ARe actinic and VHO the smae or different?

[king_neptune]

Looking at a 72inch PFO light for sale.
It is PFOs professional brand with the parabolic reflectors and deeper hood. The hood contains 3x 400 watt metal halide fixtures, 2x 6ft VHO fixtures, and remote ballasts. The hood is black and has tow fans, one at each end for cooling, and there is a protective lens covering to protect the bulbs. $550.
I was thinking this is a smoking deal and wanted to snatch it up...but is VHO going to give the "Blue" look of actinic? Or are they totally different lights? Or do I get to choose the type of bulb that goes into a VHO socket?

 

[tank a holic]

im not too familiar with them but I would guess you can choose which bulb you want, may want to ask in the lighting / diy forum those guys seem to know their stuff

 

[king_neptune]

yawn...its late. I am totaly spacing. YA this should be in the lighting thread. Ill pm a mod and ask them to move it.

 

[mr_x]

VHO means "very high output". it's a term people use to refer to T12 lamps. you can have daylight bulbs, or actinic bulbs. in that fixture you mentioned, they are most likely actinic bulbs.
btw- that fixture is overkill. 250 watt halides will be fine over your tank. the 400's are a waste of electric.

 

[renogaw]

also, be very careful with "cheap" fixtures. they WILL cost you more in the end.
make sure the type of ballasts, and if they are "cheap" knock offs, see if you can buy the light without them.
(btw, moving thread per PM request)

 

[king_neptune]

Originally Posted by Mr_X
http:///forum/post/2947116
VHO means "very high output". it's a term people use to refer to T12 lamps. you can have daylight bulbs, or actinic bulbs. in that fixture you mentioned, they are most likely actinic bulbs.
btw- that fixture is overkill. 250 watt halides will be fine over your tank. the 400's are a waste of electric.
Yes 250 will do fine. But 400 cant hurt. Ill just have more growth.
He had this on a 125 Reef tank.
Originally Posted by renogaw
http:///forum/post/2947152
also, be very careful with "cheap" fixtures. they WILL cost you more in the end.
make sure the type of ballasts, and if they are "cheap" knock offs, see if you can buy the light without them.
(btw, moving thread per PM request)

Its actually a used $1500 system. And I have seen 10 year old ballasts that still operate just fine. This is PHO's top of the line MH lights...but they don't make MH anymore. They switched last year to LED...but I don't have 4k to blow on LED lights. The way I saw it...I am paying $550 for some lights, and in 6-9 months Ill have to replace the bulbs for about $200. and then $200 every year.
I simply don't have $1500 to spend on lighting. I am trying to do a poor mans reef without major compromising where it counts. Having professional lights in my tank is not compromising. Having used professional lights...is only a slight compromise. Especially when ballasts go on for a long long time. But good call on the ballests non the less. I am asking him to send me a closeup of the ballests and thier tags so i can dig into the manufacturer and find out if they are cheap ballasts or good ones.

 

[king_neptune]

Besides...I can always turn off one of the lights if 1200wtts is overkill.

 

[mr_x]

that's false info that 400 watt halides will give you more growth than 250s.

 

[king_neptune]

Originally Posted by Mr_X
http:///forum/post/2948530
that's false info that 400 watt halides will give you more growth than 250s.
Thanks.
I think in the end all I really care about is keeping my tank safe and happy. Not how fast I can grow things.
he also offered me a trio of 250's for $500. Same setup and model, $500.
I think I may take those instead. Ill see how it goes.

 

[mr_x]

whatever you choose, 250's or 400's..as long as the lamps are putting out enough PAR the corals will be happy.
my point is, if you can use the 250's with success, why bother with the 400's?