Do I need actinic lighting with my 10,000K MH?

[davids1024]

I am installing 2 250W Metal halide retro kits (w ith 10,000 Ushio's) into the canopy of my 90 gallon reef, I am also using 2 spider reflectors that take up most of the 18 inch front to back space. Problem is I really will not have any room left for power compacts (I am replacing 4 96watt PC's (2 actinic, 2 10k's).
My thought was to use 1 or both 96 watt actinics.
Questions is, do I really need the actinics? Are people happy with both the look and perfromance of just the 2-250W MH Ushio 10,000's.

 

[nebraskareef]

Corals do not need actinics. You may want them aesthetically speaking, but no-you dont NEED them.

 

[kalare]

Re: Do I need actinic lighting with my 10,000K MH?

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=6969544#post6969544 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by davids1024
I am installing 2 250W Metal halide retro kits (w ith 10,000 Ushio's) into the canopy of my 90 gallon reef, I am also using 2 spider reflectors that take up most of the 18 inch front to back space. Problem is I really will not have any room left for power compacts (I am replacing 4 96watt PC's (2 actinic, 2 10k's).
My thought was to use 1 or both 96 watt actinics.
Questions is, do I really need the actinics? Are people happy with both the look and perfromance of just the 2-250W MH Ushio 10,000's.

Just get them, you'll probably end up wanting them in the end anyways. 10k, though bluish, is still quite yellow when you compare to 14-20k (which is what almost ALL the pictures flowing around online are taken at nowadays). So you'll probably be used to the more blue.

 

[Entropy]

Actinics add a lot of flouresence and color to most corals, especially green versions. I think you will have to run them to adjust the color on a 10k bulb. I have 14k Iwasaki Aqua2's and I still run actinics.

 

[Ti]

doesn't hurt to have it

 

[sharky71]

I'm running 14K 250W Phoenix HQI bulbs without actinics. The lights give off plenty of blue.

 

[davids1024]

thanks, sounds like I need to find room for the actinics somewhere

 

[supertech3]

I did not have them with my 14k and eventually broke down and put them on because I felt like I may be stressing the corals by only having mh instantly on now IMO my corals like it better with actinics on a few hours before and after the mh

 

[davids1024]

do you think I need both 96w PC actinics or can I get away with just 1? Not sure I can fit both in the canopy.