actinic lighting only.. is it possible

[agreeive?fish]

Is it possible to keep a coral tank with actinic lighting only

mushrooms, zanoids(and simmilar) and other softies

the tank is a standard 30g with 220watts of pc.. currently i have 50% actinic and 50% 10k but i like the looks of the tank with just the actinics only turned on

 

[wrestle1952]

You can keep those corals with just actinic lighting. You may find it is really blue and after awhile the your sense of aesthetics may change and want more white light to balance things out.

 

[virginiadiver69]

I'm planning an LPS, shroom, Zoa cube and want to highlight their fluorescence. I plan on 250 MH lighting for color and growth but will use VHO actinic for usual viewing. You can go even further and get a special viewing filter and really be amazed at the fluorescence effect.
If you like the bluer look...you could go with a 175 w Phoenix 14k or 20k and supplement with VHO actinics.

 

[agreeive?fish]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14765379#post14765379 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by wrestle1952
You can keep those corals with just actinic lighting. You may find it is really blue and after awhile the your sense of aesthetics may change and want more white light to balance things out.

Besides the looks its also a personal comfort thing.. several years ago i almost lost my eye sight due to acid being splashed in my eyes and the wite light hurts my eyes after a few minutes and gives me a severe headache.. thats one reason the reef tank is only 30g and in a room iam seldom in for any lenght of time..and my fowlr tanks are 175g,210g and 215g and in rooms i spend the majority of my time and they are mostly actinic lighting with very little white light

 

[wrestle1952]

By all means, your health comes first before any of the animals in your aquariums.

 

[agreeive?fish]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14765697#post14765697 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by wrestle1952
By all means, your health comes first before any of the animals in your aquariums.

the thing is i dont want to try to maintain animals in conditions that are not healthy for them.. the reef tank is actualy the wifes and its in here sewing room so iam actually only in the room for feeding, maintance and a little visal viewing (health /wellbeing check of inhabitants). i can deal with the white light for the amount of time i spend each visit but at times i would like to look at the tank longer thats why iam asking about running actinics only..but the tank inhabitans health is more important than me being able to view the tank longer during each visit to the tank

 

[UrbanSage]

You guys ever think about just framing an 80's disco poster? From back when neon colored shorts and shirts were in.

 

[agreeive?fish]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14765776#post14765776 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by UrbanSage
You guys ever think about just framing an 80's disco poster? From back when neon colored shorts and shirts were in.

I have thought about many things BUT that I can honestly say has not nor ever will be one of the things i think about

 

[Bruno3047]

I run only a 420 and a 460 actinic on my 60g (48"x24"x13"). I tried a 10K but I hated it.

My mushrooms and ricordea love it.

 

[agreeive?fish]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14765891#post14765891 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Bruno3047
I run only a 420 and a 460 actinic on my 60g (48"x24"x13"). I tried a 10K but I hated it.

My mushrooms and ricordea love it.

Do you have much growth rate doing this

 

[Bruno3047]

Absolutely. Some of my rics have doubled in size and grown 1 or 2 additional mouths in a couple of months time.

 

[redfishsc]

My 10g sps tank is nearly this blue. I have this bulb combo:

ATI Blue +
UVL 75/25
KZ Fiji Purple
ATI Blue +

It's blue as heck but looks GREAT and I grow SPS just fine.


If you ever go with T5's, be sure to include either the Fiji Purple (perfect red/blue balance) or the UVL 75/25.


Since you have PC's right now, be sure to mix up your "actinic" type lights, get one 460nm and one 420nm. The look would be great.

 

[luther1200]

Or there is a bulb Current makes called a dual actinic. 1 bulb is 420 the other is 460. I have them as my supplement to my 2-150w 20k MH. They are nice bulbs, but they are a little brighter than straight actinics. But nothing like white bulbs IMO.