Actinic lighting

[SpankyPlants]

OK, so I'm an idiot and I ordered compact fluorescents for a saltwater tank... to be used with my freshwater planted. It's a dual compact fixture, with one 40w 10,000K bulb, and one 460nm actinic bulb. Will these bulbs hurt my plants? Should I take the actinic bulb out, or will it be ok?

 

[125gJoe]

Send the lights back. They should take them back. Explain the mistake..

 

[afss]

the actinic will not hurt your plants but it isn't the right spectrum to really help them either
actinic is used to bring out the color in marine fish and coral. It would likely bring out some interesting colors in the fw fish but it isn't going to affect the plants.

Scott

 

[victimizati0n]

i had an actinic light on my tank.
It was OK, but mainly washed out the colors of my fish.

I heard they are good for chiclids though, as they GREATLY improve their colors.

 

[SpankyPlants]

OK phew, glad to hear it won't hurt anything. The only fish in the tank are going to be a betta, a couple of kuhliis, and an otto or SAE. I'm not worried about fish color really; this tank is more for the plants.

 

[NowherMan6]

if the tank is more for the plants then you really should get different bulbs, preferably in the 6500K range. actinics arent good at all for growing plants and the 10,000K will probably wash all the colors out - what's the good of having healthy plants if they still look like crap to you? When I ordered my compact flour. hoods I had the same thing - the 10,000K bulb and the actinic.. I think most consumer hoods come that way cause they're meant for salt water. anyway, you'll probably be better off getting two new bulbs.

 

[SpankyPlants]

Aaahhh crap. OK I'll send those back when they get here. So I need bulbs in the 6500K range? Got it. Thanks for all the help!