Lighting: Is it just looks?

[oo bubbagump oo]

I love my Metal Halide! The thing is really intense, penetrates the water like no other. It really brings out the color and makes everything look more natural.
I am running just MH 6500K's... no actinic, and the tank just shimmers.
I used florescents with an actinic for a while in my 10g, and I thought it looked nice. Now I have the MH and am astounded by the look. I am to the conclusion that actinics make the tank look all fake (bright blueish, bleh!).
What are actinics good for, and do I particularly NEED them?

 

[oo bubbagump oo]

Does my tank have to look like this?

 

[amphiprion15]

Actinics aren't necessary, but I do like how they help make the corals fluoresce more and offset the yellowness in some bulbs.

 

[col]

Aren't actinics meant to be used with other lights?

 

[iceburger]

Well...Actinics do help ya out... they provide a more natural light to the corals, see when the sunlight filters down through water the only light that loses the least of its power is in the purple/blue end of the spectrum...besides, algea likes the lower/red end of the spectrum...anyway aside from more natural lighting, it helps simulate dusk and dawn for your critters...i mean hey, how would you like to wake up first thing in the morning with someone shining a 400w lightbulb 2.5 feet from your face...that would kinda suck...actinics are there for a reason, they do help...