VHO bulbs

b0bab0ey · 12/14/2010, 10:56 AM

First off, I know I should be going the T-5 way but if I spend $$$ on anything other than bulbs right now, my wife will kill me. That being said, I'm in the process of setting up a 58g (36") and it's almost time to turn on some lights. I have an Icecap 660 ballast that I'm going to reuse (see wife comment above). Now, back in the day I would run one white, one blue and two 50/50s. Does this seem like a good combination to you all? I'm not looking to do anything fancy... mostly just softies and LPS. Any advice would be greatly appreciated! Also, where is a good online place to order T-12s?

luisgo · 12/14/2010, 11:53 AM

Now I use two VHO's and two MH but if you are using only VHO's I think that the best combination is two actinic whites, one super actinic and one 454. All from UVL.

I purchase my VHO's at Aquacave.

droberts · 12/14/2010, 01:57 PM

i have a 125 with all vho lighting and i run two actinic whites and one super actinic and one 454 and mine are all from uvl. i order mine from a store here in Ohio and they will ship them to me when i dont want to drive the hour to pick them up and i'm sure they would ship to you also. the store is Salty Critter and there located in Vermilion Ohio. And i can grow sps,lps and zoanthids i dont think i can grow the high light demanding acros so i havent tryed

sandman111 · 12/14/2010, 04:56 PM

I'm running a 125 with 4 actinic whites one super actinic and one 454...454's are awsome for actinic!

sandman111 · 12/14/2010, 04:57 PM

i believe you can run t5's off the 660 just by changing end caps?

b0bab0ey · 12/14/2010, 06:10 PM

Thanks for the feedback, everyone! Sandman, awesome tank! It sounds like two actinic whites, one super actinic and one 454 is the way to go. People I've talked to have told me that my Icecap 660 ballast will "overdrive" T-5s, thus shortening the lifespan of the bulbs.

sasharotty · 12/14/2010, 06:14 PM

Dang sandman 7 tangs in a 125!! Looks good though!!

maddmaxx · 12/14/2010, 06:26 PM

also not to hijack, but sandman you use only VHO and have coral thriving like that????

b0bab0ey · 12/14/2010, 07:50 PM

A few more questions... Do I really need a reflector? (UVL bulbs have internal reflectors, right?) Also, my Icecap 660 ballast has that 4pin connector dimmer switch on one side of it? Anyone know where I can get the dimmer switch? I've heard people say it shortens the lifespan of the bulbs? True/false?

JTR0510 · 12/14/2010, 07:58 PM

the 660s will over drive the t5s and will shorten the life of the bulbs very quick. i would go with the others on 2 whites one super actnic and a 454. and usually the vho will have an internal reflector

maddmaxx · 12/14/2010, 07:58 PM

no you dont need a reflector, and i wudnt dim them. really no need, you want the actinic to make the corals pop...

b0bab0ey · 12/20/2010, 04:13 PM

So, I ended up going with the 2 actinic whites, 1 super actinic & 1 454 that everyone suggested. Got them at hellolights.com

Anyway, I was gonna stagger my lights (front to back) like this: actinic white, 454, actinic white, super actinic. What do ya'll think about that? Also, should I start out just running my lights, say, 6 hours per day and work up from there? To avoid an ugly algae bloom. Tia

grigsy · 12/20/2010, 09:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by maddmaxx

also not to hijack, but sandman you use only VHO and have coral thriving like that????

Doesn't surprise me at all.

VHOs are a very underrated bulb. I had used 4 x 165 watt VHOs for a time and had no problem keeping SPS.

T12 bulbs are also excellent for color. Best actinic bulb on the market IMO.

Excellent tank BTW sandman.

jimsplace · 12/21/2010, 06:37 AM

I have a 90 all VHO with the same bulb selection. I run my whites front and back with the 03 2nd from the back and the 454 2nd from the front.

b0bab0ey · 12/21/2010, 12:12 PM

Thanks, I'll try that!

b0bab0ey · 12/21/2010, 10:30 PM

Just got the lights all hooked up. The super actinic is on backorder, so I had to sub another light. Remember, the tank is only a few weeks old. Probably not even cycled yet.

jimsplace · 12/22/2010, 06:25 AM

Tank looks great, nice rock work and the color looks good. Take it slow on adding livestock and you will have a great tank you can be proud of in a few months.

b0bab0ey · 12/22/2010, 03:49 PM

Thank you!

12/14/2010, 10:56 AM	#1
b0bab0ey Moved On Join Date: Dec 2010 Posts: 2,564	VHO bulbs First off, I know I should be going the T-5 way but if I spend $$$ on anything other than bulbs right now, my wife will kill me. That being said, I'm in the process of setting up a 58g (36") and it's almost time to turn on some lights. I have an Icecap 660 ballast that I'm going to reuse (see wife comment above). Now, back in the day I would run one white, one blue and two 50/50s. Does this seem like a good combination to you all? I'm not looking to do anything fancy... mostly just softies and LPS. Any advice would be greatly appreciated! Also, where is a good online place to order T-12s?

