Your thoughts on actinic tank lights....

[Prometheus]

I've had one on my tank since my wife's suggestion about 2 years ago... That things lasts forever - never been replaced and is on for 8 hours a day (atleast)!

I love the look it gives to the fish ( I have alot of sliver in the tank).

It's never caused me a problem (that I know of).

What are your thoughts on them?

I'm going to get a new fixture (since my 30gal light is on the 55 tank), and I'm wondering if I should get another actinic light.

The only downside I see to them is that the 'black lightish' type effect doesn't show off my water clarity as I'd like it to...

 

[ewok]

i tried one briefly. i saw some (empty)tanks setup in the store with them on them and i thought the blue glow was really neat looking. when i bought one and put it on my 55g tho i found it to be entirely too gloomy for my tastes. it just seemed like it left the tank too dark.

something i'd like to try someday would be a 50/50 light. it's 50% actinic and 50% white light, so it should in theory be the best of both worlds for me. it would still have that blue glow but be bright enuf to see into the tank easily. ( i think )

 

[Prometheus]

ewok, not a bad idea... I'll look into that...

 

[mogurnda]

I use 50/50 on for my tanganyikans, and it really brings out the blue. You can either use two normal fluorescent lamps, or get a 50/50 compact fluorescent fixture.

 

[125gJoe]

At first I had the 50/50 compact flourescents, and I'm so glad Custom SeaLife took them back and gave me the 6500K's I needed. If you have a planted tank, the 50/50's will give it a "washed out" - lack of color look. Some have actually said they like the look, but I think they know they are stuck with the lights and will use them for a year or so until they need changing.

Actinics are great for Saltwater and really bring out the colors of corals and other stuff that lives in saltwater..