T5 HO or T12 VHO?

hollywood300m · 04/27/2006, 10:31 AM

I am in the process of designing a new lighting system for my 46 gallon reef. I have only softies, so medium light will suffice.

I want to stick with fluoresents for the wide range of spectrums available and heat output, so...

Should I build a hood with:

Five - 39watt T5 HO bulbs

-or-

Three 95watt T12 VHO bulbs

I don't know much about the new generation T5 HO's

I'm worried about intensity

any feedback?

bigfruits · 04/27/2006, 11:24 AM

is this a 46 bowfront?
i have one of those and i currently have 2 vhos over it. im either going to add 2 t5's or 2 more vho's. id like to keep the 2 vhos i have for the uri super actinic. although uri is about to release a t5 actinic so i might end up going 4 x t5's.

5 t5's with individual reflectors (tek,aqualux,icecap) might be too much for mushrooms at that depth. i have no experience but this is what i have read. hopefully someone with more experience will chime in. good luck.

The Grim Reefer · 04/27/2006, 11:42 AM

4 T5's or you could run 3 T5's and a VHO actinic.

hollywood300m · 04/28/2006, 03:08 PM

yes, the 46 gal is an oceanic bow front, which is a pain to light due to the shape. Makes me miss my old 55's ease of use.

I think I am going to get an IC660 ballast first and go from there, at least it gives me flexibility.

I have on 2X96 PC's (actinic/10K) and a NO fluoresent Actinic White now, and my tank seems to be doing fine as far as coralline growth and mushroom prop, but my cabbage leather isn't fully open and darkened, so a change of lighting is needed.

dwdenny · 04/28/2006, 04:04 PM

Kind of in the same boat as you. mine is a 40g breeder I want T5 due to the lamp life but the color of VHO actinic. I am thinking of running 2X39w T5 aquablue on IC 430 ballast and 2X75w superactinic on VHO ballast. I like mostly LPS and zoas. I wnat things to color up nice and I think this setup would work as well. might not need to run the T5 on IC but that is what I am trying to figure out.

The Grim Reefer · 04/28/2006, 05:38 PM

If you are going to drop the coin for an IC ballast might as well just get the 660 and run the T5's and VHO together on it.

dwdenny · 04/28/2006, 08:21 PM

but if you want dusk/dawn then you cannot with just the 660. But that is what I am asking not meaning to hijack this thread. Would that work or just go with all T5's like 4X24w normally driven that is.

The Grim Reefer · 04/28/2006, 08:42 PM

4x24 will work for your purposes. Maybe the URI actinic T5 will live up to the hype.

R33f3r · 04/29/2006, 09:16 AM

Quote:

Maybe the URI actinic T5 will live up to the hype. [/B]

Let's hope

04/27/2006, 10:31 AM	#1
hollywood300m Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Northern NJ Posts: 37	T5 HO or T12 VHO? I am in the process of designing a new lighting system for my 46 gallon reef. I have only softies, so medium light will suffice. I want to stick with fluoresents for the wide range of spectrums available and heat output, so... Should I build a hood with: Five - 39watt T5 HO bulbs -or- Three 95watt T12 VHO bulbs I don't know much about the new generation T5 HO's I'm worried about intensity any feedback?

04/27/2006, 11:42 AM	#3
The Grim Reefer Ready for some NOBALL!!! Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Kingman Az Posts: 25,259	4 T5's or you could run 3 T5's and a VHO actinic. __________________ America, the way it outta be! Current Tank Info: 120 Starphire with Illudium Q-288 Photon Regurgitator DIY LED lighting

04/28/2006, 04:04 PM	#5
dwdenny Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Edinburg, Texas Posts: 1,369	Kind of in the same boat as you. mine is a 40g breeder I want T5 due to the lamp life but the color of VHO actinic. I am thinking of running 2X39w T5 aquablue on IC 430 ballast and 2X75w superactinic on VHO ballast. I like mostly LPS and zoas. I wnat things to color up nice and I think this setup would work as well. might not need to run the T5 on IC but that is what I am trying to figure out. __________________ "Attitude determine altitude" Visit MAAST.org just click the "Red House" Current Tank Info: 40g Breeder in the works

04/28/2006, 05:38 PM	#6
The Grim Reefer Ready for some NOBALL!!! Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Kingman Az Posts: 25,259	If you are going to drop the coin for an IC ballast might as well just get the 660 and run the T5's and VHO together on it. __________________ America, the way it outta be! Current Tank Info: 120 Starphire with Illudium Q-288 Photon Regurgitator DIY LED lighting

04/28/2006, 08:21 PM	#7
dwdenny Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Edinburg, Texas Posts: 1,369	but if you want dusk/dawn then you cannot with just the 660. But that is what I am asking not meaning to hijack this thread. Would that work or just go with all T5's like 4X24w normally driven that is. __________________ "Attitude determine altitude" Visit MAAST.org just click the "Red House" Current Tank Info: 40g Breeder in the works

04/27/2006, 11:24 AM	#2
bigfruits Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2002 Location: NOVA Posts: 406	is this a 46 bowfront? i have one of those and i currently have 2 vhos over it. im either going to add 2 t5's or 2 more vho's. id like to keep the 2 vhos i have for the uri super actinic. although uri is about to release a t5 actinic so i might end up going 4 x t5's. 5 t5's with individual reflectors (tek,aqualux,icecap) might be too much for mushrooms at that depth. i have no experience but this is what i have read. hopefully someone with more experience will chime in. good luck.

04/28/2006, 03:08 PM	#4
hollywood300m Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Northern NJ Posts: 37	yes, the 46 gal is an oceanic bow front, which is a pain to light due to the shape. Makes me miss my old 55's ease of use. I think I am going to get an IC660 ballast first and go from there, at least it gives me flexibility. I have on 2X96 PC's (actinic/10K) and a NO fluoresent Actinic White now, and my tank seems to be doing fine as far as coralline growth and mushroom prop, but my cabbage leather isn't fully open and darkened, so a change of lighting is needed.

04/28/2006, 08:42 PM	#8
The Grim Reefer Ready for some NOBALL!!! Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Kingman Az Posts: 25,259	4x24 will work for your purposes. Maybe the URI actinic T5 will live up to the hype. __________________ America, the way it outta be! Current Tank Info: 120 Starphire with Illudium Q-288 Photon Regurgitator DIY LED lighting