ho or vho

[doadster]

Need to light a new 90 gal soft coral tnk. Thinking of getting Ice Cap SLR retro. 2 bulb 48" VHO to start/ Is this a better choice than Same kit with H.O?s? Is the Ice Cap vho kit using T-5 bulbs? It seems to indicate that on the Reefgeek site, but some other sites say that all VHO' bulbs are T 12'a.... Some sites say the VHO lit gives more light, while others say just the opposite. How about bulb life??? We are somewhat confused. Doadster

[doadster]

Any thoughts?

[mrbncal]

You should check out the t-5 threads, they are pretty useful. If your buying a new setup then go with t-5. Less heat, more light, longer bulb life. You'll get more usable light than with t-12 vho bulbs. Plus if your using icecap ballast(660 or 430) than the bulbs are being over driven (something the icecap ballast does with all fl. bulbs, you'll have to find someone smarter than me to explain that ) which gives you more light.
Goto the lighting forum and youll find the t-5 thread theres a couple.

[wrenchhead]

I have had experience with both and VHO really brings out the color in corals better than anything else.I get really good growth also.I think bulb life is only 6-9 months though.

[Icefire]

Slr are T5HO. but UVL make some T5VHO, same as HO but make for Icecap ballast (overdrive).

T12VHO = pink
T5HO= color you want, 3000K up to 22000K.

For 90g go with 4 or 6 bulb unless fish only or just zoa/mush/gsp, 2 bulb is barelly enought

[samsfishnchips]

doadster,

light is a very personal subject,and it all comes down to personal exp and what you "like" to see

example Icefire, by looking at sig he lists 4 T5 and thats what he/she is recomending you, in simple terms he/she is recommending what works and likes in his/her case.

here you will get some info, but I would do a search, and learn more about lighting, and at the end you will find that you can do a sucessful tank with pretty much any good light currently on the marktet, either metal halides, T5, VHO (T12), PC ect.

hellolights is also a great place to get lighting equipment, very knowledge personal, and have
"30 Day Policy - Unconditional Guarantee"
call them and talk to them, should help.

I personal like light Metal halides of the lights forms currently available, for two reason,
-shimmers
-sps

if I want alot of light and have a problem with heat and want sps, I would do T5

but for a soft coral tank, I personally like light VHO, think their actinic is still the best and they are cheap and don't mind changing them once a year, I like their overal colors

for a 90g soft, 4 4ft with the few combinations available that tank will do great, on the lighting department

you can put together at hellolights the whole lighting setup with bulbs with internal reflectors ( 4 footers, S220 ballast) for about $200 if you like DIY, and hellolights will help with any question, as we would too, and I think is pretty easy to assemble

S220 VHO ballast link to Hellolights (http://hellolights.com/index.asp?PageAction=VIEWPROD&ProdID=99)

a few links to get info and look at some tanks

VHO only reefs (http://reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=275525&perpage=25&highlight=soft%20and%20vho%20and%20pics&pagenumber=1)

Let's see pics of VHO only tanks! (http://reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=206608&perpage=25&highlight=VHO%20only%20tanks&pagenumber=1)

Anyone using just VHO's (http://reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=145260&highlight=soft+and+vho+and+pics)

good luck on your search,

sam

[doadster]

Thanks for all the replies. I posted about this before, and seems many replies suggested using VHO's. But after reading up on the ReefGeek's retro kits is seems that they use T-5's where other sites seem to be using . T-12's which we don't want. It is hard to tell from the lighting websites. This queston came up over the weekend when the stores were closed. I guess that I'll have to call 2morrow when they re-open. Thanks again.

[thatguy]

I currently have MH's because I got a great deal on the setup and found super cheap bulbs that work for me.

Having said that: When I upgrade I will be going with VHO's. There is a local club member that has a coral propagation business on the side and he uses VHO's on all of his tanks. Looking at his prop tanks is cooler than any other tank I've ever seen. He gets great growth on everything and beautiful color. His setup is 3 white plus 1 actinic.


Just my $0.02


Good luck!

[d4a2n0k]

Are you referring to this page where it has an HO and a VHO version of each setup?

http://www.reefgeek.com/lighting/T5_Fluorescent/IceCap/SLR_Retrofit_Kits/

The VHO setups on this page are not using the VHO bulbs (T-12) you are thinking of. They still use T-5 bulbs but use the IceCap ballasts which overdrive the bulbs when compared to other T-5 ballasts. The 54w bulbs run at something like 70w. The VHO means Very High Output when compared to the regular HO setups. If your tank is 24" deep I would look into the VHO setup to get that extra punch to the bottom of the tank.

[doadster]

Thinking about this retro set at reef geeks for now, and later getting another set when I get more $. Which bulbs would be good for the 2 and was wondering about the fans. Whould one be enough going across the bulbs or 2 and was wondering about the noise. Also would it be alright to start adding some corals or would it be better to wait........thanks
http://www.reefgeek.com/lighting/T5_Fluorescent/IceCap/SLR_Retrofit_Kits/48_inch__2x54W_SLR_T5_Very_High-Output_Retrofit_Kit_w!_Bulbs_by_IceCap