actinic bulb, sps, yeah or nah

[Mr Reefer 1690]

I have 5 bulbs over a 75 gallon sps system. I currently run 2 blue+, 2 coral + and an actinic. Question is do I "waste" 1 bulb position with the actinic or replace it with something else?
Is the actinic helpful , used by the corals or mostly to increase their fluorescence for our visual benefit?

thanks

 

[blanden.adam]

They're helpful for coloration, particularly fluorescence as you have mentioned, but they aren't necessary and tend to be pretty low PAR. I like true actinics at dusk/Dawn though.

 

[djberg]

The best growth i ever had was 2-175w halides mongul style paired wirh 2-t12ho everything bulbs actimic plus or what ever they were i dont remember now. But those over my 75gal grew corals like nothing else ive ever had.

 

[johno4]

There was a long thread in the Lighting and equipment forum on this. In summary there was not much difference in PAR and different color bulbs so use what you like and the growth should be the same.

 

[saltwaterpicaso]

I'm pretty sure I read somewhere that actinic was better than the blue plus bulb because of the spectrum it put out and was the best at coral growth

 

[blanden.adam]

There was a long thread in the Lighting and equipment forum on this. In summary there was not much difference in PAR and different color bulbs so use what you like and the growth should be the same.

Here's a list of PAR measurements for a bunch of bulbs from the former "guru" of t5 lighting. Theres quite a difference between actinics and the rest.

http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1279308

 

[Mr Reefer 1690]

thanks for the responses

 

[johno4]

http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2096816&highlight=t5+bulbs+comparison

I was referring to the newer Actinic+ and Blue+/purple + bulbs that are out now.

 

[blanden.adam]

http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2096816&highlight=t5+bulbs+comparison

I was referring to the newer Actinic+ and Blue+/purple + bulbs that are out now.

Oh sure. Blue+ bulbs are PAR monsters. Blue+, Purple+, Coral+, Aquablue Special, any of those bulbs are similar. When I think "Actinic," I think true actinic.

 

[jacksonpt]

I'm kinda talking out of my butt here because I don't really understand this stuff that well, but I've been told by a trusted source that the blue spectrum offers much more usable light than do some other colors/spectrums, so actinic bulbs can be very beneficial. PAR ratings can be misleading in this regard... and that a lower PAR rated blue bulb can be more beneficial than a higher rated full-spectrum bulb.

Lots of variables to consider, too... but just thought I'd throw it out there.

 

[Ssteve]

Heres a video where Jason fox talks about his systems and running ONLY actinic lights on some of them. IMO PAR means little compared to PUR and actinics are PUR monsters.

https://youtu.be/oFih0XkoHd8

 

[AddictReef]

Heres a video where Jason fox talks about his systems and running ONLY actinic lights on some of them. IMO PAR means little compared to PUR and actinics are PUR monsters.

https://youtu.be/oFih0XkoHd8

Are we sure here is us talking about true actinic bulbs or just using actinic in Place of blue bulbs?