Want to add Actinic Supplement, what's a good choice?

Kinetic · 08/02/2007, 03:49 PM

I have a frag tank that I recently swapped out a AB 20K 250watt HQI with a Phoenix 14K 250watt HQI.

I know the PHeonix 14K is basically like a 20K, but for some reason I'm getting a lot more growth but losing some of the color that I was getting before.

I had a brown colony that went tri color on me with the AB 20K, but now is back to it's old brown ways...

Growth is great with the Phoenix though, which is why I don't want to change it.

This is for my frag tank in the basement, so I was just gonna do a ghetto retrofit of some sort, maybe even place tubes across the top.

The tank is a 40g breeder, so it's 36" across.

Should I go for some T5 actinic lamps? PC?

650-IS350 · 08/02/2007, 03:56 PM

MOst people with MH's use T5s or some type of overdriven bulbs

Kinetic · 08/02/2007, 04:19 PM

yeah, I think I'm going with T5's, but I know there's Actinic 03, Super Actinic, etc...

and was wondering if anyone with specific retrofit kits could recommend one.

650-IS350 · 08/02/2007, 04:26 PM

http://www.reefgeek.com/lighting/T5_...Retrofit_Kits/

http://www.reefgeek.com/lighting/T5_...Retrofit_Kits/

jkreefer · 08/02/2007, 04:26 PM

Deffinetly the ATI Blue plus. Way better than any actinic you will buy. Do a search and you will find others that will agree

Mel-E-Mel · 08/02/2007, 04:27 PM

Have you considered VHO's? I could be wrong but dont they give more 'color pop' than t5's?

650-IS350 · 08/02/2007, 04:29 PM

I use those too on my Tek System

I was referring to Overdriven VHO's as well as in regards to the other bubls...

Mel-E-Mel · 08/02/2007, 05:19 PM

Charles, how noticeable is the difference with the vho's and t5's? Sorry kinetic, i dont mean to jack your thread.

Kinetic · 08/02/2007, 05:23 PM

no problem, i'm interested as well =)

northbay-reefer · 08/02/2007, 05:51 PM

VHO if you can, but if you go T5 then use the ATI blue plus

maxdout · 08/02/2007, 05:59 PM

ive got a 40b with uri super act vho and love it. its on a arro ballast right now but i'm saving for a IC ballast which would put out even more blue

tuberider · 08/02/2007, 07:48 PM

If you're going to lay them on the tank "Ghetto" style, I'd go with VHO you don't have to worry about cleaning a reflector. I personally feel there is not a T5 bulb out there for T5 that can beat the UV actinic for the beloved "pop" (I hate that word for some reason).

Kinetic · 08/02/2007, 11:52 PM

thanks for the recommendations / suggestions guys =)

I'll go do some detailed research on the options. And yeah, I might do it "Ghetto" style since it's just a prop tank in the basement.

08/02/2007, 03:49 PM	#1
Kinetic Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: SF Bay Area Posts: 7,230	Want to add Actinic Supplement, what's a good choice? I have a frag tank that I recently swapped out a AB 20K 250watt HQI with a Phoenix 14K 250watt HQI. I know the PHeonix 14K is basically like a 20K, but for some reason I'm getting a lot more growth but losing some of the color that I was getting before. I had a brown colony that went tri color on me with the AB 20K, but now is back to it's old brown ways... Growth is great with the Phoenix though, which is why I don't want to change it. This is for my frag tank in the basement, so I was just gonna do a ghetto retrofit of some sort, maybe even place tubes across the top. The tank is a 40g breeder, so it's 36" across. Should I go for some T5 actinic lamps? PC?

08/02/2007, 03:56 PM	#2
650-IS350 Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Bay Area Posts: 14,555	MOst people with MH's use T5s or some type of overdriven bulbs __________________ * RETIRED FROM REEFING * Just enjoying the box of water from afar

08/02/2007, 04:26 PM	#4
650-IS350 Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Bay Area Posts: 14,555	http://www.reefgeek.com/lighting/T5_...Retrofit_Kits/ http://www.reefgeek.com/lighting/T5_...Retrofit_Kits/ __________________ * RETIRED FROM REEFING * Just enjoying the box of water from afar

08/02/2007, 04:29 PM	#7
650-IS350 Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Bay Area Posts: 14,555	I use those too on my Tek System I was referring to Overdriven VHO's as well as in regards to the other bubls... __________________ * RETIRED FROM REEFING * Just enjoying the box of water from afar

08/02/2007, 05:51 PM	#10
northbay-reefer Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Wine country Posts: 4,831	VHO if you can, but if you go T5 then use the ATI blue plus __________________ go BIG or go home Current Tank Info: Tankless :D

08/02/2007, 04:19 PM	#3
Kinetic Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: SF Bay Area Posts: 7,230	yeah, I think I'm going with T5's, but I know there's Actinic 03, Super Actinic, etc... and was wondering if anyone with specific retrofit kits could recommend one.

08/02/2007, 04:26 PM	#5
jkreefer Premium Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: NOR CAL Posts: 1,350	Deffinetly the ATI Blue plus. Way better than any actinic you will buy. Do a search and you will find others that will agree

08/02/2007, 04:27 PM	#6
Mel-E-Mel Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Shark City San Jose, CA Posts: 1,950	Have you considered VHO's? I could be wrong but dont they give more 'color pop' than t5's?

08/02/2007, 05:19 PM	#8
Mel-E-Mel Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Shark City San Jose, CA Posts: 1,950	Charles, how noticeable is the difference with the vho's and t5's? Sorry kinetic, i dont mean to jack your thread.

08/02/2007, 05:23 PM	#9
Kinetic Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: SF Bay Area Posts: 7,230	no problem, i'm interested as well =)

08/02/2007, 05:59 PM	#11
maxdout Registered Member Join Date: May 2006 Location: elk grove Posts: 1,098	ive got a 40b with uri super act vho and love it. its on a arro ballast right now but i'm saving for a IC ballast which would put out even more blue __________________ ********* AGE 40x28x22 tank, custom sump, ATB flowstar, 2*A350 Current Tank Info: 90 everything

08/02/2007, 07:48 PM	#12
tuberider Where's Lahey? Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Montara, Ca. Posts: 1,392	If you're going to lay them on the tank "Ghetto" style, I'd go with VHO you don't have to worry about cleaning a reflector. I personally feel there is not a T5 bulb out there for T5 that can beat the UV actinic for the beloved "pop" (I hate that word for some reason). __________________ "Nobody wants it admit they ate nine cans of ravioli, but I did and I'm ashamed of myself." Ricky Current Tank Info: on the verge of crashing at any moment

08/02/2007, 11:52 PM	#13
Kinetic Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: SF Bay Area Posts: 7,230	thanks for the recommendations / suggestions guys =) I'll go do some detailed research on the options. And yeah, I might do it "Ghetto" style since it's just a prop tank in the basement.