All on or All off

[lm]

Thinking about buying a 4 lamp vho lighting set-up for my tank but all I can find is a series set-up( which means all 4 lights come on at the same time and all 4 lights go off at the same time). Is there any set-up where you can get 2 to come on and off at different times from the other 2? Because I keep hearing it is best to have actinics come on different times from your other lights. Or what do you think if all 4 lights do come on at once and all 4 go off at once? This will be a reef tank down the road but starting out first FOWLR.

 

[iechy]

You can buy two ballasts for two bulbs but this will most likely cost you more.

 

[lm]

Yes, I know you can buy 2 ballasts but not sure if I would have room for two and I would like to save $ and stay with one ballast if this is possible. Any thoughts on all lights coming on and off at the same time??

 

[mikegronholz]

From everything I've seen, you will have to go retro and you will probably end up spending almost double (the cost is definitely in the ballast).

 

[iechy]

The room shouldn't be a problem as most of the ballasts are on 15 foot wires to mount in the stand and you could put all the bulbs on one reflector anyway. But as you know the problem is the money still. I don't know of another way though I don't think it is a problem if they both come on together it is just not preferred. It gives some gradual change for the tank rather than sudden on or off. I have two bulb VHO with one actinic and one 10,000k for the time being and they come on together with now problems. What I do though is turn on the lights in the room about an hour before they come on so that it isn't going from pitch black to bright. HTH. GL.

 

[slothy]

what size tank is this for btw ? retros arent too bad acuatally

 

[saltyrich]

Mine come on and go off all at the same time with no ill effects at all. I think it is more of an asethetic look for the reefkeeper. I know that is is healthy for the inhabitants because it kinda simulates sunrise and dusk. I have my tank lights on a timer. They come on at noon and go off at 10pm. There ends up being some ambient light in the room in the morning hours that reaches the tank and suffices in my opinion for sunrise. I have a light on my hang-on refugium that illuminates the tank for an hour or so after the main lights go off. I would argue that having your lights all come on and go off at the same time won't hurt your inhabitants. Some may disagree because simulating natural conditions is always better (but that was not your question now was it?).

 

[gregzbobo]

I'm going to be getting a PFO ballast thats already wired up with endcaps, its an electronic ballast, and it has an option to where you can order it with a pair of timers so you can set two tubes to come on and off at different times than the other 2 tubes. Email me for the url. Quite inexpensive compared to an icecap 660 too.
gregzbobo@directvinternet.com