T5 vs VHO for SUPER Actinics!

[huskysglare1]

T5 vs VHO for SUPER Actinics!

Which gives better coloration and which is brighter?

i am leaning toward VHO because so many people uses them and i've heard so many good things about it, but they're so power hungry. 120w per bulb x 4.

Which one do you choose and why?

[jenglish]

I would say the T5 is brighter PAR wise but it is hard to beat the UVL VHO glow IME. VHO gets my vote.

[eros]

I've used both and VHO has much better color. I agree with you about them being power hogs though. It's hard to have one VHO bulb when you know you could drive 2 T5's with the same power. I only use my VHO for 1 hour before and 1 hour after my other lights come on.

[huskysglare1]

Eros, so, you only use VHOs for 2 HRs a day?

[Jorober]

I used to use VHOs for actinic supplementation, then about three months ago I switched to T5s, mostly as an experiment. WHAT A DIFFERENCE!!! The T5s use much less power, are way brighter, and my corals loved the change. They are way brighter in color, and are growing like crazy. My coralline algae has gone wild, and is growing way faster now, which is good, but makes me scrape the tank more often to keep it from growing on the viewing sides. There is no comparison between them. T5s are the way to go, IMO.

[eros]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15466186#post15466186 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by huskysglare1
Eros, so, you only use VHOs for 2 HRs a day?

I have enough blue in my T5 bulb combo that I don't need to run them with my other lighting. I just use them them dawn and dusk. You honestly cannot tell if they are on or not with my other bulbs running unless you are watching the tank while the switch is flipped, the subtlety is not worth 110 watts to me.

[RealReef7]

vho are the king of actinics.

[flamron]

+1 on King VHO

[huskysglare1]

score are tie!

[Dustint21]

VHO for color by far! The bad thing is they only last 6 months!

[flamron]

I've ran my VHO for 15 months before. How long are you running yours Dustin21?

My old VHOs I ran for 10hrs a day. The new set I just installed will be running about that long as well.

[DiscoReefRover]

VHO hands down there arent any t-5 that can even compare to the popping effect that VHO super actnics have on a tank I switched from 4 t-5's to 4 vhos for my actnics and wow what a difference !!!

[huskysglare1]

nice nice