What are the DIfferences?

[jonjpl]

Hi, Can someone please explain the differences between 10000kT5 lights and Actinics, other then the black light effect. Which is most beneficial to tanks with corals and fish. Should you have one on more then the other? Any info you can offer on these two lights and their use is greatly appreciated.

 

[reefforbrains]

The difference is the color spectrum or kelvin temp the lightwaves are in.
Typical sunlight is regarded at being 6500k
the higher the number the more to the blue side of the spectrum, the lower is the red spectrum.

Red promotes growth, but is less refined for who can use it.
For instance going lower will still feed your tanks critters that need the light to feed, but it also feeds the less desireable elements like pest algea.
Color to YOUR eye is also important, in the lower light spectrums colors look wahsed out and drab. In too high of a spectrum it looks like it is glowing.
10k for good growth and a nice bright tank. Then actinics to suplement the colors you visually see, also to help the light penetrate deeper into the tank.
Hope this helps.

 

[jonjpl]

Thanks for the info. Can you have to much of the 10k?

 

[i<3reefs]

I would say yes, but because any fixture you buy with have a limit of slots. You would want balance in your aquarium, so you can see all the colors of your reef better.

 

[reefforbrains]

Yes you can have too much but delivery method is just as important as spectrum. Wattage and percieved brightness are different when light is traveling through water. Higher intensity lighting delivers more USABLE usable light. The more intense the source, the deeper it will penetrate without spreading out of spectrum. Different kelvin spectrums are mostly personal choice. It is what looks good to YOU.
For instance- a 150 watt MH can deliver more usable lighting than 3x50 watt flouresent bulbs even though the given kelvin rating and wattage is rated the same. Loads and loads of reading on different lighting styles and methods on this site.
Different delivery methods each have pros and cons.
More/Less energy use translated into operating expenses
Longer/Shorts bulb life translates into operating expense
Heat- some are hot, some not. This can creat obstibles that might need to be overcome with a given system.
Purchase price- Some lighting is very expensive. Other systems cheaper.
The hobby is always exiting but make sure and do your homework on reading about the different styles and pick what is best for what you want to achieve.
Saving money on a fancy light system means nothing when you have to upgrade and replace it in 6 months.
-RFB

 

[reefraff]

Actinics do very little for growth and are a violet color. Because they produce light in the ultra violet range they cause a glowing effect. I personally don't even bother with actinic T5's. The good blue lamps like the ATI Blue Plus or Giesemann Actinic Plus will also cause corals to glow and produce a nice blue light. What corals need to grow is PAR which is the band of light corals use for energy. In the case of T5's the Blue lamps actually have as much or more PAR than the 10K lamps.
The trick is to use good reflectors and lamps.
I tend to recomend using a lot of blue lamps and a couple of contrasting daylight type lamps rather than the 50/50 lamps. in a 6 lamp system 4 blues, a daylight with a red hue like the UVL Aquasun or the 50/50 type lamps (they have a blend of daylight and actinic/blue phosphors) with a red hue (UVL Actinic White or KZ Fiji Purple) and a GE 6500K Daylight which is kinda ivory/yellow/green hue. The combination looks blue but is also bright and has enough red and yellow to bring out all your colors.