Do I need actinics?

[kypatriot]

135g, 384 watts PC, currently 50/50 10k and actinic.

Current invert inhabitants: 1 toadstool, 1 finger leather, and some green star polyps. I have no intention of adding other corals to this tank (I have a 40g with MH for inverts)

My actinics are approaching 1 year old, and I was weighing options for replacement, including just using 10k instead.

I wouldn't think it would matter, but my fish are one each: 3-stripe, blue devil, tomato clown, diamond watchman goby, small yellow tang. I might add a flame angel later.

Anybody see a problem with dropping the actinics for the 10k?

 

[Fiziksgeek]

I have the exact same set up. A 135 with 4x96W PCs, 50/50 split between 10K and actinics. I even have a toad stool and a finger leather! I also have some shrooms, and a couple of hammers.

The actinics is really just for viewing pleasure. Try looking at the tank with the actinics off. If you don't mind the look, you will get alot more PAR with just the 10K bulbs!

Its really the same reason people run actinics with MH. You don't need it, but most people feel it looks better.

 

[rickh]

I run 2/3 actinic to 1/3 daylight. I have a little of everything--mushrooms, leathers, LPS, montapora and some acrapora at the top. They are doing fine and I like the "glow". I might try all Actinic. R