Acintics vs Daylights..

[landmineyouth]

I am wondering what are the benefits (if any) of having Acintic lighting in a planted tank. I recently bought a 6ft compact fourescent 384watts total, I had two 96 10,000k Daylights and two 96watt Acintic bulbs installed. I am wondering If I'd better off just going with all four 10,000k's, or maybe just two 10,000ks and two 6700 k's... or maybe even two 50/50's... are acintics beneficial for anything besides "that blueish glow" ?


PS - the plants im keeping are mangroves in a brackish setup.. but I'd like a broad sort of answer to this question as well.

 

[stotty]

I am wondering what are the benefits (if any) of having Acintic lighting in a planted tank. I recently bought a 6ft compact fourescent 384watts total, I had two 96 10,000k Daylights and two 96watt Acintic bulbs installed. I am wondering If I'd better off just going with all four 10,000k's, or maybe just two 10,000ks and two 6700 k's... or maybe even two 50/50's... are acintics beneficial for anything besides "that blueish glow" ?


PS - the plants im keeping are mangroves in a brackish setup.. but I'd like a broad sort of answer to this question as well.

Acintic bulbs are designed for reef tanks. As far as I know there is no known benefit from using acintic lighting with plants.

Take a look at this like might help you out

http://fins.actwin.com/aquatic-plants/month.200304/msg00027.html

 

[koliveira]

Actinic lighting stimulates clorophyll A & C. Most plants use clorophyll A & B.

I have used actinics in planted tanks and while I think they looked nice. I did have more algae growth than when I just used 6700K bulbs.

I personally have used about every brand out there and I find that Current bulbs are by far the best but Hamilton also makes a decent bulb.

Current also makes a dual daylight bulb. It is a 6700/10000k split if you want a little more of that white light provided by the 10000K.

 

[WyldFya]

I haven't had anything good come of actinics on my planted tanks.

 

[landmineyouth]

So it seems forget the acintics. Alright.... what to order to replace them..?

two more 10,000ks?
two 6,700ks to give a less-bright effect [since these lights flip on first on my timer to stimulate dawn to dusk]
50/50's to keep a little of that blue glow and up the brightness as well with the white?

help please!

 

[WyldFya]

I run a mix of 6,700K and 10,000K bulbs on my 135. 50/50 are 50% actinic and 50% 10,000K, I would ditch them also, and if you want to enhance blue just get a blue LED strip light. I run 7 10,000K 3 6700K, but should be running 50% 6,700K, and 50% 10,000K bulbs. The 50/50s are wasting lighting power. The LED's will run seperately, and cost less to use. I have these run all day and night long. Are you using PC's or flourecent tubes?

 

[koliveira]

He is using PC's bro. 96 watt is a 34" bulb

 

[WyldFya]

HAHA, I missed that part completely... Oops.

 

[justin]

6700 only way to go on a planted tank

 

[landmineyouth]

Yea they're PC's. Okay ditch anything with acintic. How would 6500's work for me? ALMOST the Same as 6700's im guessing?