help me out deciding on actinic lighting

[jeffj]

I'm looking to add actinic supplementation to my 20H clam tank. I have a custom built canopy that I made with openings across the top for viewing the clams and dissipating heat. The canopy is 25" across and houses a 13" long reflector centered in the canopy leaving room on each side of the reflector to view down at the clams. The tank has been running for a couple of years, first a sunburst 12k, then ushio 10k (175w), and recently an Iwasaki DL 65k 250watt. I want actinic supplementation that will fit under the 13" reflector, thus not being in the way when you look down through the canopy. I could do with an 18" bulb, but wanted a couple 13" PC bulbs. My options are to go with NO actinic, I already a ballast for this or PC's, however, I cannot find any 10k PC bulbs in the shorter length. Does anyone know of a way to get actinic in such a small space, 13" would be optimal, but up to 18" tolerable. What about the lower K PC bulbs, would they be enough to even out the Iwasaki color ? I've never owned PC so am real unfamiliar with the colors of the different K bulbs. Thanks for any replies.

 

[davelin315]

I understand that the 10K are supposed to have a little more blue spectrum in them and the 20K are supposed to have even more, but if you've got a 6500K MH, why not supplement all actinic in the 7100K spectrum (is that the right one?)? I'm pretty sure you can find a 13W PC bulb in that spectrum, and it would be more of the pure blue actinic that you seem to want to add.

By the way, the color temperatures (K) are uniform throughout the different lights, although between different bulbs there can be different variations to the color you actually get. If I remember correctly, 4100-4300K is reddish/yellow, 5500-6500K is akin to daylight, 7100K is supposed to be pure actinic blue, 10000K is supposed to be daylight with more bluish tint, 20000K is supposed to be a very blue daylight. I haven't seen all of these color spectrums myself, but I think if you run a search on MHs you will find several comparisons over the same tank using various K lights that will illustrate the differences.

[ September 20, 2001: Message edited by: davelin315 ]

 

[Emperator]

Go with all PC actinics. 7100K bulbs are not the same as true actinics. They are essentially blue coated lamps.

Be sure the bulb you buy says actinic 03.

 

[Gatortailale1]

Check out champion lighting & supply web. They carry all sizes and kinds of PC bulbs and VHO. They are great very helpful if you tell them your needs. (Web link found under reefs.org links button under commercial section)

I just bought B Ionic and a small smartlight kit for my nano and had no problem in order or shipment.

 

[jeffj]

thanks for the responses. I'm having a hard time find a PC bulb that is true actinic and 13-15" long though. I've looked some but need to keep looking I guess.