VHO Advice

[uriah]

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]

what type of corals?

[uriah]

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]

http://www.thegreenmako.com/lighting.htm

[ErikH]

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]

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]

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]

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]

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]

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.