50/50 pc 10K bulks ok for plants?

[falcon]

I just upgraded my lights. I have bought new pc fixtures that came with 2pc 50/50 10,000K on each light - total of two lights, 4 bulbs. Can I re-use some of these bulbs in a planted tank with any benefit? What if I mix 1 6700k and one 50/50 10,000K on each fixture? Will it be ok, or should I try and sell the bulbs as they are brand new.

Falcon

[Slappy*McFish]

I suppose mixing them wouldn't hurt. A 50/50 light isn't near as bad as a straight actinic. I had good results using 10,000K bulbs with plants in the past. Mixing them with 6700K bulbs should be even better.

[125gJoe]

Actinics work great for saltwater.

If you only have freshwater tanks, sell them.

I had 50/50 actinics with 10,000K lights and my tank looked horrible! The colors of the plants and fish were "washed out.."
I then went with 6500K and 8800K bulbs. A world of difference there....

[Timmain42]

And let's not forget, IME, actinics can cause some rather.... strange algae problems in FW tanks.

Why? Dunno. But every FW tank I've walked up to that has had Actinic lights has had an abudance of algae of some strange algae problem that was a true bear to fix.

[Slappy*McFish]

Not all 10,000K lights are created equal. His light(50/50) is a 'single' light bulb that is a mixture of half actinic/half 10,000k...not two seperate bulbs. I agree, straight actinic blues will do nothing for plants, but 50/50s are fine, especially when paired with a 6700k bulb. Plus we're talking about PCs here, plenty of light output.
As far as the actinics causing algae blooms, it should only be a problem in tanks with high DOC or excessive nutrients in the water column. It has something to do with blue and UV light reducing or freeing up normally bound-iron(iron precipitates, or iron bound with doc), making it readily available to algae. This is called photo-reduction of iron.

Personally, however, I recommend getting some GE Aqua-Rays Freshwater/Saltwater 9325K bulbs and pair them with the 6700K ones, as this generally gives very good results with plant growth and looks great, as well.

[Leopardess]

Yup, those 9325K's are supposed to be good...Just be aware that they tend to accentuate the reds and yellow out the greens a bit.

Look here for how they really change the look of a tank, as well as other K ratings and mixings of them...Gomer put together a good display...

http://aquabotanicwetthumb.infopop.cc/6/ubb.x?a=tpc&s=4006090712&f=6606090712&m=9826072525&r=9826072525#9826072525

PS. the 'GE' bulbs are the 9325's