All Actinic Lighting...

[fishrule]

Can I see pictures of tanks that "Only" have Actinic lights. ***)
Is there an advantage of all Actinic over regular lighting combinations???Explain why you choose to go all Actinic.
I have a new/used Coralife Aqualight Pro and I’m going to buy all new bulbs. I’m already planning on buying Actinic lights to replace the PC’s, but I’m not sure if I should buy an Actinic bulb to replace the 150w MH...

 

[tx reef]

There is no such thing as an actinic MH bulb. If you are wanting a really blue look, then get a 20,000k bulb.
Getting actinic PC bulbs will be fine.
If you only had PCs, you couldn't use just actinics. The do not produce the correct spectrum for coral to grow. They would die under just actinic lighting.

 

[evanish]

What about 20k Only tanks?

 

[dogstar]

In chemistry terms actinism is the property of radiation that lets it be absorbed by a molecule and cause a photochemical reaction as a result. In corals, this chemical is what makes them glow like under a blacklight...( not what cause photosynthesis ). As long as a lamp produces the proper wavelengths that are needed for this, then it is actinic.
Lamps that are called actinic in the hobby produce MAINLY/ONLY these wavelengths ( lower nanometers ) but corals also need more of the higher/yellow/red wavelengths to be healthy and for photosynthesis to accure. Most lamps that are of higher K or called daylight, white, ect. provide enough of the blue and compleate wavelength ( white, all colors ) to keep corals healthy. So IMO an " all " actinic system is not healthy for most commonly kept photosynthetic critters. Need to provide enough of the total wavelegth first for health reasons and then add lower wavelegth lamps untill you get a color you like to see. Best to check a chart for that particular lamp to see what wavelengths it produces.