Can I use VHO (rather than HO) T5 bulbs in an Outer Orbit fixture?

AquAsylum · 12/16/2007, 05:02 PM

The slipaq bulbs that came with the fixture are 54 watts, and I want to replace them with the URI VHO T-5 bulbs that are 54/85. Do VHO T-5s require a different ballast?

Thanks

Racing1 · 12/16/2007, 05:23 PM

As long as they are t-5 bulbs they should be fine......

KEstep · 12/16/2007, 08:01 PM

Yeah you should be fine. I run VHO bulbs on regular NO ballasts for my freshwater tanks. As long as you do not put a low wattage bulb in a high wattage fixture you should be ok.

bigfruits · 12/17/2007, 03:23 AM

why would you want to put vhos on that ballast? if im not mistaken, they will just run at regular wattage...

AquAsylum · 12/17/2007, 06:03 AM

I thought the point of VHOs was that you get better output at the same wattage- shouldn't they get overdriven?

Either way, I didn't see URI HO T5s, and I don't like the slimpaq bulbs.

bigfruits · 12/17/2007, 06:31 AM

im pretty sure the vho bulbs are meant to be overdriven by an icecap ballast and will not have the short lifespan of HO bulbs being overdriven. if you put them on a regular ballast they will be the same wattage as regular HO bulbs.
im 99% sure that im correct but you might want to post on the Grim Reefers thread just in case. If im wrong, i'll have to buy myself some of these magical bulbs.

AquAsylum · 12/17/2007, 12:19 PM

bigfruits, you're right (sorry, no magical bulbs)

ganjero · 12/17/2007, 12:39 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by AquAsylum
The slipaq bulbs that came with the fixture are 54 watts, and I want to replace them with the URI VHO T-5 bulbs that are 54/85. Do VHO T-5s require a different ballast?

Thanks

You are a little confused. There are VHO bulbs and there are T5 and T5HO bulbs, but there are not T5VHO.

If your endcaps are for VHOs you cant use t5's, and the same for the other way around.

FYI. T5 VHO is a concept made up by some retailers, and all it means is that the t5HO bulbs are overdriven, most of the time by an icecap ballast.

oct2274 · 12/17/2007, 01:19 PM

They are not VHO bulbs. UV just calls them VHO T5 because they are made to tolerate being overdriven on icecap ballasts and when 48" T5HO bulbs are run on icecaps they run at 85 watts vs 54. They run at 54 watts on regular ballasts just like every other t5HO bulb out there.

KEstep · 12/17/2007, 08:48 PM

I use the VHO t12 bulbs in a regular NO ballast because the bulbs last much longer and give great color over freshwater tanks.

A.T.T.R · 12/17/2007, 09:08 PM

variable high out put i think uri ( uvl) calls them

the bulbs WONT be over driven but they will light fine

fwiw i put current t5 (no) on a ballast then a current t5 HO on the same ballast and lux remained the same

also
you can run 250w MH on a 175 w ballast

12/16/2007, 05:02 PM	#1
AquAsylum Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Sarasota, Florida Posts: 414	Can I use VHO (rather than HO) T5 bulbs in an Outer Orbit fixture? The slipaq bulbs that came with the fixture are 54 watts, and I want to replace them with the URI VHO T-5 bulbs that are 54/85. Do VHO T-5s require a different ballast? Thanks __________________ Laura Current Tank Info: 250 gallon cichlid tank, 180 gallon mixed reef

12/16/2007, 08:01 PM	#3
KEstep Premium Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Amarillo, TX Posts: 550	Yeah you should be fine. I run VHO bulbs on regular NO ballasts for my freshwater tanks. As long as you do not put a low wattage bulb in a high wattage fixture you should be ok. __________________ A bartender is just a pharmacist with limited inventory. If you drink don't park, accidents cause people. If only closed minds came with closed mouths. Have a great day. Kris Current Tank Info: 150g. DAS Oak Aquarium, 3 250w. Reeflux 10k on Coralvue Dimmable E-ballasts, 150lbs. Live Rock, DAS EX-2 Skimmer, Remote Deep Sand Bucket, Reefkeeper 2, 10 gallon fuge, 2 Vortechs, Coralvue Dual Chamber Calcium Reactor, Coralvue Kalkwasser Reactor.

12/17/2007, 06:03 AM	#5
AquAsylum Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Sarasota, Florida Posts: 414	I thought the point of VHOs was that you get better output at the same wattage- shouldn't they get overdriven? Either way, I didn't see URI HO T5s, and I don't like the slimpaq bulbs. __________________ Laura Current Tank Info: 250 gallon cichlid tank, 180 gallon mixed reef

12/17/2007, 12:19 PM	#7
AquAsylum Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Sarasota, Florida Posts: 414	bigfruits, you're right (sorry, no magical bulbs) __________________ Laura Current Tank Info: 250 gallon cichlid tank, 180 gallon mixed reef

12/17/2007, 08:48 PM	#10
KEstep Premium Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Amarillo, TX Posts: 550	I use the VHO t12 bulbs in a regular NO ballast because the bulbs last much longer and give great color over freshwater tanks. __________________ A bartender is just a pharmacist with limited inventory. If you drink don't park, accidents cause people. If only closed minds came with closed mouths. Have a great day. Kris Current Tank Info: 150g. DAS Oak Aquarium, 3 250w. Reeflux 10k on Coralvue Dimmable E-ballasts, 150lbs. Live Rock, DAS EX-2 Skimmer, Remote Deep Sand Bucket, Reefkeeper 2, 10 gallon fuge, 2 Vortechs, Coralvue Dual Chamber Calcium Reactor, Coralvue Kalkwasser Reactor.

12/16/2007, 05:23 PM	#2
Racing1 Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Maine Posts: 740	As long as they are t-5 bulbs they should be fine......

12/17/2007, 03:23 AM	#4
bigfruits Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2002 Location: NOVA Posts: 406	why would you want to put vhos on that ballast? if im not mistaken, they will just run at regular wattage...

12/17/2007, 06:31 AM	#6
bigfruits Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2002 Location: NOVA Posts: 406	im pretty sure the vho bulbs are meant to be overdriven by an icecap ballast and will not have the short lifespan of HO bulbs being overdriven. if you put them on a regular ballast they will be the same wattage as regular HO bulbs. im 99% sure that im correct but you might want to post on the Grim Reefers thread just in case. If im wrong, i'll have to buy myself some of these magical bulbs.

12/17/2007, 01:19 PM	#9
oct2274 Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Plano, TX Posts: 2,347	They are not VHO bulbs. UV just calls them VHO T5 because they are made to tolerate being overdriven on icecap ballasts and when 48" T5HO bulbs are run on icecaps they run at 85 watts vs 54. They run at 54 watts on regular ballasts just like every other t5HO bulb out there.

12/17/2007, 09:08 PM	#11
A.T.T.R Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: ft lauderdale Posts: 2,729	variable high out put i think uri ( uvl) calls them the bulbs WONT be over driven but they will light fine fwiw i put current t5 (no) on a ballast then a current t5 HO on the same ballast and lux remained the same also you can run 250w MH on a 175 w ballast __________________ Chris Addicted to the Reef- Current Tank Info: Starting a 20g