VHO vs T5 Question, "Let's get ready to rumble"

[brewercm]

OK, I'm going to open this can of worms.

I keep reading all of this information about how great they are. BUT they are only this great if they are used with a really good and sometimes even a specific brand of reflector is mentioned. With this in mind, what would be the results if the same style of GREAT reflector was used on VHO's. So my question is would the VHO's blow the T5 bulbs away in an accurate test with all associated equipment for the tests being the same (at least as much as possible)?

Just a thought to put out and see if anyone has brought this up before or is aware of such test.

[don-n-sa]

This question would be better answered by the Grim Reefer on RC...here is a link to his Q&A thread on T-5's

http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=679852&perpage=25&pagen umber=5

[brewercm]

Cool, I'll have to take a look tonight when I get home tonight. The system nazis have it setup that you can't get to RC, the word forum exists in the URL.

[GeoB]

My understanding is that it is the thin design of the T5 bulb that allows for the highly efficient reflectors specially designed for them to be practical. An equally effiecient reflector could be designed for a VHO bulb, but it would have to be much larger than the T5 reflector, probably in direct proportion to the bulb diameter. So, if a T5 reflector is 3 inches across, and a VHO bulb is more than twice the diameter of the T5 bulb, an equally efficient VHO reflector would have to be at least 6 inches across, which takes up too much room above the tank.

[don-n-sa]

GeoB

excellent point...my thoughts exactly

[LoneStar]

Yeah I agree. Plus to throw out there, don't most VHO's come with a built in reflector in the bulb itself? One side being 'frosted' to reflect the light towards the other side.

[longhorn_20m]

Sorry to hijack to ask this, but anyone with experience with sunlight supply reflectors, how do you clean them? I have had my T5 setup since May and the other day pulled two reflectors to clean. I used damp towel, but it seems like this salt creep/crap has eaten into the reflector? Anyone have this experience?

[Richard]

We are using T-5's here at the store on a 180. If I had to do it over again I would go with vho's without a second thought.

Not saying t-5's won't work because they are working, but I think vho's beat them hands down.

[don-n-sa]

if you get the right bulbs and reflectors, T-5's can be better than not only than VHO's but halides as well. For growth and color that is.

[leaffish75]

that link to RC show some great bulb combos to get the best lighting. From what I have been reading with the right reflector and combo of bulbs you can get a much better PAR value than VHOs.

[GeoB]

Longhorn,

I've had the same problem with the salt eating into the reflectors, I don't know of any solution except to hang them higher above the water.

I've used T5s for about two years and they have worked fine for me. I haven't used anything else so I can't compare. I do know that the reflectors are essential, though.

[brewercm]

Plus to throw out there, don't most VHO's come with a built in reflector in the bulb itself?

I know that it's an option with some and maybe the only way URI's come (not sure on that). But regardless of the internal reflector you still would get more out of them with some sort of reflector on them. I know I can see a lot of light go out the back of my canopy from my VHO's.

I"m not trying to put down the T5 setups, from what I saw on Donny's tank they looked great. I am just curious if you had a similar style reflector would you get a similar boost in light output to the tank. I started thinking about all of this after all of the comments and reading about two things.

1. The apparent "requirement" to use a good reflector to get the proper performance out of the bulb.

2. The different threads about the increased PAR value and light spread of halides (both SE and DE bulbs) dependent on different reflectors/pendants.

[longhorn_20m]

What is the best reflector out there for T5's? I see SLS and Ice Cap are both contenders but which one is the best? What are the best bulbs for T5? ATI? I currently have 4x39 set with 2 of the GE daylight bulbs from reefgeek and two actinic from greg at reef360? I'm about to replace them soon and would like to know what I should go with.

[leaffish75]

the RC link posted above gets into what bulbs are the best and which order is the best for a 4 bulb setup, 6 bulb, and 8 bulb. From what was said the ATI GE are better.

[leaffish75]

from RC recomended set up:
4 bulb
Blue+
Aquablue
GE Sun
Blue+
and more quotes about bulbs:
aquablue special: this is an 11k bulb even though it is listed as blue it is more of a pure white bulb

Daylight or Sun bulb: there are 2 to choose from the ATI Sun bulb which is a 6k bulb and the GE daylight which is a 6500k bulb the GE is a cheaper bubl price wise and also provides more par than its ATI equivalant so it is more often recommended

blueplus: the blueplus is the alternative to an actinic bulb it combines the spectrum of an actinic as well as a pure blue to give your tank that nice glow and blue look to the water

Pure Actinic 03: not a very popular bulb as the true actinics do not provide the amount of blue that many people prefer (I have ture actinics after seeing the blueplus there is no comparison the actinics will be leaving asap)

[don-n-sa]

In my set up which is 16x54w bulbs

4 aquablues
8 blue pluses
2 ATI sun
2 GE daylights

These were all bought from reefgeek..expensive but well worth it IMO

I love the look of this combination...if there are better bulbs out their then I would love to see them.

here is my BTA under actinics only ( blue pluses )

[GeoB]

There is not a practical design for a VHO reflector that will give a boost in output similar to what the T5 reflectors do for T5 bulbs. From what I remember when I was reading up on this, the most practical method to reflect more light into the tank when using VHOs is to paint inside of the canopy bright white.

I don't know if VHO bulbs are available without internal reflectors either.

The Sunlight Supply reflectors I got from Reef Geek were highly recommended at the time I got mine a couple of years ago, or it might have been that they were the only ones available at that time.

[gjuarez]

Don, what type of reflectors are you using? Does anyone have any experience with the icecaps? WHat about the coralvues. I am asking because I am going all T5 on my near future sps setup.

[don-n-sa]

Don, what type of reflectors are you using? Does anyone have any experience with the icecaps?


I use the ice caps...the ones from reefgeek


http://www.reefgeek.com/product_images/icecap/t5_retrofit_b.jpg

[longhorn_20m]

So has anyone tested the output from the SLS and icecap reflectors and compared this data? I wonder which is the best, for some reason Ice Cap is priced higher, could that be it?

[Ram_Puppy]

ha.. don, I just bought the 4 bulb icecap retrofit kit from Reefgeek, the should be here early next week, sump should be done on the weekend, so I am looking at a move in time of next week, or early november for the fishies! YAY!