Lighting - Anemones

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thomas712

Guest
With the lighting you have I would guess maybe within three months and you will see a decline in your anemone, I did with a BTA and it shrunk every week with no more than the lighting you have. I then purchased 380 watts of VHO, a 4 bulb kit and that was enough to make him grow and split into two.
However, with the list of corals you posted in the other thread I suggest you look into the MH/VHO combo with the 250watt MH bulbs. You will not need to run them all the time either but maybe 2-4 hours if you like + or - the type of corals you get.
If you can't get the lighting in that time then, please be responsible and take the anemone back, they simply can not survive with normal output lighting.
Thomas
 
paulcoates

paulcoates

Member
Thomas,
A few questions....(I an new to this)
1)What is VHO?
2)Is VHO more expensive than Halides?
3)How about compacts?
4)Can I buy a lunar/actinic/daylight unit for a 55 gallon? If so, what would you recommend
Keep in mind I like anemones and the following Corals:
Yellow polyps, leather toadstools, Carnations, Goniopora, Hammer, Hard Tube Coco Worm, Orange Finger, PAgoda's, Pink Fingers, Plates, Sun Corals, Torch Corals, Xenias and Zoos
 
T

thomas712

Guest
Very High Output. I personally like the look of VHO over PC =power compact lighting. I currently use 440 watts of VHO and 2- 250 watt MH=Metal halides, for total of 940 watts.
VHO is not more expensive than halids, but keep in mind that you will need to purchase new light bulbs every year no matter what kind of bulbs you have, so factor that into yearly maintanence. Price depends on VHO and PC you really need to shop around. My VHO are about $22.00 dollars per bulb. My MH bulbs are about $89.00 per bulb. Yeah adds up. Choosing the right bulbs is also important.
Other than having followed along since PC lights came out, I have never used them. I have seen many tanks with PC lighting and I still prefer the VHO look. I have read many threads where folks have switched from PC to VHO and liked the VHO better.
I don't mess with luner lighting, best to ask someone else. Personally I think there just for show.
I highly suggest that you research the corals on your list. Coco worms and sun corals are rather hard to maintian as well as cup coral and the gonipora for some folks.
 
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thomas712

Guest
With many of the corals that you want I would suggest a 440 watt VHO retrofit kit. This can be purchased with 48 inch bulbs or 46.5 inch bulbs. Regular 48 inch usually doesn't fit in standard hoods because when you add the endcaps they come out to about 49.5 inches, so if you go that route you will need to have a custom hood or just hang the lights from the ceiling over the aquarium.
I also suggest that you when you get new lights you will need to just toss out that hood and covering. Glass or plastic hoods just trap heat and cause it to grow algae on them.
The bulbs that I and many VHO users like are the 50/50 actinic whites and the actinic blues called super actinic, both made by URI.
I'll send you an email with regard to the lighting and you can research some more.
Thomas
 
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thomas712

Guest
Here is an example from the place I shop of what a 46.5 inch VHO retrofit kit would cost with URI bulbs that I have chosen.
46.5" 4 Lamp VHO Retrofit Kit (w/ ARO Model 4L ballast)
Bulb1: URI Actinic White 50/50 VHO(+$23.50)
Bulb2: URI Super Actinic VHO(+$20.00)
Bulb3: URI Actinic White 50/50 VHO(+$23.50)
Bulb4: URI Super Actinic VHO(+$20.00)
256.00 without shipping cost.
Thomas
 
T

thomas712

Guest
Recheck the thread you may have missed a post where I suggested to just toss out your existing hood. This retrofit kit will not fit inside of it and your type of hood should not be used for a saltwater tank. It restricts gas exchange, traps heat..
You will either need to build a hood for it, or have one custom made depeind on the lighiting you go with. Or just suspend it from the cieling. You will not believe how much brighter things will be.
YGM
Thomas
 
donahue

donahue

Member
Thomas, do you feel that the ARO ballast is worth it compared to other ballasts like ice cap and the uri a4, by ic??
 
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thomas712

Guest
Ice cap sure is a nice ballast, but I can tell you that I have not had a lick of problems with the electronic one I got from that california lighting place. Runs cool just like the ice cap and I've had it for over 3 years now.
I just don't see pouring out the money for the ice cap. I like the ARO ballast just fine.
Since October though I have upgraded lighting systems and no longer use the same ballast.
PFO Dual 250 watt HQI metal halide ballast with quick connect
sockets.
I'll have to recheck what the duel VHO ballast is.
Thomas
 
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