Power compac cool or warm

[FishyMatty]

I have a 36 inch power compac lighting system with dual 10,000k and dual blue actinic. This is my first attempt at a nature aquarium. HEAVILY planted, co2 injected. Should I keep the two different sets of bulbs or should I replace the blue actinic with another sunlight 10,000k set? I don't even know if my plants can use light of that spectrum.
Matt
Milford, CT

 

[Mgamer20o0]

day light bulb would be better.

 

[Gumby131]

for the ideal eniviroment i would recomend a 6700k globe (sunglo). what plants do you have?

 

[John N.]

Replace the blue actinic with another sunlight 10,000k or 6700k bulb.

Plants generally use the color spectrum provided between 6000k-10000k type bulbs. Actinic bulbs will be wasted light for plants.

-John N.

 

[loaches r cool]

Just remember the K rating can be innacurate or all together misleading. Some 15,000K bulbs put out more reds than many 10,000K or less. Some 6500K bulbs put out more blues than some 15,000-20,000K ones. Actinic light around 440-460 nm is indeed in the peak for photosynthesis, but you still need lots of longer wavelength light as well, so using a bulb solely actinic isnt ideal. But many have used some actinic light and depending on the fish colors and decor can make the tank look better, bot no need for any more than a 50/50 bulb. In one of my tanks with 2 compact flourescent bulbs I am currently trying a new combo - getting the widest spread of light I can with 4 different colors out of 2 bulbs. I have one 50/50 actinic and 10,000K super daylight and also one 50/50 6700K and colormax (coralife) bulb. So far it seems to cast the best look of any light I have tried yet. Only time will tell with plant growth.

 

[FishyMatty]

blue bulb

My light only has 1 dual 10,000k and one dual blue actinic, should I just replace it with a 6700k daylight or some kind of blue/6700 daylight combo.
Plants.
4 large amazon swords just trimed
Bamboo
dwarf hair grass
bacopa
Baby Tears
isoetes
PennyWart
giant hair grass
45 gal
Thanks for your help
matt

 

[loaches r cool]

That can be somewhat personal preference but for most possible growth I'd probably have atleast 1 bulb under 10,000K.

Here is a pic of the combo I talked about above. Note that the colors are more deep by the effect of the high shutter and aperture setting (which was 1/1250 sec and 6.3 f-stop), in real life both the 'white' bulbs appear very white and almost indestinguishable, but speed up the shutter to create a dimmer pic and you can start seing the 6700K looking more and more yellowish while the 10,000k remains pale white.

 

[FishyMatty]

the bulbs

so what is the set up you have there?
1- blue actinic
2-10,000k daylight
1-6700k daylight
?
and that works best for you, co2?
thanks for the help
matt

 

[loaches r cool]

I just put these bulbs in this week so they have not been proven. The tank is currently using only Flourish Excel (for co2) and fertalized with EI, only a bit lighter since it isnt full of plants that are growing crazy yet. I am going to try switching to pressurized once I get centralized co2 set up (1 tank in the utility room will be fed to various rooms in the house).
This is kinda an experimental setup - its a light brackish tank and has aragonite sand and I am not 100% sure what going to happen with co2. With the plants right now I have more than enough light so I was thinking even if my light selection has less PAR than say 2 6700K lamps would then that would be fine. If you need higher light it might not be the best way to go, but I dont have a PAR meter or anything so I cant say for sure. BTW the bulbs (like I said above) is a 50/50 (actinic and 10,000K super daylight) and a coralife 6700K/colormax combo bulb, both are 21" 65W bulbs. If the little spectral chart on the package of the coralife bulb is even close to being realistic it seems the colormax looks like it has a good plant spectra, which may be why it has similar color to some plant bulbs. It does make the reds/browns pop a bit more, like bronze wendtii crypts.

Perhaps you should give some more info on your setup like tank size and what kidna plants do you have/want and your fert routine?

 

[FishyMatty]

The dual blue bulb I have looks like it is two different color blues. Do you know what that could be? Do you know much about the spectrum that aquatic plants can use? I don't have a lack of light the way it is but if you can maximize the use of the light you can also maximize the use of your co2. I think my problem is I may be injecting to much co2 for my lights. So the plants can't make enough o2 to compensate. Any way I'm new at this computer chat so if you could hold back on the abbreviations I would appreciate it.
Thanks
Matt