What is the difference between blue bulbs and actinic bulbs?

DOTZ · 02/02/2008, 09:25 AM

I'm getting ready to buy some bulbs and one says 7100k blue and the others say actinic. Could you tell me the difference?

DOTZ · 02/02/2008, 09:30 AM

BTW these are 55 watt PC's. Not sure that, that makes a difference.LOL

DOTZ · 02/02/2008, 10:33 AM

Anyone?

glxtrix · 02/02/2008, 11:39 AM

the actinic bulbs will have more of a purple look to them and really make your corals pop! Get that bulb. The blue is a fake actinic. I look at it like a 50/50 bulb, one half is 10K and the other half is blue to kinda make it feel like a 14K bulb, thats the the blue bulb will look like.

WarrenG · 02/02/2008, 11:46 AM

It depends. The "blue" bulb may well have a spectrum that more closely matches the light found at about 25 feet deep (where many corals thrive) than the "actinic" lamp. Maybe this is important to you.

http://www.wetwebmedia.com/ca/cav1i4...cent_lamps.htm

DOTZ · 02/02/2008, 12:17 PM

I'm looking for more of a pop. I have a 175 mh 10k xm and everything looks really dull so I wanted to suppliment and have more colors showen. Do you think the blue bulb can do that, because they're considerably cheaper.

WarrenG · 02/02/2008, 07:10 PM

A full spectrum bulb (I think this is what you have now) is pretty good for showing colors, if they are there in the first place. A bluer bulb will make things look more blue and may encourage some fluourescence, if your corals have that in them. Other than that???

jsf668 · 02/03/2008, 08:06 AM

I was using 03 actinic power compacts and just switched to the dual actinic 420/460. I love them, it really brought out the corals color.

02/02/2008, 09:25 AM	#1
DOTZ Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Benton, Il Posts: 1,764	What is the difference between blue bulbs and actinic bulbs? I'm getting ready to buy some bulbs and one says 7100k blue and the others say actinic. Could you tell me the difference?

02/03/2008, 08:06 AM	#8
jsf668 Premium Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Gurnee, IL Posts: 401	I was using 03 actinic power compacts and just switched to the dual actinic 420/460. I love them, it really brought out the corals color. __________________ All the great lessons of life are learned the hard way... Current Tank Info: 210g-50g Sump/Refugium, SWX Extreme 250 Skimmer, Geo Kalk and Calcium Reactor, 3 Vortech MPw40's

02/02/2008, 09:30 AM	#2
DOTZ Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Benton, Il Posts: 1,764	BTW these are 55 watt PC's. Not sure that, that makes a difference.LOL

02/02/2008, 10:33 AM	#3
DOTZ Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Benton, Il Posts: 1,764	Anyone?

02/02/2008, 11:39 AM	#4
glxtrix Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: ATL, GA Posts: 882	the actinic bulbs will have more of a purple look to them and really make your corals pop! Get that bulb. The blue is a fake actinic. I look at it like a 50/50 bulb, one half is 10K and the other half is blue to kinda make it feel like a 14K bulb, thats the the blue bulb will look like.

02/02/2008, 11:46 AM	#5
WarrenG Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Sunnyvale, CA Posts: 738	It depends. The "blue" bulb may well have a spectrum that more closely matches the light found at about 25 feet deep (where many corals thrive) than the "actinic" lamp. Maybe this is important to you. http://www.wetwebmedia.com/ca/cav1i4...cent_lamps.htm

02/02/2008, 12:17 PM	#6
DOTZ Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Benton, Il Posts: 1,764	I'm looking for more of a pop. I have a 175 mh 10k xm and everything looks really dull so I wanted to suppliment and have more colors showen. Do you think the blue bulb can do that, because they're considerably cheaper.

02/02/2008, 07:10 PM	#7
WarrenG Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Sunnyvale, CA Posts: 738	A full spectrum bulb (I think this is what you have now) is pretty good for showing colors, if they are there in the first place. A bluer bulb will make things look more blue and may encourage some fluourescence, if your corals have that in them. Other than that???