I have not been impressed with the blue of actinic bulbs either. I had the coralife single linear with the 50/50 bulbs not impressed with blue. I replaced it with a Hamilton retofit with 4 bulbs 2 10,000k and 2 7,000 actinic the actinic 03 might be better but. I have found no need for the blue. Doh I should have went with the metal halide like canadian man said.
Two 250 metal halide would have been sweet on my 45g
Any how when I get new bulbs it will be four, 10,000k instead of two of each.

so u have PC lighting now? and so, i am guessing the lower the color temperature (7000k) the more blue it is? and higher temp, the whiter it is?
thx

Not exactly its more complicated then that 6000 and 10000 is more like the briteness. 10,000 is suppose to simulate daylight a 6,500 would be less of the spectrum. Now different colours will peak at different k.
Ahh I think I confused myself.
Yes I went with Pc bulbs.
Maybe someone else has a simpler explanation. I was just saying I think theres no reoson for blue. Some species where suppose to need the blue but now they say its not needed
Anyhow a nice white in my opinion is better than the whit with blue tinge in my opinion.

so would you recommend a MH setup?

If I had to do it all over again I think that I would It cost me $400 for my hamilton retrofit kit which consists of 4 55w pc bulbs, reflector and ballasts in a box. It is 220w of light for $400 the metal halide canada man pointed out is $250 for 250w of light. A metal halide 10,000k bulb should be a nice bright white light which I like. I could have got two 250 w metal halide for same price haha 500w on my 45g tank fish could get sunburn.
I f you went with the MH you could sell the light you have and get a moonlight and be good. 250w on a 20 would be more than 10w a gallon.
I would like a moonlight that might be neat hmm.

any one have a used 175W MH setup for sale????

Sorry, that first part is not really correct, but rather that starting all over again, there have been a number of threads before, which explained "K", and "par" etc. Maybe look through the archives. :biggrin: