VHO vs. PC
- Thread starter hawk fish
- Start date
stanlalee
Active Member
on paper pc is just as good, even better than VHO watt for watt in most regards. In practice turns out corals just respond and grow much better with VHO. Make matters worse I swear VHO is actually cheaper than PC watt for watt. I've read "experts" saying there is not that much difference with the daylight bulbs but the VHO actinics are hands down superior.
jlem
Active Member
I had both PC's and VHO for 5 years and the PC's run alot hotter than VHO's and are alot brighter. Granted you need 2-3ft PC's for the lenth of a 6ft VHO but the PC's will be brighter. VHO Actinics look alot better than PC actinics which is why the best combo is PC's for the daylight 10K's and VHO's for the Actinics. Pc bulbs are really cheap on the aucttion site also.
saltn00b
Active Member
Originally Posted by jlem
I had both PC's and VHO for 5 years and the PC's run alot hotter than VHO's and are alot brighter. Granted you need 2-3ft PC's for the lenth of a 6ft VHO but the PC's will be brighter. VHO Actinics look alot better than VHO actinics which is why the best combo is PC's for the daylight 10K's and VHO's for the Actinics. Pc bulbs are really cheap on the aucttion site also.
umm what?
I had both PC's and VHO for 5 years and the PC's run alot hotter than VHO's and are alot brighter. Granted you need 2-3ft PC's for the lenth of a 6ft VHO but the PC's will be brighter. VHO Actinics look alot better than VHO actinics which is why the best combo is PC's for the daylight 10K's and VHO's for the Actinics. Pc bulbs are really cheap on the aucttion site also.
umm what?
ghettotang
Member
Originally Posted by Stanlalee
on paper pc is just as good, even better than VHO watt for watt in most regards. In practice turns out corals just respond and grow much better with VHO. Make matters worse I swear VHO is actually cheaper than PC watt for watt. I've read "experts" saying there is not that much difference with the daylight bulbs but the VHO actinics are hands down superior.
Hey I got question for your I have 75 gallon tank and I planning to buy a Current USA Outer Orbit. The light is 2X150W MH Lamp 2x54w Actinic 460nm
2x54w Actinic 420nm 9 blue leds/9 white leds 48.25" X 15.25" X 4.25" without legs
(With legs the light is 7.25" tall. The legs expand to a maximum length of 48.5". The on/off switches, located on the ends of the light require another 1/4 inch of clearance. The power cords come out of the back of the light and require another one inch of clearance.) 529W/4.6 amps
516 watt output from the metal halide and T5s
Is this going to be too much for lighting soft coral, few hard coral. I asked this other people and they said is too much, but when I asked the customer representive they said is not going to be too much. So I'm confuse
. Should I post this a poll question. Please help :help: I just want to get different opions before I buy it.
Thanx
Jay
on paper pc is just as good, even better than VHO watt for watt in most regards. In practice turns out corals just respond and grow much better with VHO. Make matters worse I swear VHO is actually cheaper than PC watt for watt. I've read "experts" saying there is not that much difference with the daylight bulbs but the VHO actinics are hands down superior.
Hey I got question for your I have 75 gallon tank and I planning to buy a Current USA Outer Orbit. The light is 2X150W MH Lamp 2x54w Actinic 460nm
2x54w Actinic 420nm 9 blue leds/9 white leds 48.25" X 15.25" X 4.25" without legs
(With legs the light is 7.25" tall. The legs expand to a maximum length of 48.5". The on/off switches, located on the ends of the light require another 1/4 inch of clearance. The power cords come out of the back of the light and require another one inch of clearance.) 529W/4.6 amps
516 watt output from the metal halide and T5s
Is this going to be too much for lighting soft coral, few hard coral. I asked this other people and they said is too much, but when I asked the customer representive they said is not going to be too much. So I'm confuse
Thanx
Jay
stanlalee
Active Member
Thats the perfect amount of light for a 20" deep 48" long 75gallon if you ask me! Thats enough to keep anything but doesn't qualify anywhere near exccessive for a mixed reef tank. I am curious to what the people who say its too much suggest
. The two 150w HQI fit protocol perfectly and you certaintly arent going to scortch anything with supplemental actinics. the 460nm bulbs are there strictly to give the tank a bluer look. If the tank is too blue to you take them out or dont use em (If you can get the same fixture minus these two 460nm bulbs for cheaper I'd do that. you can go bluer with MH bulb selection when replacement time comes if need be) The 420nm are the functional ones (for coral pigmentation growth which protect them from intense light and makes them colorful). Hell even if it was too much which it isn't you can always swap in known low par MH bulbs (or keep old ones too long) if things are growing too fast for you. About the only thing you could torch with that amount of light are mushrooms and then you'd have to be doing it on purpose with placement/acclimation. Leathers only get bigger faster with more light. Zoo's only spread and look better with more light. Most LPS thrive in that kind of lighting. SPS require it and more wouldn't hurt.