Question about lighting power and time of use

[Yash]

Hey Tommy ... that's good to hear that they both give out the same output. That way, I guess having them both of for the peak daytime light cycle will give me ~3.61 watts per gallon, which seems fairly ok.

If this isn't sufficient, I would appreciate it if someone else chimes in

Thanks,
Yash

 

[Fishieness]

In any case, I believe that the blue actynic bulb is in many ways equal to the out put of light that a white light bulb gives out and it is just in a differing spectrum, which is why we see it as blue. I know for a fact though, the blue actynic light can penetrate water deeper than the white light.

they are not equal in output. blue light in theory may penetrate deeper, but the actual bulbs that we use have a lower PAR the lighter the K rating is.
a 10000K bulb on the same ballast, reflector, socket, ect will have more PAR than a 20000K bulb.

but what you have there with the PCs is enough for softies and some lps if kept in the upper half. feedings would also help

 

[Tommy Gun]

Not to try and hijack this thread, but I figured that Yash may want to know this as much as I do....What is PAR then?

Still, if you have two bulbs, a blue actynic and a whilte light, and both are 10,000K, then they have the same intensity, correct?

What I was really trying to get at is to time the lights so that there is a period of time when all the bulbs are on and not to just shut off the blue ones when the white lights are on.

 

[Yash]

Tommy - you're not hijacking it at all as long as the questions still pertain to lighting, which yours do. I'll be honest in saying that I don't know much about lighting at all, so the more questions (whether from you or me) answered the better it is

Cheers!
Yash

 

[Fishieness]

Not to try and hijack this thread, but I figured that Yash may want to know this as much as I do....What is PAR then?

Still, if you have two bulbs, a blue actynic and a whilte light, and both are 10,000K, then they have the same intensity, correct?

What I was really trying to get at is to time the lights so that there is a period of time when all the bulbs are on and not to just shut off the blue ones when the white lights are on.

PAR is photosynthetic availible radiation. it is basicly the amount of light availible for your corals to grow. the more PAR, the deeper it can penetrate into the water.
and you wouldnt have two different color bulbs that are the same K. or well, some 10000Ks are yellow, and for MH, it can depend on the brand, but not with PCs. an actinic is a blue actinic and a daylight is a 10000K white bulb.