Actinics and algae/ fish colors? - APE - Aquatic Plant Enthusiasts

CL · 09-13-2009, 10:27 PM

I am thinking about using one actinic bulb in my 4x39 T5HO Catalina fixture that I'm getting. I know that actinics do nothing for plants, but I'm going to be getting green neons and I think that the actinics would really make them glow blue. My question is, would I just be asking for algae because I would have a bulb on there that puts out more light, but the plants can't even use it.

AquaZilla · 09-13-2009, 10:29 PM

I think it will completely over power your other colors and all you would see is blue. AZfishkid? I think has this problem, but his plants grow fairly well..

CL · 09-13-2009, 10:33 PM

I see what you're saying. Actinics + 10k bulbs are pretty blue, which is why they are what people use for reefs.
Hmm, what if I were to use 2 6500k bulbs and one actinic. (or maybe even 3 6500k bulbs and one actinic, but have the whole fixture raised up a bit because I would just be begging for algae with all four bulbs)

AquaZilla · 09-13-2009, 10:34 PM

Keep the light raised up if you want. Thats what I do. The blue is just overwhelming..

CL · 09-13-2009, 10:36 PM

Hmm, well, maybe I can just add like a 14k bulb instead of the actinic? Would that even make the blue on the fish glow like the actinic would?

AquaZilla · 09-13-2009, 10:42 PM

10k!

CL · 09-13-2009, 10:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AquaZilla

10k!

I've used 10k before, but I was wanting to try something that would really add to the blue of the fish. I'll tell them to include one actinic, and if I don't like it, I can always sell it off on a reef forum.

AquaZilla · 09-13-2009, 11:02 PM

Can you edit this title?

CL · 09-13-2009, 11:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AquaZilla

Can you edit this title?

I was able to edit my mini m thread title.

AquaZilla · 09-13-2009, 11:07 PM

Yeah, you should be able to edit any title to a thread as long as it was after the changes I made

09-13-2009, 10:27 PM	#1 (permalink)
CL Aspiring Aquascaper Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Kentucky Posts: 506	Actinics and algae/ fish colors? I am thinking about using one actinic bulb in my 4x39 T5HO Catalina fixture that I'm getting. I know that actinics do nothing for plants, but I'm going to be getting green neons and I think that the actinics would really make them glow blue. My question is, would I just be asking for algae because I would have a bulb on there that puts out more light, but the plants can't even use it. Last edited by CL; 09-13-2009 at 11:07 PM.

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09-13-2009, 10:29 PM	#2 (permalink)
AquaZilla Administrator Join Date: Feb 2009 Posts: 2,205	I think it will completely over power your other colors and all you would see is blue. AZfishkid? I think has this problem, but his plants grow fairly well..

09-13-2009, 10:33 PM	#3 (permalink)
CL Aspiring Aquascaper Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Kentucky Posts: 506	I see what you're saying. Actinics + 10k bulbs are pretty blue, which is why they are what people use for reefs. Hmm, what if I were to use 2 6500k bulbs and one actinic. (or maybe even 3 6500k bulbs and one actinic, but have the whole fixture raised up a bit because I would just be begging for algae with all four bulbs)

09-13-2009, 10:34 PM	#4 (permalink)
AquaZilla Administrator Join Date: Feb 2009 Posts: 2,205	Keep the light raised up if you want. Thats what I do. The blue is just overwhelming..

09-13-2009, 10:36 PM	#5 (permalink)
CL Aspiring Aquascaper Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Kentucky Posts: 506	Hmm, well, maybe I can just add like a 14k bulb instead of the actinic? Would that even make the blue on the fish glow like the actinic would?

09-13-2009, 10:42 PM	#6 (permalink)
AquaZilla Administrator Join Date: Feb 2009 Posts: 2,205	10k!

09-13-2009, 11:02 PM	#8 (permalink)
AquaZilla Administrator Join Date: Feb 2009 Posts: 2,205	Can you edit this title?

09-13-2009, 11:07 PM	#10 (permalink)
AquaZilla Administrator Join Date: Feb 2009 Posts: 2,205	Yeah, you should be able to edit any title to a thread as long as it was after the changes I made