VHO bulb poll

King Nine · 04/22/2007, 10:18 PM

I'm switching from CFs for VHOs and was wandering what you used. Here is a poll on which brand. Feel free to post comments on why you switched from one to the other...

Kaos · 04/22/2007, 10:46 PM

I have only used URI, but I can't imagine a better color. I used the Actinic Whites combined w/ the Super Actinics. The color is a nice white w/ a good flouress (sp).

King Nine · 04/22/2007, 11:16 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Kaos
I have only used URI, but I can't imagine a better color. I used the Actinic Whites combined w/ the Super Actinics. The color is a nice white w/ a good flouress (sp).

I'm leaning towards the URI right now. I will only be able to do two bulbs on my 48" 75g tank. When I tried doing half actinic and half 50/50 with the CFs the tank looked unbalanced. So I'm leaning towards all actinic because I really want the tank to flouress.

gh0st · 04/22/2007, 11:43 PM

Yup, URI bulbs with the internal reflectors are awesome.

I like the look of two Actinics for each 50/50.

Seems to help get rid of the dreaded VHO Pinkness that some complain about.

But a good ballast can make alot of difference as well.

Kaos · 04/23/2007, 06:46 AM

I think the VHO pinkness is the URI AquaSuns. If you use the Actinic Whites along w/ the Super Actinics you will get a white color w/ good floressing. On my 55gal. I had 2 Super Actinics and 2 Actinic Whites on a URI A4+ ballast. I really liked the color.

King Nine: Why are you only using two bulbs on your 75gal.?

King Nine · 04/23/2007, 07:53 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Kaos
I think the VHO pinkness is the URI AquaSuns. If you use the Actinic Whites along w/ the Super Actinics you will get a white color w/ good floressing. On my 55gal. I had 2 Super Actinics and 2 Actinic Whites on a URI A4+ ballast. I really liked the color.

King Nine: Why are you only using two bulbs on your 75gal.?

I also have 2 250w DE Phoenix MHs and only have room for two VHO bulbs. Knowing that, would you suggest going all actinic if you were me?

Kaos · 04/23/2007, 07:59 AM

Yes, definitely go w/ two Super Actinics. That would make for an awsome color (depending on the type of MH bulb).

King Nine · 04/23/2007, 08:02 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Kaos
Yes, definitely go w/ two Super Actinics. That would make for an awsome color (depending on the type of MH bulb).

Oops, I forgot to say the Phoenix were 14k's. Simply beautiful color from those guys. My CF actinics are blue but don't seem to make things flouress. I see more flouressing from my blue LED moon lights.

King Nine · 04/23/2007, 11:24 AM

shameless bumb for more results

Doug · 04/23/2007, 12:19 PM

I have used URI's and Coralife bulbs and the URI's always looked much better. I liked using a 50/50 and an Actinic with my MH in the past because I would only run the MH for 8 hours and the VHO's for 12-14 hours. Running two Actinics alone was too blue for me and the combo of both the 50/50 and Actinics made the tank look good while the MH were off.

CSS Reef · 04/23/2007, 12:29 PM

I have 2 X 250 W Phoenix 14K and recently added only 1 X 110 W URI VHO SA. With only one bulb it only slightly alters the color, almost unnoticable. Maybe you will get a better effect with 2 VHO bulbs. No "pinkness" from the VHO whatsoever.

King Nine · 04/23/2007, 12:46 PM

Doug, How many bulbs do you run? When I tried the run 50/50's and Actinics in my set up it made too much of a shadow effect. I'll have one bulb towards the front and one towards the back with the MHs in the middle.

CSS, Glad to hear it. I'm on the fence with the 50/50 thing and I'm not sure I would get my stuff to flouress the way I would like with a 50/50. So.... I pulled the trigger today and got a ballast and URI 46.5" SA from Hellolights. The bulbs were actually $3 cheaper when buying the ballast.

CSS Reef · 04/23/2007, 02:56 PM

great .........good luck!

aninjaatemyshoe · 04/23/2007, 03:00 PM

From all that I've read about VHO's, the URI's on an Icecap ballast (or URI ballast) is the pinnacle of VHO performance.

want2reef · 04/23/2007, 03:09 PM

King

Keep us updated. I was planning on adding two actinics off of a Icecap 660 ballast.

rockindacheeks · 04/23/2007, 03:10 PM

I like URI actinics and Coralife 10ks

King Nine · 04/23/2007, 03:58 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by want2reef
King

Keep us updated. I was planning on adding two actinics off of a Icecap 660 ballast.

I went with the ARO ballast that is only $35 and will run 220w. Quite a few people have had success with them that I've talked with. I'll post before and after tank shots with 'em. It will probably be the end of the week before the stuff comes in though.

Doug · 04/23/2007, 04:50 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by King Nine
Doug, How many bulbs do you run? When I tried the run 50/50's and Actinics in my set up it made too much of a shadow effect. I'll have one bulb towards the front and one towards the back with the MHs in the middle.

I ran one of each. I think I had the actinic in the back and the 50/50 in the front with my MH in the middle.

hilde123 · 04/23/2007, 07:46 PM

I run a 20K MH with 2-50/50 and 2-Actinic URI and like the look gives a slight blue tint that I like.

King Nine · 04/23/2007, 09:16 PM

Well since I've ordered them I'll just wait and see what they look like. If it turns out too blue I'll try a 50/50 bulb or switch the 14k to my backup 10k MH. I like the color of my tank now with the 14k and the actinic CFs. My problem is that the CF actinics don't flouress near enough.

