Equipment - .03Actinic Or Super Actinic

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.03Actinic Or Super Actinic

Printed From: Utah Reefs
Category: Specialized Discussion
Forum Name: Equipment
Forum Description: This is the place to ask question about reef equipment.
URL: http://www.utahreefs.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=23645
Printed Date: February 06 2025 at 7:45pm
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Topic: .03Actinic Or Super Actinic

Posted By: shipdawg
Subject: .03Actinic Or Super Actinic
Date Posted: February 10 2008 at 11:03pm

what is the difference in super actinic and .03 actinic any one know.

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Eagle Mountain

120 reef

Replies:

Posted By: dkle
Date Posted: February 10 2008 at 11:19pm

I've never heard of 0.03 actinic before. Can your provide the link to this light?

I think super actinic is just a label that people can use for anything. To the best of my knowledge, there are generally two kinds of actinic: true actinic and blue actinic. True actinic peaks at 420nm, emits a purple color. Blue actinic peaks at 450nm and emits more of a blue color. I've read that true actinic is better for corals. In my experience, blue actinic seems to pop coral colors (especially the red and blue) more.

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If you can't bedazzle them with your brilliance, baffle them with your bs!
Dinhkim Le - Procrastinator extra-ordinare

Posted By: jpndave
Date Posted: February 11 2008 at 12:04am

The 03 Actinic is in reference to a true 420nm light. I'm not sure what the Super Actinic is.

Posted By: BobC63
Date Posted: February 11 2008 at 7:55am

Actually, I thought it was the other way around - with the .03 being the "blue" 450 nm actinic and the 420 nm being the purple.

And bulbs sold as "super actinic" are usually also labeled as a 420 / 450 nm combination.

IMO the purple actinics (or the 420 / 450 nm combination) are the best for a reef aquarium application...

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- My Current Tank: 65g Starfire (sitting empty for 2+ years) -

* Marine & Reef tanks since 1977 *

Posted By: jpndave
Date Posted: February 13 2008 at 12:23am

If you are looking at UV Lighting Company "Super Actinic" tubes, they are a 420nm tube. I have the spectral charts from the company in a computer file from them.

Current USA labels their 420nm tubes as 03 Actinic here:

http://www.current-usa.com/slimpaqt5ho.html - http://www.current-usa.com/slimpaqt5ho.html

What brands of tubes are you comparing?