12/14/2010, 11:53 AM	#2
luisgo Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Puerto Rico Posts: 628	Now I use two VHO's and two MH but if you are using only VHO's I think that the best combination is two actinic whites, one super actinic and one 454. All from UVL. I purchase my VHO's at Aquacave. __________________ Tank of the Month Reefkeeping Magazine 11/2008 Current Tank Info: Reef 125 gal, Aquapod 12gal, 55 planted

12/14/2010, 01:57 PM	#3
droberts Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: stow ohio Posts: 1,277	i have a 125 with all vho lighting and i run two actinic whites and one super actinic and one 454 and mine are all from uvl. i order mine from a store here in Ohio and they will ship them to me when i dont want to drive the hour to pick them up and i'm sure they would ship to you also. the store is Salty Critter and there located in Vermilion Ohio. And i can grow sps,lps and zoanthids i dont think i can grow the high light demanding acros so i havent tryed __________________ only one who attempts the absurd can achieve the impossible Current Tank Info: Quart mason jar

12/14/2010, 06:26 PM	#8
maddmaxx Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Jersey Shore Posts: 3,003	also not to hijack, but sandman you use only VHO and have coral thriving like that???? __________________ One Life One Shot Current Tank Info: 40B Mixed reef

12/14/2010, 07:58 PM	#11
maddmaxx Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Jersey Shore Posts: 3,003	no you dont need a reflector, and i wudnt dim them. really no need, you want the actinic to make the corals pop... __________________ One Life One Shot Current Tank Info: 40B Mixed reef

12/14/2010, 04:56 PM	#4
sandman111 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: toledo, ohio Posts: 72	I'm running a 125 with 4 actinic whites one super actinic and one 454...454's are awsome for actinic!

12/14/2010, 04:57 PM	#5
sandman111 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: toledo, ohio Posts: 72	i believe you can run t5's off the 660 just by changing end caps?

12/14/2010, 06:10 PM	#6
b0bab0ey Moved On Join Date: Dec 2010 Posts: 2,564	Thanks for the feedback, everyone! Sandman, awesome tank! It sounds like two actinic whites, one super actinic and one 454 is the way to go. People I've talked to have told me that my Icecap 660 ballast will "overdrive" T-5s, thus shortening the lifespan of the bulbs.

12/14/2010, 06:14 PM	#7
sasharotty Moved on to my couch Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: se michigan Posts: 1,065	Dang sandman 7 tangs in a 125!! Looks good though!!

12/14/2010, 07:50 PM	#9
b0bab0ey Moved On Join Date: Dec 2010 Posts: 2,564	A few more questions... Do I really need a reflector? (UVL bulbs have internal reflectors, right?) Also, my Icecap 660 ballast has that 4pin connector dimmer switch on one side of it? Anyone know where I can get the dimmer switch? I've heard people say it shortens the lifespan of the bulbs? True/false?

12/14/2010, 07:58 PM	#10
JTR0510 Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: Houston, TX Posts: 67	the 660s will over drive the t5s and will shorten the life of the bulbs very quick. i would go with the others on 2 whites one super actnic and a 454. and usually the vho will have an internal reflector

12/20/2010, 04:13 PM	#12
b0bab0ey Moved On Join Date: Dec 2010 Posts: 2,564	So, I ended up going with the 2 actinic whites, 1 super actinic & 1 454 that everyone suggested. Got them at hellolights.com Anyway, I was gonna stagger my lights (front to back) like this: actinic white, 454, actinic white, super actinic. What do ya'll think about that? Also, should I start out just running my lights, say, 6 hours per day and work up from there? To avoid an ugly algae bloom. Tia

12/21/2010, 06:37 AM	#14
jimsplace Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Houston, Tx Posts: 633	I have a 90 all VHO with the same bulb selection. I run my whites front and back with the 03 2nd from the back and the 454 2nd from the front. __________________ Jim Current Tank Information; - 90 Gallon DT / 30 Gallon Sump - SPS Dominate - IC VHO Lighting

12/21/2010, 12:12 PM	#15
b0bab0ey Moved On Join Date: Dec 2010 Posts: 2,564	Thanks, I'll try that!

12/22/2010, 06:25 AM	#17
jimsplace Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Houston, Tx Posts: 633	Tank looks great, nice rock work and the color looks good. Take it slow on adding livestock and you will have a great tank you can be proud of in a few months. __________________ Jim Current Tank Information; - 90 Gallon DT / 30 Gallon Sump - SPS Dominate - IC VHO Lighting

12/22/2010, 03:49 PM	#18
b0bab0ey Moved On Join Date: Dec 2010 Posts: 2,564	Thank you!

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