, is still quite yellow when you compare to 14-20k (which is what almost ALL the pictures flowing around online are taken at nowadays). So you'll probably be used to the more blue.

Entropy · 03/16/2006, 03:04 PM

Actinics add a lot of flouresence and color to most corals, especially green versions. I think you will have to run them to adjust the color on a 10k bulb. I have 14k Iwasaki Aqua2's and I still run actinics.

Ti · 03/16/2006, 03:47 PM

doesn't hurt to have it

sharky71 · 03/16/2006, 03:51 PM

I'm running 14K 250W Phoenix HQI bulbs without actinics. The lights give off plenty of blue.

davids1024 · 03/16/2006, 09:09 PM

thanks, sounds like I need to find room for the actinics somewhere

supertech3 · 03/17/2006, 12:09 AM

I did not have them with my 14k and eventually broke down and put them on because I felt like I may be stressing the corals by only having mh instantly on now IMO my corals like it better with actinics on a few hours before and after the mh

davids1024 · 03/17/2006, 11:40 AM

do you think I need both 96w PC actinics or can I get away with just 1? Not sure I can fit both in the canopy.

03/16/2006, 02:11 PM	#1
davids1024 Premium Member Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: New Hampshire Posts: 114	Do I need actinic lighting with my 10,000K MH? I am installing 2 250W Metal halide retro kits (w ith 10,000 Ushio's) into the canopy of my 90 gallon reef, I am also using 2 spider reflectors that take up most of the 18 inch front to back space. Problem is I really will not have any room left for power compacts (I am replacing 4 96watt PC's (2 actinic, 2 10k's). My thought was to use 1 or both 96 watt actinics. Questions is, do I really need the actinics? Are people happy with both the look and perfromance of just the 2-250W MH Ushio 10,000's. __________________ Do or do not, no try....... Current Tank Info: 90 gallon Reef, ASM G3 Skimmer, 500W 10k MH & 96W Actinic PC

03/16/2006, 02:19 PM	#2
nebraskareef MFCEO Join Date: Sep 2003 Posts: 1,495 Blog Entries: 1	Corals do not need actinics. You may want them aesthetically speaking, but no-you dont NEED them. __________________ Originally Posted by tmz "Now if I drink the vodka the colors do look much better than if I drink the vinegar."

03/16/2006, 03:04 PM	#4
Entropy Texas Reefer Join Date: May 2003 Location: Round Rock, TX Posts: 13,656	Actinics add a lot of flouresence and color to most corals, especially green versions. I think you will have to run them to adjust the color on a 10k bulb. I have 14k Iwasaki Aqua2's and I still run actinics. __________________ Rich Overton 150G cube FOWLR, 30g sump, ReefKeeperII, 3x Koralia 1400's, QuiteOne 3000, Reef Octopus DNWB150, 4x 30w Par38 LED. Current Tank Info: 36x36x27 150g

03/16/2006, 03:47 PM	#5
Ti Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Bay Area Posts: 7,927	doesn't hurt to have it __________________ Hair algae is my Macro algae.

03/16/2006, 09:09 PM	#7
davids1024 Premium Member Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: New Hampshire Posts: 114	thanks, sounds like I need to find room for the actinics somewhere __________________ Do or do not, no try....... Current Tank Info: 90 gallon Reef, ASM G3 Skimmer, 500W 10k MH & 96W Actinic PC

03/16/2006, 03:51 PM	#6
sharky71 Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Sherman Oaks, CA Posts: 403	I'm running 14K 250W Phoenix HQI bulbs without actinics. The lights give off plenty of blue.

03/17/2006, 12:09 AM	#8
supertech3 Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: El Paso Posts: 1,206	I did not have them with my 14k and eventually broke down and put them on because I felt like I may be stressing the corals by only having mh instantly on now IMO my corals like it better with actinics on a few hours before and after the mh

03/17/2006, 11:40 AM	#9
davids1024 Premium Member Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: New Hampshire Posts: 114	do you think I need both 96w PC actinics or can I get away with just 1? Not sure I can fit both in the canopy. __________________ Do or do not, no try....... Current Tank Info: 90 gallon Reef, ASM G3 Skimmer, 500W 10k MH & 96W Actinic PC