Do I have to have actinics for zoa growth?

[gsechen]

Just wondering because I have an 12g Aquapod and it seems my zoas are NOT growing as fast as my friends tank. Difference between my friends tank and mine is that he has a 14g biocube with 72w pc lighting. I have a 70w MH 14k Sunpod with only led lights. Should I add actinic lighting?

 

[Zeppelin]

I haven't noticed that actinics increase growth rate. Actinics are used primarily to enhance the colors in zoanthids/palys. A zoa tank under straight actinics is a site to behold. I run about 3 hours of actinics in the am, before the MH kicks on, then about 3 hours after the MH go off, kind of like a sunset and sunrise. Dont do it for growth, but for the look.

 

[Azurel]

One of the problems is that there never has been a study done on wither actinics have an effect on growth or other environmental effect on corals period. I would assume they have a bigger effect then just to enhance color though.

 

[Zeppelin]

Right. There are people in the hobby that say actinics and moonlights both have an effect on overall coral health because of the sunrise/sunset and moonlight simulation of nature. The controller I am using even throws in 'cloudy' days into the mix. I'm sure that enhanced coral health will lead to an increased growth rate. I personally haven't noticed any growth difference in my display versus my frag tanks. I use actinics in the display, but no sunrise/sunset effect at all in the frag tanks and the zoas in both systems seem to grow at about the same rate.

 

[Azurel]

I do the sunrise/sunset with my actinics also, I think it is less harsh on the corals over all. I mean to go from dark to bright noon day lights can't be good, just like when we come from a dark theater to the daylight and it hurts our eyes I'm sure it puts a bit of stress on the corals to.

I am going to start this week a experiment, with my lighting and see what happens or effects on the zoas and palys. I am going to post a new thread about it, as I started yesterday......

 

[edwing206]

looking forward to your results azurel.

 

[twon8]

i have two tanks without actinics, zoas look fine without them, and grow fine as well.

actinic does provide some useable light, but nowhere near what a whiter bulb would.