Bday Present to self...NEW LIGHTS!!!

bigeyedfish

bigeyedfish

Member
Well since today is my bday. I think i am going to get moving on the next part of my tank. I'd like to get new lights. I'd like to keep pretty much everything except clams and acroporas. So i think i will skip the halides for now. I have a 55gal and am going to build a custom canopy, so a retro kit would be in order. I am thinking about VHO from hellolights. Anyone have luck with them? I am thinking about getting two sets of two bulb retros. That way i can fire the actinics first and then really brighten it up with the daylights. I was thinking 110 watt bulbs for a total of 440 watts. On a 55 thats 8 watts/gallon. I should be able to keep everything but hard stuff right?? I can then switch the retros over to my upgrade tank later this year. I plan to go mainly MH on that one but the VHO's should do for now. any thoughts or suggestions would be greatly appreciated?
 
bigeyedfish

bigeyedfish

Member
Yeah i'd get the icecap 660, but you can only fire all the bulbs at one time. i cant afford two 430 ballasts. hellolights kits arent icecap right? that would be even better. i dont think i want to spend the money on icecap if i am going to upgrade anyway. i was hoping someone with hellolights kits would chime in on their experiences.
 
royce

royce

Member
I'll chime in! first of all, Happy birthday, SaltyJay! now, about those lights - I put the hellolights 440w VHO retro kit on my 55 for MY birthday last Feb. and I am really happy with how my tank looks (now my neighbors can see it too - lol). They were very easy to put together and I have not had any problems with them. My husband made a canopy for me, and the lights are ~8" off the water. No problems with them heating up the tank, although the lid to the canopy was getting a little too warm (only ~1" above the lamps) so I got a clip-on fan from Walmart and aimed it at the lid. Like you,I figure when I upgrade to a bigger tank in the future, I can use these lights and supplement them with some MH. I do suggest that you get the 46.5" lamps instead of the 48" ones to make it easier to fit them in the canopy. HTH
 
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