Does anyone rock VHO's?

[multi-task]

Okay so yeah lighting, lighting, lighting it all depends and what you got to work with. Well I got VHO's running at 110W each bulb. Is that weak? I dont know, it is what I have to work with. What would be the best bulb combo for 4 x 48" VHO's?
2 10K and 2 50 50
3 Actinic and 1 10 K
4 50 50
4 actinic ect ect ect what would be the best mixing and matching with what ever type, given four slots to work with?
Please help.
Am I considered old school for using VHO's?

 

[wangotango]

While VHO aren't exactly "up to date" they do make a good lighting system, and you'd be all set for softies, LPS, and a few SPS.
I'd go with either 2x pure actinics, 1x 10,000k and 1x 12,000k.
-Justin

 

[saltn00b]

i had nothing but 2 72" T-12 VHO's (50/50) on my tank for the first year. they are grossly underpowered worthless POS IMO. i experienced no coral growth for the first year and lost a few corals due to light starvation. they are too fat to reflect properly. the only thing these bulbs USED to be good for is actinic supplementation to a MH system.... but now i see no reason to not get T-5 supplementation.

 

[wangotango]

Well yes, compared to T5 or halide they're crap, but I did had decent growth on my monti cap and crocea clam (330w on a 55).
Maybe it's just me, but I've noticed that VHO actinic supplementation is more purple than T5.
-Justin

 

[saltn00b]

most LFS dont even stock VHO anymore. my only choices for them when i did have VHO was 10k, 50/50, and actinic. then it became only 50/50. The actinics were very purple. T-5 has a lot of manufacturers now making many different spectrums of bulb, even different types of actinics.

 

[m0nk]

Originally Posted by saltn00b
most LFS dont even stock VHO anymore. my only choices for them when i did have VHO was 10k, 50/50, and actinic. then it became only 50/50. The actinics were very purple. T-5 has a lot of manufacturers now making many different spectrums of bulb, even different types of actinics.
I think the actinic that are sold as strait actinic are actually the Super Actinic 420nm which are purplish. The 50/50 just say regular Actinic, so I'm guessing that they're 460nm, but don't know for sure.

 

[wangotango]

Yeah the bulb choices for VHO are squat compared to T5.
To the OP's question. You could get by, but I think VHO are phasing out. IMO look into T5.
-Justin

 

[multi-task]

so then, what combination would be best? and what are you talking about in addition to MH system give me an example, link, knowledge and image? are VHO's good enough for BTA? carpets?

 

[saltn00b]

yea you can can keep bubble tip anenomes and possibly carpets, but i would try a saddle carpet as opposed to some of the prettier and more light demanding carpets.
i have kept both of those under VHOs.
what i meant is that if you were running a few Metal Halides as the main lighting of your tank, you could have actinic VHOs running at the same time to supply an aestheticly pleasing blue tone to the tank, and have a bit of a dawn / dusk effect

 

[tinfin]

I had a 55g with 440 watts of VHO and I was able to keep a green carpet for many years, it also doubled in size. I cant remember the exact bulbs they were becuase it was so long ago, 2 were blue and 2 were white thats all I remember.
I posted a VHO vs T5 thread yesterday, check it out for more info.
I was an old school VHO guy but I am going to go T5 with my next tank, for what its worth.

 

[scsinet]

Originally Posted by Tinfin
I had a 55g with 440 watts of VHO and I was able to keep a green carpet for many years, it also doubled in size. I cant remember the exact bulbs they were becuase it was so long ago, 2 were blue and 2 were white thats all I remember.
I posted a VHO vs T5 thread yesterday, check it out for more info.
I was an old school VHO guy but I am going to go T5 with my next tank, for what its worth.
I've had this exact setup as well, and have kept anemones successfully under them.
To the OP... if you are running fine with your VHO system and are happy with what you currently keep, and are keeping what you keep successfully (good growth, survival), I can't see why you should rip out what you have just because something newer is out, unless you are an upgrade junkie like me.
However, if you are researching a new lighting system, VHO, just as PC (IMO) are things of the past and should be passed by in favor of T5, which offers more PAR, much better efficiency, and much lower total cost of ownership.

 

[jrthomas40]

i say go with 1 actinic and 3 10ks...if you are going to keep it...i have vhos with my halides but i run them separately so i dont have to run the halides all day and run up the bill....but i have had 2 actincs, 1 50/50 and 1 actinic, 1 10k and 1 actinic...now i am doing 1 50/50 and 1 10k