VHO or PC??

Pinksteel · 06/27/2006, 09:04 PM

I am currently using 2 x 40w 10,000k and 2 x 40w actinic, all regular fluorescent. I want to supplement the lighting with something more powerful, but not too hot. I don't want halides and am trying to decide between adding VHO or PC. I have a regular 90gal tank and would like good penetration of the light all the way to the bottom of the tank, I was told at my LFS that t5 wont penetrate as deep into the water, despite putting out alot of intensity.

Can anyone provide some insight based on your experience with either type, or both.

Thanks so much,
Kyle

xtrstangx · 06/27/2006, 09:11 PM

VHO is good.. I don't know what your LFS is talking about, but I would consider T5's too if you use individual reflectors. VHO don't need reflectors.

Mekong · 06/27/2006, 09:12 PM

T5s will punch the deepest out of any florescent. Thats what I would suggest a Sunlight Supply fixture or IceCap

hahnmeister · 06/27/2006, 09:13 PM

PC= bleeckh
VHO= blah blah

T5s all the way!!!

raddogz · 06/27/2006, 09:26 PM

T-5's would be my choice.

kroe · 06/27/2006, 09:46 PM

Your LFS is full of crap. I have held a par meter under my overdriven (IC 660, SLR reflectors) T5 setup and it looses less per inch of water percentage wise than my friend's OceanLight 250 hqi pendants. Granted the HQIs had higher par at the top, but by 2/3rds of the way down the tank they caught up, and at the bottom the T5s were higher.

I posted some numbers a while back of my T5s vs my PCs inch by inch... search for PAR numbers, it's not even close.

shawnz28 · 06/27/2006, 10:17 PM

If just for actinic supplement I would say VHO. But since you want to add more light or brightness definately T5 with individual reflectors. And if you want even more run them on a IceCap and overdrive them

powdertang05 · 06/28/2006, 05:16 AM

i like my VHO's i hate the individual reflector stuff but T5's are better though but i love my MH with the VHO's so if maybe different then what your doing.

Pinksteel · 06/28/2006, 06:20 AM

cool, thanks for the help so far.

Can T5s run on the same ballast as regular fluorescent, or do they need a higher wattage?

shawnz28 · 06/28/2006, 07:04 AM

They are higher wattage than the reg fluorescent but can be ran on the same one as VHO

moebetter · 06/28/2006, 09:19 AM

t-5s will go to the bottom of the tank-your lfs is nuts-it sounds like in your case you may want to consider the room factor-t-5s will take up less room if you putting them on some type of canopy-as vho need more-plus t-5s last longer bulb wise

wds21921 · 06/29/2006, 11:26 PM

90 gal reef running 4-110 watt VHO T-12's and loving it. I switched FROM PC's and have no reason to go back to them. Less heat and more effective watts for the dollar.

R33f3r · 06/30/2006, 05:13 AM

T5's without a doubt. VHO's are second and PC's, are junk imo.

Pinksteel · 06/30/2006, 07:05 AM

Thanks again for the help.

I went ahead and ordered a 48" 2 x 54w T5 retrofit fixture to add to my existing lighting. Once I decide how much I like it I'm considering removing 2 NO fluorescents and adding 2 more T5 bulbs with the same type of fixture that I just ordered.

Thanks again

06/27/2006, 09:04 PM	#1
Pinksteel Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Sudbury, ON Posts: 75	VHO or PC?? I am currently using 2 x 40w 10,000k and 2 x 40w actinic, all regular fluorescent. I want to supplement the lighting with something more powerful, but not too hot. I don't want halides and am trying to decide between adding VHO or PC. I have a regular 90gal tank and would like good penetration of the light all the way to the bottom of the tank, I was told at my LFS that t5 wont penetrate as deep into the water, despite putting out alot of intensity. Can anyone provide some insight based on your experience with either type, or both. Thanks so much, Kyle

06/27/2006, 09:12 PM	#3
Mekong Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: AL Posts: 1,539	T5s will punch the deepest out of any florescent. Thats what I would suggest a Sunlight Supply fixture or IceCap __________________ _________________________ Current Tank Info: 90g Reef from 2004-2013.

06/27/2006, 09:26 PM	#5
raddogz Premium Member Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Bay Area Posts: 3,167	T-5's would be my choice. __________________ Eileen If at first you don't succeed, failure may be your style. - Quentin Crisp Current Tank Info: 180g Reef

06/27/2006, 10:17 PM	#7
shawnz28 Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2001 Location: Amherst Ohio Posts: 3,277	If just for actinic supplement I would say VHO. But since you want to add more light or brightness definately T5 with individual reflectors. And if you want even more run them on a IceCap and overdrive them __________________ Shawn Current Tank Info: 93g cube

06/28/2006, 07:04 AM	#10
shawnz28 Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2001 Location: Amherst Ohio Posts: 3,277	They are higher wattage than the reg fluorescent but can be ran on the same one as VHO __________________ Shawn Current Tank Info: 93g cube

06/27/2006, 09:11 PM	#2
xtrstangx Premium Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Shawnee, Kansas Posts: 4,568	VHO is good.. I don't know what your LFS is talking about, but I would consider T5's too if you use individual reflectors. VHO don't need reflectors.

06/27/2006, 09:13 PM	#4
hahnmeister Moved On Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Brew City, WI Posts: 10,156	PC= bleeckh VHO= blah blah T5s all the way!!!

06/27/2006, 09:46 PM	#6
kroe Premium Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Wallingford, CT Posts: 1,211	Your LFS is full of crap. I have held a par meter under my overdriven (IC 660, SLR reflectors) T5 setup and it looses less per inch of water percentage wise than my friend's OceanLight 250 hqi pendants. Granted the HQIs had higher par at the top, but by 2/3rds of the way down the tank they caught up, and at the bottom the T5s were higher. I posted some numbers a while back of my T5s vs my PCs inch by inch... search for PAR numbers, it's not even close.

06/28/2006, 05:16 AM	#8
powdertang05 Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Hayward, CA Posts: 613	i like my VHO's i hate the individual reflector stuff but T5's are better though but i love my MH with the VHO's so if maybe different then what your doing.

06/28/2006, 06:20 AM	#9
Pinksteel Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Sudbury, ON Posts: 75	cool, thanks for the help so far. Can T5s run on the same ballast as regular fluorescent, or do they need a higher wattage?

06/28/2006, 09:19 AM	#11
moebetter Registered Member Join Date: May 2006 Location: costa mesa Posts: 61	t-5s will go to the bottom of the tank-your lfs is nuts-it sounds like in your case you may want to consider the room factor-t-5s will take up less room if you putting them on some type of canopy-as vho need more-plus t-5s last longer bulb wise

06/29/2006, 11:26 PM	#12
wds21921 Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Elkton, MD Posts: 1,442	90 gal reef running 4-110 watt VHO T-12's and loving it. I switched FROM PC's and have no reason to go back to them. Less heat and more effective watts for the dollar.

06/30/2006, 05:13 AM	#13
R33f3r Anemones Anonymous Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: 29.763N:95.363W Posts: 3,114	T5's without a doubt. VHO's are second and PC's, are junk imo. __________________ Member of the starboard cult.

06/30/2006, 07:05 AM	#14
Pinksteel Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Sudbury, ON Posts: 75	Thanks again for the help. I went ahead and ordered a 48" 2 x 54w T5 retrofit fixture to add to my existing lighting. Once I decide how much I like it I'm considering removing 2 NO fluorescents and adding 2 more T5 bulbs with the same type of fixture that I just ordered. Thanks again