VHO set-ups and online vendor prices. Need advice.

Melody · 08/02/2006, 03:28 AM

Been looking at MD's site but have heard they're one of the most expensive. Anyone know where I can get an icecap ballast w/endcaps/bulbs(46.5")/Acrylic mounting bracket-plate/
Wiring harness with quick disconnect at a better price?
Marine Depot

steve68 · 08/02/2006, 04:47 AM

not icecap but my ARO work great.
www.hellolights.com/2laaromo4lvb.html

wds21921 · 08/02/2006, 05:08 AM

Melody, talk with Kaptain Ken in the Delaware Reef Club forum.
He built my VHO lighting system and it was way cheaper. He's very knowledgable about the ballasts and lights and where to find the best prices.

bigdee65 · 08/02/2006, 07:08 AM

I got my VHO setup from Champion Lighting and they seemed to have the best prices out there.

Here is a link:
http://www.championlighting.com/home.php?cat=582

rstark33 · 08/02/2006, 10:59 AM

I second the ARO ballast at hellolights. Very reliable for me.

Melody · 08/02/2006, 10:45 PM

Thanks for the replies.

I have priced both places you recommended and they are cheaper than MD. What is the difference between ARO and Icecap?

wds21921 ~ I'll go over and talk to Kap Ken...'preciate the advice.

leeweber85 · 08/03/2006, 12:29 AM

The typical ARO ballast fires 2- 46.5 or 48" bulbs and only costs about $25-$30. the only catch is that it only works on those lengths, otherwise it's a steal of a deal.

steve68 · 08/03/2006, 05:02 AM

i have the 4 lamp ARO model
http://www.hellolights.com/vhoballastkit.html
leeweber85 i think u are talking about this one
http://www.hellolights.com/22elarovhoba.html
that is a great deal i bought that ballast for my 50 cuz i only need it 2 bulbs, it is so easy to wire up i just followed the directions, i thought it was going to be hard but it's not.
the difference between ARO and Icecap is icecap overdrives the bulbs, they both have great warranties & for the price u just cant beat ARO.
JME.

falconut · 08/03/2006, 07:54 AM

I too use an ARO Ballast. Mine is the cheaper one:
http://www.hellolights.com/asdiyrekit.html
I have two 46.5" VHOs for my Actinic Supplements. It works great, I am very happy with them. Easy to install.

I even bought two new MH sockets and riveted them to this reflector. The reflector already had the holes for the sockets. Now my two MH's and two VHO's share the same reflector.

csb · 08/03/2006, 09:00 AM

Check out http://www.ahsupply.com ... VHO (pc) stuff - I grabbed a complete kit a few months ago for cheap.

goda · 08/03/2006, 09:13 AM

dont buy from champion.. they are compleat you know whats..

sure there prices are great but when it comes to cusomer service they are hte absolute worse( champion and blue line are the same people.. iv had probloms with one of there products for... going on 3 years now.. and they are still no help... they lies also saying that they would extend mt return period so i could try it out on a new tank with a new setup ( this was a part for the light system and they were blaming my wires) well i set it up.. still dosnt work right and they refuse to take it back.( that was a year ago)

anywasy... go with some one else. drfostersmith dosnt have that bad of prices and there customer service is better

anyways.. why do you want the acrylic mounting bracket.. i hope you mean stand offs and not the bulb holder.. the bulb holder causes hot spotson the bulb..and most people who use them dont mount hte endcaps ( and you really should mount them)

Puffdragon · 08/03/2006, 10:11 AM

Premium aquatis has as good a price on IceCap as I have seen and they have everything else you will need to do a retro or hood
The nice thing about IceCap is the quality, service and if you ever decide to go T5, you have your ballast.

xtrstangx · 08/03/2006, 10:15 AM

I've been very pleased with my ARO ballasts.

I'd say go for the Hellolights stuff.

steve68 · 08/03/2006, 07:22 PM

ARO also does T5 with the same ballast & i can tell u that there customer service is as good as icecap
wich ever one u go with u just cant go wrong.
but like i sad u just cant beat the ARO price.

08/02/2006, 03:28 AM	#1
Melody Registered Member Join Date: May 2003 Location: Mississippi Posts: 928	VHO set-ups and online vendor prices. Need advice. Been looking at MD's site but have heard they're one of the most expensive. Anyone know where I can get an icecap ballast w/endcaps/bulbs(46.5")/Acrylic mounting bracket-plate/ Wiring harness with quick disconnect at a better price? Marine Depot

08/02/2006, 04:47 AM	#2
steve68 Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Piscataway,NJ Posts: 4,058	not icecap but my ARO work great. www.hellolights.com/2laaromo4lvb.html __________________ "Never Give Up Never Surrender" Current Tank Info: 50 Breeder with 250w MH 10k XM bulb & 2 24inch VHO atinic 03,210 gallon Reef tank. 3 250 W MH,MRC CR-2 Reactor & MR-2 Skimmer,150 gallon sump,125 gallon refugium,75 Gallon Frag Tank & adding more water volume every t

08/02/2006, 10:59 AM	#5
rstark33 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Gresham, OR Posts: 294	I second the ARO ballast at hellolights. Very reliable for me. __________________ Rich Current Tank Info: 90 Gallon with 100 gallon sump in garage

