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View Full Version : VHO Advice


uriah
Tue, 26th Jul 2011, 10:48 AM
I am setting up a 120 reef and thinking about going with all VHO. I have heard/ seen that coral color under VHO is very vivid and corals seem to set a wider base. Not too sure about growth rate, but from what I can gather it isnt really compromised. Thoughts/ comments...... Thanks!
Mr Cob
Tue, 26th Jul 2011, 10:53 AM
what type of corals?
uriah
Tue, 26th Jul 2011, 10:58 AM
I am going to do mainly SPS, but also a little LPS and some softies... I was leaning towards MH, but it seems like VHO might work. I have seem a really nice setup with VHO/MH combo, but that might be a little overkill for my tank. Check this out...SWEET!!!

http://www.thegreenmako.com/
uriah
Tue, 26th Jul 2011, 11:00 AM
http://www.thegreenmako.com/lighting.htm
ErikH
Tue, 26th Jul 2011, 11:05 AM
Todd uses VHOs, but he also uses T5s. Recently his fiji purples burnt out and he put some other ones in for the meantime. We can tell a huge difference without the fiji purple. I would try to squeeze in some T5s just for those bulbs. You can use T5 and VHO on the same ballasts.
cbianco
Tue, 26th Jul 2011, 11:17 AM
Todd uses VHOs, but he also uses T5s. Recently his fiji purples burnt out and he put some other ones in for the meantime. We can tell a huge difference without the fiji purple. I would try to squeeze in some T5s just for those bulbs. You can use T5 and VHO on the same ballasts.

Do you like it better with or without the Fiji? What did he replace the Fiji with?

Christopher :)
uriah
Tue, 26th Jul 2011, 11:21 AM
The tank I have is like 6 long and about 3' tall. (I would need to take exact measurements :) ), but my main concerns are relating to growth rate and color. I was thinking about doing an Icecap retrofit w 4 110w VHO (2 super atinic and 2 50/50). Or if I can find something like the fiji purple in a VHO then I would go with 2 super atinic, 1 50/50 and 1 fiji purple (or whatever I can find that is similar.)
Mr Cob
Tue, 26th Jul 2011, 12:51 PM
3' tall is way too deep in my opinion to house corals under VHO only that require intense lighting such as SPS and some LPS.

I like Erik's suggestion of throwing in some T5 bulbs into the mix.

I'd lean towards T5 only or MH on a 3' tank or I would stay away from corals demanding intense light and stick to softies.
kkiel02
Tue, 26th Jul 2011, 01:07 PM
I used to use vhos to supplement my mh. If I had to do it again I would just do t5 though. They have a bunch more bulbs to choose from and get colors right.
Mr Cob
Tue, 26th Jul 2011, 02:55 PM
I am setting up a 120 reef and thinking about going with all VHO.

I just want to clarify that you are considering using ALL VHO. Since some of the comments so far are refering to using VHO but those references are to using VHO as supplemental lighting.

I ran all VHO on a 120 tall tank before, 28" tall, and I could not keep SPS or clams.

I think VHO as supplemental lighting is fine but not as primary lighting unless it's soft coral only.

When I ran VHO I was also annoyed by how much space they took up...some pretty thick bulbs.
Mr Cob
Tue, 26th Jul 2011, 03:00 PM
FYI: you linked to Greenmako's tank, that's Brian our site admin and if you read you'll see he didn't run ALL VHO. He ran 4 x 400watt MH bulbs...that's intense light and then he supplemented with a bunch of VHO bulbs.

http://www.thegreenmako.com/lighting.htm
uriah
Tue, 26th Jul 2011, 04:27 PM
Yeah, I referenced his link because I previously made a comment about mh w vho supplement. I think I might go w 2 250w mh and some vho supplement... Might as well do it right...
FireWater
Tue, 26th Jul 2011, 04:30 PM
I am setting up a 120 reef and thinking about going with all VHO. I have heard/ seen that coral color under VHO is very vivid and corals seem to set a wider base. Not too sure about growth rate, but from what I can gather it isnt really compromised. Thoughts/ comments...... Thanks!

So are you planning on running metal halide? I read your post as vho only.

If it is for supplementation I would suggest running t-5. More of a bulb/color choice over vho.
uriah
Tue, 26th Jul 2011, 04:48 PM
As you may have noticed I am still making up my mind ;o) I started wanting to get info on vho only but from what I am gathering thats not the way to go.
ErikH
Tue, 26th Jul 2011, 07:38 PM
Do you like it better with or without the Fiji? What did he replace the Fiji with?

Christopher :)

Dude, the color with the fiji was insane. Some corals have changed in color. Keep in mind though he has Dual 400s on lumateks, 2x48" VHOs and 2x48" T5s. The growth since he won TOTM is just bananas. I notice growth alot and I see that tank every day. It's amazing! He's gotta replace the T5s and the halides are about due, so the color should come back nice and strong. I CANT WAIT! :D
ErikH
Tue, 26th Jul 2011, 07:40 PM
As you may have noticed I am still making up my mind ;o) I started wanting to get info on vho only but from what I am gathering thats not the way to go.

MH and VHO with T5 is nuts. You'll need a chiller.
CoryDude
Tue, 26th Jul 2011, 10:38 PM
I will use vho for supplemental lighting for as long as they continue to make the bulbs. In my 15+ years in the hobby, NOT ONE SINGLE ACTINIC BULB CAN COMPARE TO THE UVL VHO ACTINIC LIGHT. That being said, I will never go back to a vho only setup. I had a 29 gallon running uvl white and actinic bulbs. The heat they put off was almost as much as a 150w halide and the overall color was horrible. I could only keep softies in that tank. LPS, SPS, and clams could not survive that setup.

If you don't want to use halides, then go with a t5 setup or look into led's. JMHO
FireWater
Wed, 27th Jul 2011, 07:49 AM
The heat of vho was a big issue for me as well when I decided to run t5 on my other tanks. T5 are a little better for not putting off as much heat - they still can run warm though. Other thing I like about using t5 for supplement is that you can run purples and pinks instead of just actinic. It has been a while since I messed with vho so I do not know if they have added any bulb colors recently though.
jroescher
Wed, 27th Jul 2011, 01:03 PM
I am going to do mainly SPS, but also a little LPS and some softies... I was leaning towards MH, but it seems like VHO might work. I have seem a really nice setup with VHO/MH combo, but that might be a little overkill for my tank. Check this out...SWEET!!!

http://www.thegreenmako.com/


I don't think you'll find anyone who says that MH's on a 120 is overkill.
kkiel02
Thu, 28th Jul 2011, 02:46 AM
MH and VHO with T5 is nuts. You'll need a chiller.
You would need leds to go with those though. JK JK That would be crazy.

What did you decide on?
The main units people use for SPS are: t5, MH or LEDs. T5 can create some sick colors with so many bulb choices. MH are tried and true but do create quite a bit of heat. LED are kinda the new guys on the block but have been proven very successfull and are pretty energy efficient. Plus they dont transmit as much heat either. I dont think you could go wrong with any of these though as long as you purchase a quality fixture. Best of luck!