The need for (or lack of) actinic supplements

[chrisnif]

Okay I have a 56 gallon that I'm building up its a standard AGA 30x18x24, some say its a "seahorse tank" but I say "I'm only 18 inches short of a 90 gallon" Anyway, I've got a 175W MH on it, and after trying out 10k 14k and 20k bulbs, I've decided 14K is the best possible compromise. I'd really like a 12k but cant find one...the 10k i had was more yellowish, but the 14k is a bit bluer than I'd really prefer. Again this was without inhabitants, so maybe the blue will look better with some corals etc.
Either way, if I'm happy with the overall "look" with one 175W MH "get it done" for all my coral needs. I mean I know I cant put an SPS on the sand due to the depth, and clams are not really an interest of mine at this point, if they do become an interest i can get rock clams. I just want to know do I need to add any actinic to supplement the MH? Also how long of a photo period should I start with, someone locally told me start at 12 hours.
Thanks again for the help.

 

[flower]

Originally Posted by Chrisnif
http:///forum/post/3188045
Okay I have a 56 gallon that I'm building up its a standard AGA 30x18x24, some say its a "seahorse tank" but I say "I'm only 18 inches short of a 90 gallon" Anyway, I've got a 175W MH on it, and after trying out 10k 14k and 20k bulbs, I've decided 14K is the best possible compromise. I'd really like a 12k but cant find one...the 10k i had was more yellowish, but the 14k is a bit bluer than I'd really prefer. Again this was without inhabitants, so maybe the blue will look better with some corals etc.
Either way, if I'm happy with the overall "look" with one 175W MH "get it done" for all my coral needs. I mean I know I cant put an SPS on the sand due to the depth, and clams are not really an interest of mine at this point, if they do become an interest i can get rock clams. I just want to know do I need to add any actinic to supplement the MH? Also how long of a photo period should I start with, someone locally told me start at 12 hours.
Thanks again for the help.
I put this in the wrong place, MODs can you move to the lighting/DIY forum and remove this message. Thanks

I was told when I first started, that the coral needs the blue light. That why all the PCs come with 50/50 bulbs. So I have just always made sure I had actinic lights...

I have a 90g tank and run 2 X 175w MHs. + actinic. I can have any type of coral I want, and I can put a clam anywhere I want. So you should be able to as well.
As to the technicalities of why and what each light does..I am interested in it as well so I am hanging around to find out...

 

[katsafados]

I was ytold by someone that the blue lights were just to make the corals look prettier so they glow ect. .. I heard that the white light was the only light that made the corals grow

 

[scsinet]

If this tells you anything, I no longer have ANY reef tanks that have actinic lighting anymore.
IME, Actinics are purely asthetic. Any impact they have on the corals from a health/vitality perspective is negligible. They make the corals fluoresce which is a nice thing to look at, but that's about it.
From a growth perspective... generally the bluer the light, the better the coloration, the redder the light, the better the growth. Most folks that do not run actinics will split the difference and run lights in the 15K range. I personally run 20K halides on both of my big reef tanks, sacrificing growth for color.

 

[chrisnif]

Thanks, the LFS around here has a 240 with 2 x 175s and its dimmer than I'd like but he doesnt have actinic and there are green hairy mushrooms in there that are the size of dinner plates. I think those are the kind that can eat fish, so as awesome as they are I'll probably leave them there.
I personally think the 14K MH i have is "too" blue... I wish there were a 12K
Originally Posted by SCSInet
http:///forum/post/3188416
If this tells you anything, I no longer have ANY reef tanks that have actinic lighting anymore.
IME, Actinics are purely asthetic. Any impact they have on the corals from a health/vitality perspective is negligible. They make the corals fluoresce which is a nice thing to look at, but that's about it.
From a growth perspective... generally the bluer the light, the better the coloration, the redder the light, the better the growth. Most folks that do not run actinics will split the difference and run lights in the 15K range. I personally run 20K halides on both of my big reef tanks, sacrificing growth for color.

 

[flower]

Originally Posted by Chrisnif
http:///forum/post/3188445
Thanks, the LFS around here has a 240 with 2 x 175s and its dimmer than I'd like but he doesnt have actinic and there are green hairy mushrooms in there that are the size of dinner plates. I think those are the kind that can eat fish, so as awesome as they are I'll probably leave them there.
I personally think the 14K MH i have is "too" blue... I wish there were a 12K

They should have a 12K..

..are you saying they don't?
I like the 14K, but to me the 20K is way too blue.