VHO Bulb Choices

mfp1016 · 04/30/2007, 03:36 PM

I was seeking out the expert advise out there as far as what color temperature bulbs to get for my lighting setup. I have three 48" 40 watt bulbs and two 48" VHO bulbs for a total of 340 watts. What combination of bulbs should I use for my tank? I plan on having mainly soft corals (zoas, mushrooms, polyps) until I upgrade lighting. I was thinking of getting actinics for two of the NO lights, and then 10,000k for the rest of the bulbs? Let me know. Thanks in advance!

edwar050 · 04/30/2007, 03:49 PM

Thats probably about what I would do if I were not getting halides. VHO are okay but really nice for color. What about using the VHO ballasts with actinic and upgrading to T-5 or halide?

mfp1016 · 04/30/2007, 04:08 PM

For output the T5s don't seem to be worth the money, a 48" T5 bulb is only 54 watts. The same but VHO T12 is 110 watts and both are pretty much the same for price. Granted I could fit more T5s than VHO, but I don't really consider getting T5s a lighting upgrade since I would have to get more bulbs to get the same output.

Icefire · 04/30/2007, 05:09 PM

T5 give more light thn VHO, watts means nothing.
4x54w would be enought for sps with reflectors.

mfp1016 · 04/30/2007, 06:06 PM

4x54? For a 100 gal?

Icefire · 04/30/2007, 06:10 PM

100gal, 6 or 8x 54w.
4x54w would work for lps/softy

mfp1016 · 04/30/2007, 06:25 PM

If I'm going to buy new ballasts, etc. I'd rather buy MH, I have the VHO ballast, therefore its easier and less costly to buy some bulbs for it. MH will be my next upgrade.

israelnajar · 04/30/2007, 10:30 PM

I would probably use the URI bulbs since they have built in reflectors, 2 whites, and then 3 actinic NO bulbs. But hey that is just me.

How soon are you going to get halides?

Get 2 actinics VHOs and then 3 NO whites. That way when you get your halides you have actinic supplements to your 10000k. Or you can get 2 white VHOs and 3 actinic NOs and then you can get 20000k halides.

But I would base my decision on when I am getting my halide upgrade.

Icefire · 05/01/2007, 01:33 AM

What ballast you got? some can run t5ho.
A workhorse7 is only 37$ also

04/30/2007, 03:36 PM	#1
mfp1016 Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Huntington Beach, CA Posts: 245	VHO Bulb Choices I was seeking out the expert advise out there as far as what color temperature bulbs to get for my lighting setup. I have three 48" 40 watt bulbs and two 48" VHO bulbs for a total of 340 watts. What combination of bulbs should I use for my tank? I plan on having mainly soft corals (zoas, mushrooms, polyps) until I upgrade lighting. I was thinking of getting actinics for two of the NO lights, and then 10,000k for the rest of the bulbs? Let me know. Thanks in advance!

04/30/2007, 03:49 PM	#2
edwar050 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Orange County Posts: 834	Thats probably about what I would do if I were not getting halides. VHO are okay but really nice for color. What about using the VHO ballasts with actinic and upgrading to T-5 or halide? __________________ Brad

04/30/2007, 05:09 PM	#4
Icefire Seasoned reefer Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: In Quebec, Canada Posts: 3,653	T5 give more light thn VHO, watts means nothing. 4x54w would be enought for sps with reflectors. __________________ Temp 80F, PH 8.5-8.0, Alk 6.8-7.2, Ca 430, Mg 1700, NO3 0-0.25, PO4 0.04, 34.4 PPT Lights @ 100% all others, 35% White Current Tank Info: 60g Cube, 120lbs live rocks, Hydra52 2x120W, 2 MP40+ 1 MP10 @ 70%, Phosban 550 GFO+Carbon, 200W Heater, SWC Skimmer, Kalk ATO, 150 gpd RODI

04/30/2007, 06:10 PM	#6
Icefire Seasoned reefer Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: In Quebec, Canada Posts: 3,653	100gal, 6 or 8x 54w. 4x54w would work for lps/softy __________________ Temp 80F, PH 8.5-8.0, Alk 6.8-7.2, Ca 430, Mg 1700, NO3 0-0.25, PO4 0.04, 34.4 PPT Lights @ 100% all others, 35% White Current Tank Info: 60g Cube, 120lbs live rocks, Hydra52 2x120W, 2 MP40+ 1 MP10 @ 70%, Phosban 550 GFO+Carbon, 200W Heater, SWC Skimmer, Kalk ATO, 150 gpd RODI

04/30/2007, 10:30 PM	#8
israelnajar Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: 5000 Feet Posts: 1,007	I would probably use the URI bulbs since they have built in reflectors, 2 whites, and then 3 actinic NO bulbs. But hey that is just me. How soon are you going to get halides? Get 2 actinics VHOs and then 3 NO whites. That way when you get your halides you have actinic supplements to your 10000k. Or you can get 2 white VHOs and 3 actinic NOs and then you can get 20000k halides. But I would base my decision on when I am getting my halide upgrade. __________________ I would never do such a thing unless you would already have been going to do that!

04/30/2007, 04:08 PM	#3
mfp1016 Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Huntington Beach, CA Posts: 245	For output the T5s don't seem to be worth the money, a 48" T5 bulb is only 54 watts. The same but VHO T12 is 110 watts and both are pretty much the same for price. Granted I could fit more T5s than VHO, but I don't really consider getting T5s a lighting upgrade since I would have to get more bulbs to get the same output.

04/30/2007, 06:06 PM	#5
mfp1016 Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Huntington Beach, CA Posts: 245	4x54? For a 100 gal?

04/30/2007, 06:25 PM	#7
mfp1016 Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Huntington Beach, CA Posts: 245	If I'm going to buy new ballasts, etc. I'd rather buy MH, I have the VHO ballast, therefore its easier and less costly to buy some bulbs for it. MH will be my next upgrade.

05/01/2007, 01:33 AM	#9
Icefire Seasoned reefer Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: In Quebec, Canada Posts: 3,653	What ballast you got? some can run t5ho. A workhorse7 is only 37$ also __________________ Temp 80F, PH 8.5-8.0, Alk 6.8-7.2, Ca 430, Mg 1700, NO3 0-0.25, PO4 0.04, 34.4 PPT Lights @ 100% all others, 35% White Current Tank Info: 60g Cube, 120lbs live rocks, Hydra52 2x120W, 2 MP40+ 1 MP10 @ 70%, Phosban 550 GFO+Carbon, 200W Heater, SWC Skimmer, Kalk ATO, 150 gpd RODI