T5 vs VHO actinic

[hammondegge]

how do i compare the two for MH actinic supliments? are the T5s somehow brighter per watt? do 2- 36" T5(21watt) bulbs supply the same light as one 72" VHO (160watt)? or would i have to run 4-T5 for every VHO?

[gjuarez]

VHO all the way. I am very satisfied with mine. Its easier to get true actinic with VHO. Alot of t5 bulbs are 460nm.

[hammondegge]

i use VHO right now and am pleased. but i am building a new system and want to compare the two. i cant find any information comparing the brightness per watt.

[fishypets]

I agree with Jerry. If you look at the same coral under the same M.H. lighting but with T5 vs. VHO the VHO coral will always look much better.

[hammondegge]

2-0 VHO!

[gjuarez]

True actinic is very important, its responsible for coral pigmentation. Zooxanthellae love it. Cant go wrong with them URI superactinics.

[LoneStar]

I actually have both installed. First ran t-5, then added VHO. If I could go back to the beggining, I would have just added the VHO.

The color is BY FAR better with the VHO actinic. The t-5 just gives a blueish light that does not make the color pop out. Once I added the VHO Super Actinics, I was like "HOLY SAFE!!" The only reason I still have the t-5's in there are this: 1. I'm lazy. 2. It sorta gives a early morning feel before the halide turns on, and then gives a dusk feel before the moonlights turn on.

VHO all the way!!

[hammondegge]

well that was easy. thanks yall.

[don-n-sa]

Just to let you know, URI is coming out with a T-5 version of their ever popular super actinics, they have already been tested and are EXACTLY like the VHO's.

reefgeek.com is taking pre-orders now

[cpreefguy]

VHO is the way to go.

[GaryP]

OK, a couple of things. Supposedly the only real advantage to the T5 is that their reflectors are more effective then those available for VHO (T-12). VHO have a built in reflector in the bulb. There was a lot of hype associated with T5s when they first hit the market. A lot of that has not panned out the way it was first presented. However, both have their fans. There are 420 nm (true actinic) T5 bulbs available. You just have to look for them. I can't recall who makes them but I'm sure someone here does. As Richard said, URI is also coming out with one.

I have run VHO since I have had my first tank. When the T5 band wagon first started rolling I decided to sit back and wait it out to see what results everyone else found out about them. I'm glad I did. If you haven't noticed, I guess I am the official MAAST "old school" reefer. My idea of cutting edge, high tech gear is an electronic thermometer and the only reason I have one of those is my old eyes have a hard time reading the liquid filled ones. I think I have a solution for the reflector problem for my new tank. I had a 6 ft. long, one piece reflector fabricated for my 180 gal. Light from the VHOs as well as the MH should be caught by it and reflected where it will do the most good.

[LoneStar]

"old school" reefer


Gary's light timer is a sundial :lol

[GaryP]

Actually, I just hire a guy to sit there and turn the lights on and off. I tried the sun dial, but it doesn't work to good when I want the lights to go off after sunset.

For those of you that aren't familiar with the terminology:

420 nm = purple light = true actinic = super actinic

460 nm = blue light = actinic

[GaryP]

Anybody out there actually know the definition of the word actininic? Nope, me either, so I looked it up.

the property of radiant energy especially in the visible and ultraviolet spectral regions by which chemical changes are produced.

What we call actinic light isn't in the UV range (<400 nm) but its close enough that corals think it is, and they respond to it by producing pigments that protect them from UV, just like we produce a pigment called melanin when we get a sun tan. It just so happens that the pigments that coral often produce are what we most often seek in corals. That is... blues and purples.

Here is another factoid for you. The precancerous skin condition caused by exposure to the sun is called actinic keratosis.

[dwdenny]

UVL formerly URI has released their T5HO bulbs in all the traditional VHO flavors. Premiumaquatics.com has them listed as well. I have not seen them or heard anyone using them yet but ASH from IC says they are the exact same as the VHO colors. HTH

[TroyPham]

i'm running the D&D pure actinics on my tank. they are great. i'm gonna try the uri ones when they start selling them. if your running just supplement to MH... i would go all pure actinics. i'm running 4-54wtt and my zoo's had to be moved under the rock ledge. i only run my MH lights 5 hrs and the t5's 13hrs. and have no issue with color. from what everyone has said... the t5 had a better par at 3ft then vho's did and some said even better then 250wtt MH's... but i don't kno. i got the t5's cuz of the space. and the life of bulbs.. 15-18mths vs. 6-9mths on vho's.

if you run the pure actinic bulbs like the d&d you will get the POP that the vho's give. if anyone wants to see my lights your welcome to come by..

admissions is $1
haha

[alton]

The smaller the lamp the more efficient the lamp. First we had T12, T8, Compact Fluorescents (UBent T5HO's) and now T5 and T5HO. What we need is a T5 VHO?

[jc]

In my t5ho setup I have 2 actinic/blue+ bulbs, midday sun and aquablue. If I switch over the actinic/blues to the uri's will my tank get more of a blue shade? Right now its white, but I would like to get more color if I could.