What is actinic light in reef tank?
Actinic is a term used to describe lighting which produces high levels of light in the blue wavelengths. This type of light is important in aquarium use as the blue wavelengths of light penetrate water far deeper than other visible wavelengths.
Do corals need actinic light?
Corals do use actinic light which peaks at 420 for photosynthesis, the only problem is that most actinic bulbs have a low overall par because their spectrum is not broad.
Is actinic light good?
Not only is actinic lighting beneficial to photosynthetic invertebrates, it is also aesthetically pleasing to the eye when used to supplement “daylight” lighting. Freshwater aquarium plants benefit from lighting with a Kelvin temperature in the range of 5500 – 6500 degrees.
What color is actinic light?
blue light
“Actinic” lights are a high-color-temperature blue light. They are also used in electric fly killers to attract flies.
What color is actinic blue?
Spectrums Available Actinic Blue- A deep blue that helps bring out the fluorescent in corals and other inhabitants while promoting growth.
What wavelength is actinic?
approximately 420 nm
The area we are most concerned with is what is called near ultra violet (UV) or “actinic” light. This is light whose peak intensity is centered around a wavelength at approximately 420 nm.
Is blue light better for corals?
Efficient photosynthesis requires not only adequate light intensity but also the correct spectrum of light. Terrestrial plants, like those found in our garden, favor colors in the yellow, orange, and red range while corals favor colors in the blue spectrum.
Can corals live with LED lights?
Yes, LEDs do grow coral – just ask our experts at LiveAquaria.com! They have been using LED lighting for quite some time now over our coral tanks with amazing results. The specific spectrums provided by LED lighting can bring out colors in certain fish like you’ve never seen before.
Is a blacklight bad for fish?
Black lights should not be used to heat or illuminate a fish tank. Fish need aquarium lighting that’s designed to provide the natural lighting they would receive in the wild. Because black lights are ultraviolet, it’s only safe to use them in small doses. A black light in the 315 to 380 nm range is the least harmful.
What is an actinic light bulb?
The next type of bulb to consider is an actinic bulb, these bulbs do not have the mercury issues. They were originally used in moth trapping at remote sites where they were powered of 12v batteries. However now by using a ‘plug-in converter’ they can also be run off the mains.
What are actinic rays?
Medical Definition of actinic rays : radiation (as in the violet and ultraviolet parts of the spectrum) having marked photochemical action.
How is actinic light used in an aquarium?
…strong, pure actinic spectrum, which generates a light white/violet effect in your aquarium. SUPER ACTINICincreases the fluorescence, enhance a maximum fluorescence from your colorful coralsand lends itself to an ideal in supplementation of existing metal halide or LED lighting.
What kind of light does actinic blue use?
…Spectrums Available Actinic Blue- A deep blue that helps bring out the fluorescent in corals and other inhabitants while promoting growth. It is perfect as an accent light to any T5 or metal halide lighting system or works great with the 50/50 models as a stand-alone lighting system.
Which is the best actinic light for corals?
…Germany AQUABLUE CORAL is the ultimate blue/white light spectrum for brilliant colors from your corals and fish. It is ideal in combination with the ACTINIC BLUE or SUPER ACTINIC to produce exceptionally beautiful color effects and the ideal light for all marine creatures that live in salt-water and…
What kind of light do you need for an aquarium?
Use different bulbs to provide the right light for your aquarium inhabitants. 50/50 or Actinic White Bulbs – Emit a blend of white and blue light that helps recreate marine light conditions. Generally, it is a combination of 10,000°K white light and blue actinic light.