got my lights today - actinics don't seem very bright!

[soondubu]

i got the combo hood with the mh 250 10K x 2 and the t5 actnics - 55w x4
the mh are ridiculously bright and hot.
the t5's don't have a ballast and just look like black light almost... bluish, and not all that bright.
am i supposed to keep the actinics on about 12 hours and the mh on about 8 to 10 hrs?
thanks!

 

[reefraff]

T5 actinics don't put much visible light into the water. If you want a more blue look swap a couple of the actinics out for blueplus lamps. They don't flouresce the corals quite as good as the actinics but put out a nice blue light.