what lighting setup would maximize bang for buck specificly for actinic supplement

[areze]

I have MH, I dont need any more light thanks!

but Id like to have dawn and dusk as well as more POP in the corals than 14k phoenix gives. and I dont want to go to 20k, because I want the par; rather add actinic supplement.

so, whats the best for it? T5, VHO? also incase anyone really wants to help, the tank is 8feet long, which unfortunatly means I cant fit 2 4' fixtures in the canopy. doesnt jive with my setup, so I had planned maybe an icecap 660, but it seems overkill, Im looking at setting up 8 36" runs of whatever I decide. while the icecap runs 4 48" runs, so if I get 2, Im still being wasteful... thoughts?

[an411]

I think that 4 48" t5 should be fine I have 2 on my 660 for actinics and it lights it up real good and gives the corals the pop they need. VHO is better for actinics colors though.

[Phyxius]

The actinics will give you the pop you want in VHOs but will also add more light as will any of them .........

I have tried T5s but went right back to VHOs for the actinic supplement and that pop that the actinic gives. I run 3 250 watt MH and then 2 5ft VHOs on top of that off a IC 660. They come on 1 hr before the MH and they stay on 1 hr after the MHs go off.

The T5s have some nice blues but just dont match the super actinic r

You could use just 2- 6ft bulbs speced in the middle and be fine since they are for supplement anyways....I run 2-5fts in a 6ft tank and still have no issues at all will coverage with them

[areze]

well the way I have my lighting, I have 2 hanging boards, each with 2 MH pendants. Im limited to having the lighting seperated between the 2 hanging boards. thats why Im doing 3' per bulb, thats about the width of the 2 hanging boards.

[areze]

which VHO bulbs are these that are best? I see an "actinic 03" is that it?

[Phyxius]

actinic 03 or super actinic r is what you are looking for.

You could run 4-36" bulbs on a 660 or any combo as long as its under 16ft of actual bulbs.......that size would fit under your size constraints but may go over a tad with endcaps on?

[areze]

I can go a tad over, its the 48 that SHOULD fit but go a tad over with end caps. I may see if I cant finagle that as well though.

is there anywhere that sells a nice straight foward retrokit with the icecap 660, end caps, and reflectors?

[jsr]

You really dont NEED reflectors on VHO bulbs. The ones I use have a 180* internal reflector. As for a kit, check these out...

http://www.marinedepot.com/ps_Aquari..._retrofit.html

[areze]

anyone know the exact length of a VHO with those endcaps incorporated? like the length of the bulb is 36, or 48, how much much additional is needed?

nm, I measured, I have 44" of open space on each side, 36" is what I need to go with. seems like there isnt really any difference anyway, the only length that matters is the bulb, so if I find a way to get 48" to fit later, I just need new bulbs.

[Phyxius]

Mine with mounting hardware and everything on a 5ft bulb adds a little more than 6/16" from the outer edge of the base plate to the outer edge of the other base plate of the end caps. It would be the same on a smaller bulb as the pins and end caps are the same.....so a little less than 1/2" for most purposes
Like jsr said you do not need reflectors as the bulbs have built in reflectors incorporated in the bulbs

[saltwater creep]

i have used t5 and pc in the past but they just dont make the coral pop like vhos do i like ice cap 660s and i would use 6' bulbs in your case due to the length of your tank you really cant go wrong