View Poll Results: Which VHO bulb do you use?
URI	27	93.10%
Coralife	1	3.45%
Powerchrome	1	3.45%
Other	0	0%
Voters: 29. You may not vote on this poll

04/22/2007, 10:18 PM	#1
King Nine Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Beaumont, TX Posts: 634	VHO bulb poll I'm switching from CFs for VHOs and was wandering what you used. Here is a poll on which brand. Feel free to post comments on why you switched from one to the other... __________________ "That's a negative Ghost Rider, the pattern is full." Current Tank Info: 125 Reef. Photon LED Lighting

04/22/2007, 10:46 PM	#2
Kaos "Lurker" Join Date: Jul 2002 Posts: 2,131	I have only used URI, but I can't imagine a better color. I used the Actinic Whites combined w/ the Super Actinics. The color is a nice white w/ a good flouress (sp). __________________ Ordinary people are the ones scared to be themselves.

04/22/2007, 11:43 PM	#4
gh0st Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2004 Posts: 956	Yup, URI bulbs with the internal reflectors are awesome. I like the look of two Actinics for each 50/50. Seems to help get rid of the dreaded VHO Pinkness that some complain about. But a good ballast can make alot of difference as well. __________________ I REFUSE to buy Named/LE/High End Corals for insane prices. I REFUSE to pay Per Polyp for micro "Frags." Further more, I REFUSE to sell in any similar fashion. This is a hobby, not the Stock Market. If you feel the same, change you're signature to something similar and spread the word! Long Live the Reef Revolution!

04/23/2007, 06:46 AM	#5
Kaos "Lurker" Join Date: Jul 2002 Posts: 2,131	I think the VHO pinkness is the URI AquaSuns. If you use the Actinic Whites along w/ the Super Actinics you will get a white color w/ good floressing. On my 55gal. I had 2 Super Actinics and 2 Actinic Whites on a URI A4+ ballast. I really liked the color. King Nine: Why are you only using two bulbs on your 75gal.? __________________ Ordinary people are the ones scared to be themselves.

04/23/2007, 07:59 AM	#7
Kaos "Lurker" Join Date: Jul 2002 Posts: 2,131	Yes, definitely go w/ two Super Actinics. That would make for an awsome color (depending on the type of MH bulb). __________________ Ordinary people are the ones scared to be themselves.

04/23/2007, 11:24 AM	#9
King Nine Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Beaumont, TX Posts: 634	shameless bumb for more results __________________ "That's a negative Ghost Rider, the pattern is full." Current Tank Info: 125 Reef. Photon LED Lighting

04/23/2007, 12:19 PM	#10
Doug Reefkeeping Ninja Join Date: Oct 1999 Location: USA Posts: 12,868	I have used URI's and Coralife bulbs and the URI's always looked much better. I liked using a 50/50 and an Actinic with my MH in the past because I would only run the MH for 8 hours and the VHO's for 12-14 hours. Running two Actinics alone was too blue for me and the combo of both the 50/50 and Actinics made the tank look good while the MH were off. __________________ Doug Current Tank Info: 90g, and 75g swamp/prop tank.

04/23/2007, 12:29 PM	#11
CSS Reef Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2001 Location: San Diego Posts: 595	I have 2 X 250 W Phoenix 14K and recently added only 1 X 110 W URI VHO SA. With only one bulb it only slightly alters the color, almost unnoticable. Maybe you will get a better effect with 2 VHO bulbs. No "pinkness" from the VHO whatsoever.

04/23/2007, 12:46 PM	#12
King Nine Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Beaumont, TX Posts: 634	Doug, How many bulbs do you run? When I tried the run 50/50's and Actinics in my set up it made too much of a shadow effect. I'll have one bulb towards the front and one towards the back with the MHs in the middle. CSS, Glad to hear it. I'm on the fence with the 50/50 thing and I'm not sure I would get my stuff to flouress the way I would like with a 50/50. So.... I pulled the trigger today and got a ballast and URI 46.5" SA from Hellolights. The bulbs were actually $3 cheaper when buying the ballast. __________________ "That's a negative Ghost Rider, the pattern is full." Current Tank Info: 125 Reef. Photon LED Lighting

04/23/2007, 02:56 PM	#13
CSS Reef Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2001 Location: San Diego Posts: 595	great .........good luck!

04/23/2007, 03:00 PM	#14
aninjaatemyshoe Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Dallas, Texas Posts: 2,333	From all that I've read about VHO's, the URI's on an Icecap ballast (or URI ballast) is the pinnacle of VHO performance. __________________ You are not brought upon this world to "get it"

04/23/2007, 03:09 PM	#15
want2reef Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Tracy CA. Posts: 1,353	King Keep us updated. I was planning on adding two actinics off of a Icecap 660 ballast. __________________ Kevin The early bird may get the worm, but the second mouse gets the cheese. Current Tank Info: CADlights Artison II 165g, 50g sump,Aquamaxx Q-3 Skimmer, AI Hydra 26 HD.

04/23/2007, 03:10 PM	#16
rockindacheeks Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Corona, California Posts: 2,072	I like URI actinics and Coralife 10ks __________________ My name is Dan, and I'm a closet reefer... Current Tank Info: 28g nanocube

04/23/2007, 07:46 PM	#19
hilde123 Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Orlando, Florida Posts: 625	I run a 20K MH with 2-50/50 and 2-Actinic URI and like the look gives a slight blue tint that I like.

04/23/2007, 09:16 PM	#20
King Nine Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Beaumont, TX Posts: 634	Well since I've ordered them I'll just wait and see what they look like. If it turns out too blue I'll try a 50/50 bulb or switch the 14k to my backup 10k MH. I like the color of my tank now with the 14k and the actinic CFs. My problem is that the CF actinics don't flouress near enough. __________________ "That's a negative Ghost Rider, the pattern is full." Current Tank Info: 125 Reef. Photon LED Lighting