Grouping VHO's

[Chris]

Okay so i've got 3 VHO's 72" long each going into my canopy. Two of the bulbs will be grouped together (front or back) and the other one left single.

So the question is, would I notice a difference in appearance in the tank if I placed two VHO's in the front and 1 in the back -VERSUS- putting 1 in the front, and two towards the back? :?: :|

The tank is 24" from front to back.

[Texreefer]

when all those 400 watters fire up i dont thind it will make a difference.. in fact i don't think you will be able to tell with just the vho on

[Chris]

They're 250's but i'm hoping the actinics will be strong enough to at least cast a bit of color in the tank against the MH's.

My first plan was to use 4 x 72" actinic VHO's but after finding out I can add 3 to a single ballast without any problems I figured i'd try it that way. If it works out fine i'll end up selling that extra IceCap 660 ballast I have.

[Texreefer]

i would be most interested in the icecap 660 if it will fire two 4' vho... and yes you will get some color in your tank with that setup

[Chris]

With a 660 it has enough power to light up to 4 four foot VHO's. I don't want to sell it yet til i'm sure the setup I have now will make me happy. If not I'll end up changing the lighting and adding 2 72" VHO's towards the back of the canopy, and 2 72" VHO in the front. :?

[REEFAHOLIC]

I have 660 ice cap on my 100 with 4 vho's and its a great combo. They are 48 inch also. I think the ice cap 660 is rated for 4 - 48 inch vho or 2
60 inch vho's.

Tina

[Chris]

The 660 manual suggests up to 16 actual feet worth of bulbs. For my 72 incher's, 2 of them would be only 12 feet.

There's a thread on ReefCentral with someone asking Andy(the Pres.) from IceCap if there were any problems adding a 3rd 72" VHO bulb to make a total of 18 feet worth of bulbs and Andy replied stating it would just add the slightest bit more heat to the ballast and shouldn't have any longterm effect.

Another person chimed in stating they had that setup for over a year so it convinced me to try it as well. ;)

[TexasState]

>cecap 660 if it will fire two 4' vho

I have have an Icecap 430, it will fire three 4' VHO. I want to sell it for $60. It does not come w/ the Harness/heatsink/endcap. I can get you brand new harness for about $25.


As for Christ, I would concentrate your VHO on the area w/ the most concentration of florescent corals.