best actinic source

zaf888 · 02/28/2011, 09:08 PM

what lighting source gives the best actinic pop, metal halide, led or flourescent tube?

i have 2 tubes over a tank but it doesnt seem so strong.

Misled · 02/28/2011, 09:20 PM

IMO, VHO's.

zaf888 · 02/28/2011, 09:26 PM

im using vho's, is there a specific brand/bulb thats the best?

zaf888 · 02/28/2011, 09:47 PM

im using vho's, is there a brand or specific bulb thats the best?

mc-cro · 02/28/2011, 10:33 PM

VHO's have always been my favorite. I have seen some LED's on some nano's that gave very good POP, but I am not sure how many LED's you would need on a large tank to give the same effect with something like 10K halides running over them.

What lighting do you have currently?

Misled · 02/28/2011, 10:38 PM

Mine are Hamilton's.

zaf888 · 03/01/2011, 09:18 AM

i have 2 x 250w 14k, 1 x400w 20k and 2 tubes 72" vho but bought them used so im not sure the brand or age

GR214 · 03/01/2011, 09:24 AM

I was using 1 kz bulb and 2 ati blue plus t5's and I was very happy with the color.

JAustin · 03/01/2011, 09:47 AM

I had VHOs for actinics and switched to 455 RB 3w LEDs.

RB LEDs > VHOs. And you'll save money by not changing bulbs and additional energy savings.

mc-cro · 03/01/2011, 11:39 AM

fwiw, actinics do lose potency over time. I replaced some that were 2 yrs old, and I couldnt believe the difference when I put the new ones in. It was almost too blue for about a week or so, then they toned down just a hair, now they are perfect

cody6766 · 03/01/2011, 11:56 AM

has anyone noticed a difference between equal actinics of different design? For instance, UVL Super Actinic VHO vs Super Actinic T5HO? I'd assume they use the same phosphor mix, so the difference would have to be in the way they're reflected into the water and the HO/VHO thing. Oh, Assume good T5 reflectorss are used.

rgh69 · 03/01/2011, 01:58 PM

By far, LED's rule in the actinic arena because they can produce much more light in a very narrow spectrum and focus it better. If you want "Pop" then get 420nm LED's. They are at the bottom of the blue scale and near ultra-violet. Most "moon Light" LED's are too weak. If you use Philips Luxeon or Cree XP-G LED's then you don't have to worry about pop.

Here is a pic of my RBTA with 460nm Philips Luxeons. You cannot acheive this with any flourescent that I have seen.

zaf888 · 03/01/2011, 02:58 PM

cant see pic?

r there any fixtures that have 420leds in them or r they all diy?

zaf888 · 03/01/2011, 04:43 PM

i meant 420nm leds

02/28/2011, 09:08 PM	#1
zaf888 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Posts: 160	best actinic source what lighting source gives the best actinic pop, metal halide, led or flourescent tube? i have 2 tubes over a tank but it doesnt seem so strong.

02/28/2011, 09:20 PM	#2
Misled RC Mod Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Pittsburgh, Pa Posts: 11,440 Blog Entries: 11	IMO, VHO's. __________________ Jesse I'm not saying I'm Batman. I'm just saying nobody has ever seen me and Batman in a room together.

02/28/2011, 09:26 PM	#3
zaf888 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Posts: 160	im using vho's, is there a specific brand/bulb thats the best? Last edited by zaf888; 02/28/2011 at 09:45 PM.

02/28/2011, 10:33 PM	#5
mc-cro (macro) Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Louisville, KY Posts: 2,238	VHO's have always been my favorite. I have seen some LED's on some nano's that gave very good POP, but I am not sure how many LED's you would need on a large tank to give the same effect with something like 10K halides running over them. What lighting do you have currently? __________________ Time is the most valuable thing you have... spend it wisely Current Tank Info: 60x26x24 AGE 3 sided starphire

02/28/2011, 10:38 PM	#6
Misled RC Mod Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Pittsburgh, Pa Posts: 11,440 Blog Entries: 11	Mine are Hamilton's. __________________ Jesse I'm not saying I'm Batman. I'm just saying nobody has ever seen me and Batman in a room together.

02/28/2011, 09:47 PM	#4
zaf888 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Posts: 160	im using vho's, is there a brand or specific bulb thats the best?

03/01/2011, 09:18 AM	#7
zaf888 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Posts: 160	i have 2 x 250w 14k, 1 x400w 20k and 2 tubes 72" vho but bought them used so im not sure the brand or age

03/01/2011, 09:24 AM	#8
GR214 Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: San antonio tx Posts: 112	I was using 1 kz bulb and 2 ati blue plus t5's and I was very happy with the color.

03/01/2011, 09:47 AM	#9
JAustin Acropora Nut Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Oklahoma City Posts: 1,628	I had VHOs for actinics and switched to 455 RB 3w LEDs. RB LEDs > VHOs. And you'll save money by not changing bulbs and additional energy savings.

03/01/2011, 11:39 AM	#10
mc-cro (macro) Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Louisville, KY Posts: 2,238	fwiw, actinics do lose potency over time. I replaced some that were 2 yrs old, and I couldnt believe the difference when I put the new ones in. It was almost too blue for about a week or so, then they toned down just a hair, now they are perfect __________________ Time is the most valuable thing you have... spend it wisely Current Tank Info: 60x26x24 AGE 3 sided starphire

03/01/2011, 11:56 AM	#11
cody6766 Super Best Friends! Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: OKC, OK Posts: 3,772	has anyone noticed a difference between equal actinics of different design? For instance, UVL Super Actinic VHO vs Super Actinic T5HO? I'd assume they use the same phosphor mix, so the difference would have to be in the way they're reflected into the water and the HO/VHO thing. Oh, Assume good T5 reflectorss are used. __________________ "The moral is the chosen, not the forced; the understood, not the obeyed. The moral is the rational, and reason accepts no commandments." - John Galt Current Tank Info: Cadlights 60G Arisan II mixed reef with 2x MP40s and 24" ATI

03/01/2011, 01:58 PM	#12
rgh69 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2010 Posts: 31	By far, LED's rule in the actinic arena because they can produce much more light in a very narrow spectrum and focus it better. If you want "Pop" then get 420nm LED's. They are at the bottom of the blue scale and near ultra-violet. Most "moon Light" LED's are too weak. If you use Philips Luxeon or Cree XP-G LED's then you don't have to worry about pop. Here is a pic of my RBTA with 460nm Philips Luxeons. You cannot acheive this with any flourescent that I have seen.

03/01/2011, 02:58 PM	#13
zaf888 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Posts: 160	cant see pic? r there any fixtures that have 420leds in them or r they all diy?

03/01/2011, 04:43 PM	#14
zaf888 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Posts: 160	i meant 420nm leds

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