Can I have too much blue actinic lighting?

[D3NT]

Hi all. I was looking at my tank today and decided to switch off the bulbs that aren't my blue actinics. I always love how my corals glow with the blue lighting and I started thinking I may do away with the other bulbs and use only the blue ones. Anyone try this? I'm not sure if it would be a good or bad thing for my corals/fish or if it will promote algea growth. Thanks!

 

[ritter6788]

What kind of blue bulbs do you have? Many actinic bulbs are just for looks and don't have a lot of par for coral growth.

You can stagger your photoperiod so the whites come on after the blues and shut off before the blues turn off to get a dusk/dawn effect and the blue view your looking for.

 

[D3NT]

The blue bulbs I have now are 24 watt T5 "Blue Plus" by ATI. I have a total of 4 24in bulbs over my tank. I plan on upgrading my lighting in the future, but that will be quite a big buy and require more research. Lighting is one of the issues that seems more intimidating to learn!

 

[D3NT]

Sorry, the bulbs are actually 22in. My other white lights are basic 10k.

 

[ritter6788]

ATI blue plus have good par so you could use only those if that's the color you want.

 

[D3NT]

Awesome. Maybe I'll pick up another pair of these and see how I like 'em.