08/03/2006, 12:29 AM	#7
leeweber85 Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Cedar Rapids, Iowa Posts: 2,482	The typical ARO ballast fires 2- 46.5 or 48" bulbs and only costs about $25-$30. the only catch is that it only works on those lengths, otherwise it's a steal of a deal. __________________ -Lee Current Tank Info: 120g reef, 20g reef

08/03/2006, 05:02 AM	#8
steve68 Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Piscataway,NJ Posts: 4,058	i have the 4 lamp ARO model http://www.hellolights.com/vhoballastkit.html leeweber85 i think u are talking about this one http://www.hellolights.com/22elarovhoba.html that is a great deal i bought that ballast for my 50 cuz i only need it 2 bulbs, it is so easy to wire up i just followed the directions, i thought it was going to be hard but it's not. the difference between ARO and Icecap is icecap overdrives the bulbs, they both have great warranties & for the price u just cant beat ARO. JME. __________________ "Never Give Up Never Surrender" Current Tank Info: 50 Breeder with 250w MH 10k XM bulb & 2 24inch VHO atinic 03,210 gallon Reef tank. 3 250 W MH,MRC CR-2 Reactor & MR-2 Skimmer,150 gallon sump,125 gallon refugium,75 Gallon Frag Tank & adding more water volume every t

08/02/2006, 05:08 AM	#3
wds21921 Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Elkton, MD Posts: 1,442	Melody, talk with Kaptain Ken in the Delaware Reef Club forum. He built my VHO lighting system and it was way cheaper. He's very knowledgable about the ballasts and lights and where to find the best prices.

08/02/2006, 07:08 AM	#4
bigdee65 Premium Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Westchester, NY Posts: 704	I got my VHO setup from Champion Lighting and they seemed to have the best prices out there. Here is a link: http://www.championlighting.com/home.php?cat=582

08/02/2006, 10:45 PM	#6
Melody Registered Member Join Date: May 2003 Location: Mississippi Posts: 928	Thanks for the replies. I have priced both places you recommended and they are cheaper than MD. What is the difference between ARO and Icecap? wds21921 ~ I'll go over and talk to Kap Ken...'preciate the advice.

08/03/2006, 07:54 AM	#9
falconut Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Blackwood, NJ Posts: 3,813	I too use an ARO Ballast. Mine is the cheaper one: http://www.hellolights.com/asdiyrekit.html I have two 46.5" VHOs for my Actinic Supplements. It works great, I am very happy with them. Easy to install. I even bought two new MH sockets and riveted them to this reflector. The reflector already had the holes for the sockets. Now my two MH's and two VHO's share the same reflector. __________________ 180 Gallon FOWLR, 40 Gallon Sump and 10 Gallon Refuge. (2) OceanRevive S026 LEDs, ASM G2 Skimmer & SCA-302 Skimmer. Setup since July 2017.

08/03/2006, 09:00 AM	#10
csb Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: New Hampshire Posts: 541	Check out http://www.ahsupply.com ... VHO (pc) stuff - I grabbed a complete kit a few months ago for cheap. __________________ Winter ski bum, summer reef bum. Tank pics at http://picasaweb.google.com/snojrnl Current Tank Info: 30g mixed reef

08/03/2006, 09:13 AM	#11
goda Moved On Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: fortlauderdale florida area Posts: 1,874	dont buy from champion.. they are compleat you know whats.. sure there prices are great but when it comes to cusomer service they are hte absolute worse( champion and blue line are the same people.. iv had probloms with one of there products for... going on 3 years now.. and they are still no help... they lies also saying that they would extend mt return period so i could try it out on a new tank with a new setup ( this was a part for the light system and they were blaming my wires) well i set it up.. still dosnt work right and they refuse to take it back.( that was a year ago) anywasy... go with some one else. drfostersmith dosnt have that bad of prices and there customer service is better anyways.. why do you want the acrylic mounting bracket.. i hope you mean stand offs and not the bulb holder.. the bulb holder causes hot spotson the bulb..and most people who use them dont mount hte endcaps ( and you really should mount them)

08/03/2006, 10:11 AM	#12
Puffdragon Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Indiana Posts: 297	Premium aquatis has as good a price on IceCap as I have seen and they have everything else you will need to do a retro or hood The nice thing about IceCap is the quality, service and if you ever decide to go T5, you have your ballast. __________________ The definition of an expert "Someone who has done something for so long that they can not see a new way to do things." Current Tank Info: 350 gallon mixed reef system

08/03/2006, 10:15 AM	#13
xtrstangx Premium Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Shawnee, Kansas Posts: 4,568	I've been very pleased with my ARO ballasts. I'd say go for the Hellolights stuff.

08/03/2006, 07:22 PM	#14
steve68 Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Piscataway,NJ Posts: 4,058	ARO also does T5 with the same ballast & i can tell u that there customer service is as good as icecap wich ever one u go with u just cant go wrong. but like i sad u just cant beat the ARO price. __________________ "Never Give Up Never Surrender" Current Tank Info: 50 Breeder with 250w MH 10k XM bulb & 2 24inch VHO atinic 03,210 gallon Reef tank. 3 250 W MH,MRC CR-2 Reactor & MR-2 Skimmer,150 gallon sump,125 gallon refugium,75 Gallon Frag Tank & adding more water volume every t