Is 20,000K the same as Actinic?

[hebdo27]

I'm setting up a dual 250W MH system and was going to install some PCs for the actinic? But since I have a 175W MH system lying around I figure I could pop that in and use a 20,000K bulb as the actinic aspect of the lighting....will this work? Or will the 20,000K be not blue enough. This is all going over a new 90 gal setup.

Comments? has anyone tried this before?

[Ti]

nope, not the same.

[hebdo27]

so what colour is temp is Actinic?

[mr pink floyd]

actinic is usually 460 or 420 nm right?

420 is more pink then blue i believe


not sure on this, not even sure if its nm, but look at actinic bulbs on websites that sell then, it usually gives you specs

[Ti]

truee actinic is 420, it's purple looking.
450 is more blue

[hahnmeister]

http://reefcentral.com/gallery/data/500/101919every_t5_worth_a_spit.JPG

blue actinics peak at around 450nm... in the blue range. In the pic above, the one 3rd from the right is that kind of bulb (blue+ by Geisemann). an actinic03 is purple, peaks at 420nm, like the 3rd from the left (a Geisemann true actinic). some are a blend, like the UVL super actinic bulb that is 2nd from the left.

20,000K bulbs have a huge spike in the blue range (450nm), and sometimes have a decent amount of actinic as well (420nm). At that, halides can be used to suppliment actinic/blue. T5, PC, and VHOs are just more narrow in their output, so they appear very blue and purple, while 20,000Ks just put out more light across the whole spectrum.

The problem with using 20,000Ks to suppliment 10,000Ks is that watt for watt, 20,000Ks have about 1/2 the output as most 10,000Ks. I have seen it done though... the 20,000Ks are at a wattage 2x that of the 10,000Ks. Its very cool looking... but no, a 175watt wont do much with a couple 250watters. If anything, using the two 250s as 20,000Ks and the 175 as a 6500K or 10,000K would work well.

[hebdo27]

Hummm..dual 20,000K with a 10,000K 175W....that's sounds doable too. My other option would of been to go with T5 HO lights to get the blue.