VHO's or T-5's

jmccoya · 03/17/2010, 02:01 PM

Im up in the air over which to get. have a 75g and gonna do mostly softies and maybe a couple stoney's. Also looking for other ballast suggestions other than icecap. Was thinking of running 4 48" VHOS with over 400watts or 4 T-5's which comes to 216watts. but im told the T-5's are still brighter than the VHOS with less wattage. Dont know just looking for some advice before i make the purchase.
Thanks

nanojg · 03/17/2010, 03:32 PM

How about a combo? I have never seen vho's in person but many claim that you cannot beat the VHO actinics. T5's with the right reflectors and bulbs will blow away vho's in terms of PAR.

jimsplace · 03/18/2010, 03:55 AM

I run 4 4' VHO bulbs on my 90 and can grow just about anything. I have had the VHO system for close to 15 years and love it. People who see my tank cannot belive it is all VHO and love the color. But if I was just starting out, I would probably go with MH / VHO combination. I have never used T5, but I hear they are cheaper to run (power consumption) than either VHO or MH, but I think bulb replacement is about the same on all three.

Reef 101 · 03/21/2010, 09:56 AM

i had MH on my 180 and wanted to try t-5's i took off my MH and put 6 5' 80watt t-5 bulbs 0n....... i dont think i will put bsck on the MH t-5's for me switching them on my 125 now.

NYCBOB · 03/21/2010, 10:04 AM

t5 is the way to go. it runs cooler than powercompact and r more energy efficent. if u decide to keep sps, why would go with pc, especially a 75 gallon?

03/17/2010, 02:01 PM	#1
jmccoya Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Gahanna, Ohio Posts: 343	VHO's or T-5's Im up in the air over which to get. have a 75g and gonna do mostly softies and maybe a couple stoney's. Also looking for other ballast suggestions other than icecap. Was thinking of running 4 48" VHOS with over 400watts or 4 T-5's which comes to 216watts. but im told the T-5's are still brighter than the VHOS with less wattage. Dont know just looking for some advice before i make the purchase. Thanks

03/18/2010, 03:55 AM	#3
jimsplace Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Houston, Tx Posts: 633	I run 4 4' VHO bulbs on my 90 and can grow just about anything. I have had the VHO system for close to 15 years and love it. People who see my tank cannot belive it is all VHO and love the color. But if I was just starting out, I would probably go with MH / VHO combination. I have never used T5, but I hear they are cheaper to run (power consumption) than either VHO or MH, but I think bulb replacement is about the same on all three. __________________ Jim Current Tank Information; - 90 Gallon DT / 30 Gallon Sump - SPS Dominate - IC VHO Lighting

03/17/2010, 03:32 PM	#2
nanojg Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Lubbock, Texas Posts: 2,174	How about a combo? I have never seen vho's in person but many claim that you cannot beat the VHO actinics. T5's with the right reflectors and bulbs will blow away vho's in terms of PAR.

03/21/2010, 09:56 AM	#4
Reef 101 Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Ft,Myers, FL Posts: 74	i had MH on my 180 and wanted to try t-5's i took off my MH and put 6 5' 80watt t-5 bulbs 0n....... i dont think i will put bsck on the MH t-5's for me switching them on my 125 now.

03/21/2010, 10:04 AM	#5
NYCBOB Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: NYC Posts: 1,768	t5 is the way to go. it runs cooler than powercompact and r more energy efficent. if u decide to keep sps, why would go with pc, especially a 75 gallon?