new 5g planted project, actinic lighting question

Actinic lights will not grow plants. You need something in the Kelvin temperature between 5,000K and 10,000K. 6,500K is what best replicates the sun. So, if I were you, I would just replace the actinic bulb with a 6,500k bulb.

An actinic bulb will not increase algae growth. But it won't help with plant growth either.
 
67chevelle said:
Actinic lights will not grow plants. You need something in the Kelvin temperature between 5,000K and 10,000K. 6,500K is what best replicates the sun. So, if I were you, I would just replace the actinic bulb with a 6,500k bulb.

An actinic bulb will not increase algae growth. But it won't help with plant growth either.
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No offense, but I totally disagree. Check out my tanks in this thread: http://www.aquariacentral.com/forums/showthread.php?269444-Some-new-photo-s-of-my-kid-s-20G-tanks

The lamps are T5HO but they are a daylight/actinic combo just like yours and I get great growth. I was leery at first too with this combo, but they've really preformed well and I really like the colors of the plants and fish under the bluish tint.

Best of luck to you
 
ROYWS3 said:
No offense, but I totally disagree. Check out my tanks in this thread: http://www.aquariacentral.com/forums/showthread.php?269444-Some-new-photo-s-of-my-kid-s-20G-tanks

The lamps are T5HO but they are a daylight/actinic combo just like yours and I get great growth. I was leery at first too with this combo, but they've really preformed well and I really like the colors of the plants and fish under the bluish tint.

Best of luck to you
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Yeah I have seen your tank and think it's very nice. I think I even commented on how nice it is ;) But your actinic light you have is not helping the plants at all. They reason they are growing is because of your 10,000k. Not the actinic.

To the OP, I would keep the 10,000k and get a 6,500k or a 6,700k and ditch the actinic.
 
Aquazilla said:
yeah its a 10,000k + actinic combo
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ROYWS3 said:
then you should get great growth!
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You will get growth because of the 10,000k bulb. Which is a very white light. Adding a 6,500k or 6,700k ( i like 10,000k & 6,700k together ) will give you even better growth. Actinic bulbs are neutural in a freshwater planted tank. If you like the color, and the growth you get from a single plant bulb, then leave it. But changing the actinic bulb to one the plants will use, will give you better plant growth.

From another forum :

We are really dealing with three things.

1. Light Wavelength Measurement = nm nanometer 1 billionth of a meter

2. Photosynthesis = in this case, plant growth (Carbon uptake)

3. Kelvin Rating = The color of light used and appreciated by the hobbyist.
Personal Preference

It is generally accepted in the planted tank community that light in the range of 400 - 700 nanometers will grow plants well, 660 - 700 nm will drive photosynthesis even faster. These numbers should be available on the package or from the distributor, or at the manufactures web site.

The light does not have to be, and this is important, from super expensive "plant growing tubes" with rare phosphors designed to deliver exactly the right wavelengths for optimal plant growth and health. Come here kid I have these $70tubes I'll let you have for $60.
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#2 If the tubes are providing at least 2 watts for every gallon of tank water and they are in the 400 - 700 nanometers parameter then photosynthesis will happen, plants will take up carbon and grow.

Color of the Light.

Plants reflect back the colors of light they do not adsorb. Usually the red spectrum spike and the blue spectrum spike are used and green is reflected back. That is the way you and I see color.

Light bulbs are rated with what is called a Kelvin number. A Kelvin number is assigned to the color of a (controlled laboratory open Flame) the color can range from yellowish to blue white. Kelvin is refered to as color "temperature" ...get it
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5500K = to our eyes a yellowish tint
7500k = to our eyes produces light approaching white
10,000k = to our eyes crisp white light, slightly blue
10,000 20,000K Intense white light needed to deeply penetrate water and reef tanks.

Actinic blue light: In the planted FW aquarium world is light designed to provide energy in the blue spectrum. Will it hurt plants, no. Is it beneficial, shrug.

Lots of planted tank folks use blue actinic mixed with other k temp. tubes to alter the color of the light in the tank to what they feel is a more aesthetically appealing look.

UV light has very little penetration capability in fw tanks and is largely ignored. That is why a UV sterilizer has a very small distance between the water and the UV tube.

Please keep in mind that light is only one of three essentials that must work together for plant success.

The other two are...
1. Nutrients
2. A source of carbon
 
Do you have any lights on there other than the actinic lights? Those alone are probably not great for your plants, most people mix them up with something else as well.
 
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