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#1
07-25-2007, 05:10 AM
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actinic - to leave or not to leave...
Hey I am debating whether I should leave the actinics to run at the same time as my other power compact bulbs. Or do I just run them one hour before and one hour after the main lights; only two hours of the day?
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#2
07-25-2007, 05:39 AM
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I would leave the actinics on while the other PC's are on if you have a reef system. You may not visibly notice a difference, but the corals are getting the additional beneficial light. If you have a fish only system, unless if makes the tank brighter, I would save the energy and bulbs by running them only at dawn and dusk.
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300 gal starphire custom built in pentagon reef (+90 gal sump on Blue Line 100 HD return pump, 210lb LR, Euro-Reef RC250 skimmer, 2x400W MH, 2x28W compacts, 2xTurbelle classic 4002 pumps & Turbelle Stream 6100 on 7095 Multicontroller, running ZEOvit) Livestock Fish: damsels; sailfin, yellow, regal & naso tangs; ocellaris & tomato clowns; lyretail anthias; foxface lo; flame angelfish corals: a few
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#5
07-25-2007, 06:27 AM
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Can you give us more information about the size of your tank, is it reef, FOWLR or fish only, and what exactly are you using for lighting? If you have a reef tank, you may not have very strong lighting and I would leave your PC's on for 10-12 hours. If you have a fish only system and algae is a problem run your main PC's for less (6-8 hours). The actinics give the tank a nice look and don't usually contribute to nuisance algae so you can leave them on as long as you like. I would still turn them off at night to simulate a natural day/night cycle.
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300 gal starphire custom built in pentagon reef (+90 gal sump on Blue Line 100 HD return pump, 210lb LR, Euro-Reef RC250 skimmer, 2x400W MH, 2x28W compacts, 2xTurbelle classic 4002 pumps & Turbelle Stream 6100 on 7095 Multicontroller, running ZEOvit) Livestock Fish: damsels; sailfin, yellow, regal & naso tangs; ocellaris & tomato clowns; lyretail anthias; foxface lo; flame angelfish corals: a few
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#7
07-25-2007, 06:45 AM
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I would personally leave them on at all times. Otherwise the lighting generally appears very yellowish...which...well, is kinda ugly
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~Drew 10G Nano * 10G Sump * Deltec MCE 600 Skimmer * JBL Viper 150w MH * Zeovit * Vortech MP40W Millions long for immortality who do not know what to do with themselves on a rainy Sunday afternoon. ~S. Ertz 
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#8
07-25-2007, 06:53 AM
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reply
-well his lights aren't really yellowish, whiter actually, but some blue-lite
wouldn't hurt, by the way stev, it looks even better with the actinics on 
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33g fowlr / 20g sump / 400 watt pendant / Euro-Reef RC80~~~~lavendar tang, lemon butterfly, snowflake eel, hawaiian spotted puffer, tomato clown, chomis.. My reef~http://i297.photobucket.com/albums/m...-/P4300459.jpg
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#9
07-25-2007, 02:53 PM
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IMO actinics not only add more light to the tank but they're also there for aesthetic purposes. Many people like the added blueness that counterbalances any yellow their main lighting gives off. On their own they also can help simulate a dawn/dusk effect so that fish aren't startled by the brighter main lights when they turn on.
I have mine on all day with the main lights. 
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Christy's Reef Blog My 180 Build Every electronic component is shipped with smoke stored deep inside.... only a real genius can find a way to set it free.
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#10
07-26-2007, 03:50 AM
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