Actinics- Blue v.s. Purple

[badfish420]

I using (2) 55 watt Custom Sea Life Actinics which give off a Blue light hoping to grow more coralline, they are 420 nanometer rating. Now I find out they should be giving off a purple light for optimum coralline growth. Can someone shed some "Light" as to what bulb I should be using >>>

 

[lobstergrabber]

Not sure about your CSL bulbs but they should be giving off a purblish color and usually somewhere on the bulb it says actinic 03 or just 03 if you have the right ones. There is a large thread somewhere that I believe Kip started that explains alot and got me on the right track.
Rich

 

[badfish420]

It doesnt say 03 anywhere , just 460 nano. Blue . I read the thread from Kip, I just dont know if I should change bulbs because they dont have a purple glow. Is there another bulb I should try and where can I get it from??

 

[bang guy]

IMO Coralline are not very picky about the light spectrum. It has been my experience that, in general, darker coralline grows in the shade & lighter colored coralline grows under intense light regardles of spectrum.

 

[neoreef]

Hi Badfish,
When you look at the bulbs when they are on, do they look aquamarine blue , or slightlypurple ? The bulbs that look purple are the good actinic ones.
When you look at the tank with the bulbs on (no daylight bulbs on), the tank should look blueish purple, not greenish. This will be hard for the colorblind, so if you are you will have to ask for help.
My JBJ lights came with 7100 bulbs that are not the desirable actinic ones as I thought, so I am searching under actinic bulbs and have found the ones with straight line pins, 55W to order.
Try the search, and good luck.
I love this site; I've learned a lot. Special thanks to Bang Guy, love the science.