Lighting Question

[jlneng]

Hi All,
I just installed a new lighting hood on my 125G reef tank with (3) 250W 14K Hamilton SE bulbs, and (8) 1W 455nm Blue LEDs. The tank looks great. I previously used PC with about 30% Actinic lighting. I was thinking of adding (2) 55W Actinic PC bulbs to the new hood. Is the Actinic spectrum required for LPS,SPS, and soft coral growth or is it just a matter of aesthetics, or dawn and dusk simulation? Thanks for your help and comments.....

 

[Anonymous]

The MH look good for the tank. Adding the actinic should not hurt you and would be a personal preference.

 

[Anonymous]

Actinics are more for the eye of the reefer than for the health of the corals, though they do probably benfiit some from the blue spectrum of actinics.

If I ever find the perfectly color MH to my eye, I'll do away with actinics forevermore.

Louey

 

[SnowManSnow]

scott at sunlight supply is working on a 20K bulb for 400w MH that should be out in about 7months

I just finnished an e-mail conversation with him about it. Maybe it will do the trick!