Do you need to change actinic bulbs as often as other bublbs?

mnestroy · 04/08/2007, 10:01 PM

I have a Outer Orbit Fixture with 1-150W Halide and 2 96W PC bulbs.

The PC Bulbs are straight Actinic.

I bought the fixture used so I think its time to replace some bulbs, i already changed halide.

-Do actinic go bad over time?
-Do coral benefit from actinic, or is it just for looks?
-Is there any benefit to the Dual actinic bulbs that do 420/620?

Thanks

drummereef · 04/08/2007, 10:04 PM

I would change the actinics every 9-12 months, imo. The actinics are mostly for asthetic purposes and to give you the dawn,dusk effect. I like the color of straight 03 actinics, but some say corals will fluoresce better with a mix of 420 and 460.

alexb518 · 04/08/2007, 10:38 PM

I agree with drummereef when he says that the light needs to be changed at latest 12 mos. however, i disagree with the fact that they're for asthetic purposes. The statement in itself is contradictory. if they were purely aesthetic, then why would you need to change them? the blue light or actinics are in the spectrum that corals need for photosynthesis.

mnestroy · 04/09/2007, 07:12 AM

So would a Straight 03 Actinic be better than one of those dual Actinics?

I have a 150MH and i'm even debating replacing the Actinics with 50/50 bulbs... has anyone tried that?

That would give me, 1-150w 14k Phoenix, and 2-96w 50/50 (Actinics/10k)

04/08/2007, 10:01 PM	#1
mnestroy Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Aurora, IL Posts: 2,216	Do you need to change actinic bulbs as often as other bublbs? I have a Outer Orbit Fixture with 1-150W Halide and 2 96W PC bulbs. The PC Bulbs are straight Actinic. I bought the fixture used so I think its time to replace some bulbs, i already changed halide. -Do actinic go bad over time? -Do coral benefit from actinic, or is it just for looks? -Is there any benefit to the Dual actinic bulbs that do 420/620? Thanks

04/08/2007, 10:04 PM	#2
drummereef Team RC Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: STL Posts: 14,754	I would change the actinics every 9-12 months, imo. The actinics are mostly for asthetic purposes and to give you the dawn,dusk effect. I like the color of straight 03 actinics, but some say corals will fluoresce better with a mix of 420 and 460. __________________ -Brett 180g Marineland Starfire In-Wall 278 gallon system

04/08/2007, 10:38 PM	#3
alexb518 Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: San Mateo Posts: 514	I agree with drummereef when he says that the light needs to be changed at latest 12 mos. however, i disagree with the fact that they're for asthetic purposes. The statement in itself is contradictory. if they were purely aesthetic, then why would you need to change them? the blue light or actinics are in the spectrum that corals need for photosynthesis.

04/09/2007, 07:12 AM	#4
mnestroy Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Aurora, IL Posts: 2,216	So would a Straight 03 Actinic be better than one of those dual Actinics? I have a 150MH and i'm even debating replacing the Actinics with 50/50 bulbs... has anyone tried that? That would give me, 1-150w 14k Phoenix, and 2-96w 50/50 (Actinics/10k)