VHO vs. PowerCompacts????

N

notaquaman

Guest
This question has probably been asked lots so pardon my ignorance.
I am ready to pull the trigger on getting VHO for my 55gl tank. I do not have a canopy now and are running a dual 48" light strip. I am looking at:
Hamiltons 4' DLX 4-48'' FLUORESCENT 110W VHO because it has an ABS hood and cooling fans. Then I see Dr. Foster's PowerCompacts:
PowerCompacts are so intense that watt for watt they will produce twice as many lux as a comparable 110 watt VHO without any increase in heat! Comes prewired and ready for installation into any canopy. Includes Ultra-Daylight and Actinic lamp(s).
The lighting options have me confused, confused, confused. I would like to avoid retrofit kits since I don't have a canopy to screw into. I do not want to keep SPS corals, I just want lots of light for the good soft stuff -- is it VHO or PowerCompacts I should be looking at?
Anyone with experience and a recommendation with a weblink or picture would be a huge help. Thanks
 
ramey70

ramey70

Member
<a href="http://www.lampsnow.com" target="_blank">www.lampsnow.com</a>
You can get an electronic ballast 2 lamp VHO setup for 48" bulbs for 129.95. The great thing is the ballast can handle up to 440 watts so if you want to expand to four bulbs later you can.
 
nm reef

nm reef

Active Member
Not exactly an answer for you....but I use both....pc&vho. 4x65 watts of CSL 10k pc's and 2x110 watts of URI vho 03 actinics....best of both worlds...all in a custom designed canopy....couldn't be happier.....*_^
 
royce

royce

Member
I also could not decide between PC and VHO, so I went to a bunch of LFS to check out how their tanks looked under the various types of lighting. I decided that I liked the looks of the VHO better. I got the 4-lamp kit from hellolights.com - the new name of the lampsnow mentioned above. I got the retro kit (~220 with URI bulbs) and my husband made me a canopy to fit <img src="graemlins//angel.gif" border="0" alt="[angel]" /> good luck
 
bbreaux1

bbreaux1

Member
i read somewheres that the reason the pc's have a bad name on antinics is that when tehy first came out they were bad but theyve improved i havent gotten my lights yet but i plan on getting a 4x55w from ahsupply for about 230 i like how each light has there own reflector too
 
hondo

hondo

Member
PC actinics used to be a blue painted bulb and yes they sucked. Now they have come up with a true 03 actinic bulb and it is great. I highly recomend PC's (more intense light)especially if you go with true actinic 03, but either way you will be happy.
 
lawnboy

lawnboy

New Member
This might help. Go to
<a href="http://www.marineandreef.com" target="_blank">www.marineandreef.com</a>
Then Product Info
Choosing Custom Sealife Lighting
It seemed helpful to me.
 
ironreef

ironreef

Member
I've had all lighting. I prefer vho over pc. If you get an IC 660 ballast you can run all bulbs then you aren't limited. I've ran NO,pc and vho. I prefer vho second to halides. I run halides and vho
 
jakob4001

jakob4001

Member
but WHY do you prefer the VHO over the PC's IRONREEF? I know that PC bulbs cost more but get more bang for the $$$ over the VHO ones...
 
ironreef

ironreef

Member
why do you get more bang for the buck? Pc cost more. Vho has better color. watt for watt they are close enough in par/lux to call equal. But if you get an IC660 you can run any bulb = you can make up your own mind= more choices which I prefer
 
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