Lighting question-Please help!

[fishkiller]

OK, First I bought an All Glass 55w pc. I found a JBJ 2x65, 1 bulb is a 10k, the other bulb is actinic. I put it up on the tank, and it isn't as bright as the 55. I also have a 20w NO actinic. Why does it seem like I have less light w/ twice the $$?!

 

[jim672]

I suspect the 55w bulb was 10K or 12K, right? If so, all of the light over your tank when you used that bulb was a white light.
With the new hood, half the light is white and half is blue (actinic), then add in the other NO actinic and over half of your light is blue, which will certaoinly appear darker than the single "white" bulb you had.
You're getting more than twice the wattage into your tank.....it just looks darker because of the blue from the actinincs.
Jim

 

[califishdude]

I have a 2-96 watt Pc with a 10k and a actinic, when i turn of my actinic it dosnt look that brite tell i turn on my actinic. I bought this at my LFS for 250 its a coralife, last wekk i saw a 4-96 watt retrofit for 350. i should of just bought that , but this on has built i fans and looks good on top of my tank.

 

[fishkiller]

So is every watt of actinic as useful as each watt of white light? The tank has a real strong blue tinge to it. Is this a bad thing? I plan to replace the actinic in the pc w/ a smart bulb. Is this totally neccesary or should I hold off? Thanx!

 

[jim672]

fishkiller,
The blue light from actinics provides effective lighting in deeper water than white spectrum light. In most tanks, like yours, the color of the light, and therefore its spectrum, really doesn't effect corals differently, because the tanks are shallow.
So, in most tanks with the easier to keep corals like your mushrooms, how blue or white or yellow your lights are, and how they make your tank look, really becomes a matter of personal preference. If you like the way your tank looks now, leave your lights alone. If you want a brighter white look, you could change your NO bulb to a 10K or 12K bulb to see if you like it that way.
Jim