VHO supplementation... or 175 watt 20,000k XM? 20 gallon long

reefman23 · 09/17/2006, 11:30 PM

I am currently running a 150 watt 14,000k Phoenix on a Hamilton HQI ballast. I love the color, but I am looking for more fluoresence from my corals. I keep mostly zoas and LPS, and I have 2 croceas right in the center on the sand bed.

I have two options that I have been tossing around.

1. Keep the 150 watt Phoenix, modify the reflector and add a 75 watt PFO VHO super actinic.

OR

2. I have zero experience with the SE lamps, but I was checking out the spectral plots on Sanjay's site and noticed the 175 watt MX 20,000k lamps have almost TWICE the spike in the 450'ish nm range. marinedepot.com states, "It brings out the fluorescent pigments in corals nicely."

Does anyone have experience with the 175 watt 20,000k XM lamp?

How would the two setups compare with eachother?

Thanks for any help that you can offer.

Jesse

reefman23 · 09/18/2006, 09:53 AM

bump

saltycreefer · 09/18/2006, 10:00 AM

the uri vho actinic bulbs are great . i would recommend using supplemental vho. youll have better light coverage.

09/17/2006, 11:30 PM	#1
reefman23 Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Huntington Beach, Ca Posts: 740	VHO supplementation... or 175 watt 20,000k XM? 20 gallon long I am currently running a 150 watt 14,000k Phoenix on a Hamilton HQI ballast. I love the color, but I am looking for more fluoresence from my corals. I keep mostly zoas and LPS, and I have 2 croceas right in the center on the sand bed. I have two options that I have been tossing around. 1. Keep the 150 watt Phoenix, modify the reflector and add a 75 watt PFO VHO super actinic. OR 2. I have zero experience with the SE lamps, but I was checking out the spectral plots on Sanjay's site and noticed the 175 watt MX 20,000k lamps have almost TWICE the spike in the 450'ish nm range. marinedepot.com states, "It brings out the fluorescent pigments in corals nicely." Does anyone have experience with the 175 watt 20,000k XM lamp? How would the two setups compare with eachother? Thanks for any help that you can offer. Jesse

09/18/2006, 10:00 AM	#3
saltycreefer Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Fairfield,CT Posts: 1,696	the uri vho actinic bulbs are great . i would recommend using supplemental vho. youll have better light coverage. __________________ I love being a turtle!!! Current Tank Info: Got out of tanks for a little while.

09/18/2006, 09:53 AM	#2
reefman23 Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Huntington Beach, Ca Posts: 740	bump