Actinic question

I had a thread earlier about lighting as well but this is a little different.

So i have two 48" power fluorescent fixtures each fixture is 110 watts total (two bulbs in each, four pin sockets on one side of the bulb). My question is if I put actinic bulbs in for soft corals should I alternate day/actinic in each fixture or change one entire fixture to actinics and leave one day?

Secondly does converting one fixture to actinic bulbs take to much normal day light away from other plants and organisms in the tank?

 

Personally, If I were upgrading for corals, I'd upgrade to T5. Four PC bulbs every six months at $35 each will add up to a nice T5 fixture rather quickly, and T5 is actually better. But that's just an opinion.

To answer your question: With using two fixtures, you'll want to go with 50/50 (each bulb is one side actinic, one side daylight) to prevent spotty lighting. In other words, the corner where you place the actinic bulb will be dim blue, etc. If all four bulbs were under one reflector, it wouldn't matter as much.

Changing the lighting shouldn't affect the plants. What other critters do you have?

 

T5s are cheaper, but just remember that good T5 bulbs are $20-$28 PLUS S&H if you can't find em at your LFS. PCs are expensive too, like Golden said. Lights get you any way you go...unless you have an extra $1000 laying around for some LEDs. ;D

 

Agree with all the comments above

M

 

+1 on the T5 comments. +1 on 50/50 bulbs.
If you stay with the PC buy the Current 460nm/10000K bulbs. This will give you far more PAR and still give you the lighting you wish to.

 

Alright so I'll try alternating the bulbs in each fixture then. The reason I'm using these right now is I got the fixtures brand new in box for $50 each, seemed like a good deal.