actinics with MH?

61scout80 · 03/04/2007, 09:45 PM

i'm waiting for the ballast to arrive for my metal halide setup, and planning my hood for my 10 gallon nano. I've seen many setups with just the MH light and many with the MH and Actinics. What is the benefit of having both?

if i want both how many watts of actinic would i want with a 70 watt MH?

who has the most variety in bulbs? i've seen some 6" housings at walmart the have a t5 buld in them, and they would be killer to intergrate into my hood, on either side of my hood. but i have not seen anyone selling actinic bulbs that small.

thanks in advance.

sir_dudeguy · 03/04/2007, 09:53 PM

So you're doing a 10g tank w/70w halide? With that, i'd do maybe...2 of these bulbs (not the exact bulb, just that size/wattage...you get the idea)
http://hellolights.com/28watacblu.html

But are you gonna be using a 10K bulb or a higher K bulb for the halide? If you use a 10K bulb, i'd suggest getting at least one of those actinics to be not a true actinic, but a "Blue 7,100K" bulb. Its not true actinic but its much brighter blue and will help even out that yellow look from the 10K halide. But If you get a higher K halide, i'd just get the regular 03 actinics.

shag26272 · 03/04/2007, 09:56 PM

it depends on the color of your MH bulb the higher the number the bluer it is, people add actinics to get the blue color, a 10k MH bulb is more yellow then blue but gets better coral growth then a 14 or 20k because it is more intense. I run a 14k 70watt MH and a 13watt PC actinic, it looks pretty good, I recommend that or a 10k MH and a 13w PC how much room do you have to work with?

61scout80 · 03/04/2007, 10:20 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by shag26272
it depends on the color of your MH bulb the higher the number the bluer it is, people add actinics to get the blue color, a 10k MH bulb is more yellow then blue but gets better coral growth then a 14 or 20k because it is more intense. I run a 14k 70watt MH and a 13watt PC actinic, it looks pretty good, I recommend that or a 10k MH and a 13w PC how much room do you have to work with?

i have a ton of room to work with. I'm doing every thing myself, and there is a good 3 feet open above the tank. the hood will be constructed around my lighting and suspended above the surface of the water.

Im Lon 2 · 03/04/2007, 10:25 PM

You can get a way with adding a 2 NO actinic bulb Like THESE with a 10k 70 MH I think that would look sweet..

03/04/2007, 09:45 PM	#1
61scout80 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: The Lakes at Rancho El Dorado, Maricopa, AZ Posts: 449	actinics with MH? i'm waiting for the ballast to arrive for my metal halide setup, and planning my hood for my 10 gallon nano. I've seen many setups with just the MH light and many with the MH and Actinics. What is the benefit of having both? if i want both how many watts of actinic would i want with a 70 watt MH? who has the most variety in bulbs? i've seen some 6" housings at walmart the have a t5 buld in them, and they would be killer to intergrate into my hood, on either side of my hood. but i have not seen anyone selling actinic bulbs that small. thanks in advance.

03/04/2007, 09:53 PM	#2
sir_dudeguy Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Portland, OR Posts: 10,841	So you're doing a 10g tank w/70w halide? With that, i'd do maybe...2 of these bulbs (not the exact bulb, just that size/wattage...you get the idea) http://hellolights.com/28watacblu.html But are you gonna be using a 10K bulb or a higher K bulb for the halide? If you use a 10K bulb, i'd suggest getting at least one of those actinics to be not a true actinic, but a "Blue 7,100K" bulb. Its not true actinic but its much brighter blue and will help even out that yellow look from the 10K halide. But If you get a higher K halide, i'd just get the regular 03 actinics. __________________ TAKE...LUCK!!!

03/04/2007, 09:56 PM	#3
shag26272 Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: New Orleans, LA Posts: 3,088	it depends on the color of your MH bulb the higher the number the bluer it is, people add actinics to get the blue color, a 10k MH bulb is more yellow then blue but gets better coral growth then a 14 or 20k because it is more intense. I run a 14k 70watt MH and a 13watt PC actinic, it looks pretty good, I recommend that or a 10k MH and a 13w PC how much room do you have to work with? __________________ .

03/04/2007, 10:25 PM	#5
Im Lon 2 Premium Member Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Granite City, IL (St. Louis area) Posts: 5,529	You can get a way with adding a 2 NO actinic bulb Like THESE with a 10k 70 MH I think that would look sweet.. __________________ Lonnie WWLD® ------------------------------------------------ Friends don't let friends buy PC lighting. Current Tank Info: Coming soon -- 180G (Glass Cages) In-Wall - Reef - 100g sump - 30g Fuge - - Octopus DNW 300 - 8 * 54 watt T5's