Actinic Lighting in Planted Tank

[Hulka9]

I just bought a dual T5HO light for my 29G. It came with a 6500K actinic bulb and a 10000K daylight bulb. My question is do I need to swap out the actinic for another daylight bulb in order to grow high light carpet plants? My LFS said they would swap it out for free, but I do like how the blue light looks. So if I can get away with keeping it I would prefer that.

 

[FishCr8zy]

Actinic lights are more for either SW tanks or night lights. The plants will not grow under them. I suggest switching them out for a daylight bulb around 6500K. I'm not an expert on actinics but I think they are referred to ,lighting wise, by something else, not K.

 

[FishCr8zy]

Actinic lights are measured in "nm", not K.

 

[lectraplayer]

I ran an experiment with a bugzapper over a 5 gallon bucket with a few swords and a guppy. HOB filter. While not actinic, it seems somewhat close spectrally. My swords kept growing and I tried and failed at starting algae. I think it was cyanobacteria I had in my donor tank though. Nevertheless, I am certainly interested in checking this theory out: Actinic may grow plants without growing algae or cyanobacteria so bad.

Sent from my ALCATEL ONE TOUCH Fierce using Aquarium Advice mobile app

 

[Brookster123]

If it's a mimicked sun spectrum than of course it will grow plants.. I think it boils down to useable light at varying levels.... And what certain living things found at these levels actually need to flourish...

 

[Hulka9]

I went ahead and swapped out the bulbs since it was free. Rather go with a sure thing.