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View Full Version : VHO Actinics: Neccessity or waste of money?


vthondaboi
08/19/2006, 08:13 AM
Well while moving my 60G cube I broke one of my VHOs and bent an endcap. Replacing it won't cost me much but...

Do VHOs really do anything for the corals? They're just a pair of 2' 75W Super Actinics. I runt he 250W MH for 8 hours and the VHOs for 12 hours.

Do they VHOs put out enough light to help the corals for the extra four hours?

I run it on an IC660, kinda overkill and not sure how much more of a drain it is on electricty, plus the heat the VHOs put out.

Ne0eN
08/19/2006, 09:52 AM
If you're already got MH lights, than actinic VHO's just provide a nice blue tint for your viewing pleasure. IMHO, they do not do anything for the corals.

-- Rob

george1098
08/19/2006, 11:26 AM
I would agree. they are great for asthetics, but probably don't make a difference in the coral growth. I have VHO's with my 250 W MH lamps, and they are not powerfull enouph to make much of a difference in the spectrum, but when i turn them off the fish and corals seem just a little bit less colorfull.

outy
08/20/2006, 01:11 AM
its not a waist of money and corals color up nice.

it completes the whole spectrum. if you have 10k mh you need atinics, if you have 14k or 20k then maybe not.

i personaly would never not run atinics unless i have over a 14k bulb [some people still run them even then]

Freed
08/20/2006, 01:29 AM
You will find that your corals have more intense colors with them, not just for your viewing pleasure but the corals really have deeper colors with them.

davocean
08/20/2006, 01:23 PM
I noticed an increase in coralline algae growth with my actinics.

pwj1286
08/20/2006, 09:00 PM
Great for coloring corals up. Turns brown corals into green or purple. I would not do a tank with out them. I choose them before whites anyday.

Coralline as well.


They benefit your tank's creatures!!!

tacomareefer
08/20/2006, 09:32 PM
I think they really help to color up corals.

thor32766
08/21/2006, 10:33 AM
yeah the colors come out awesome!

benray4fun
08/21/2006, 10:45 AM
enough said..."turn'm on!"

MCary
08/21/2006, 11:32 AM
Yeah about that...I don't think so. All the colors that are in actinics are in a 10k bulb. All the colors in a 20K are in a 10K. Corals color up based on the main light. All the colors are algae. The actinics just bring out the colors for your viewing pleasure. They don't contribute to their formation. I do not think actinics provide a useable spectrum for algae growth. I'll look it up to be sure later, but I'm sure I'm right.

Mike

davocean
08/21/2006, 12:09 PM
Besides adding color I like to have a cool down and warm up period.
My actinics come on one hour b4 MH, and are on one hour after MH (sunrise, sunset)
Fish will mellow the last hour, and start to go to their sleeping places. ( some claim less tattered fins from this)
Some people have claimed an increase in corraline growth w/actinic only time, and weather it's coincidence or not my corraline has really increased.
Besides that, I get that last hour of purple blue groovy mood lighting for me and my chick! :)

mr pink floyd
08/21/2006, 12:16 PM
i think it is well worth it, you spend tons of money on other equipment, and the livestock itself, then you cant possibly enjoy looking at dull brown corals can you?

actinics provide somethign to be proud of i think, the colors are why we buy lots of different things right?

who wants a brown tank?

jimbo045
08/22/2006, 10:54 AM
For the Coral they do. But fish only no... JD

RichConley
08/22/2006, 10:58 AM
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7974264#post7974264 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by outy
its not a waist of money and corals color up nice.

it completes the whole spectrum. if you have 10k mh you need atinics, if you have 14k or 20k then maybe not.

i personaly would never not run atinics unless i have over a 14k bulb [some people still run them even then]

A 10K 250w halide puts out more 420nm and 460nm light than those VHOs do. Theyre for nothing but looks, IMO.

Freed
08/22/2006, 12:16 PM
Is that why when I run VHO actinics and MH on alternating days that my SPS color up so much deeper when the VHO actinics are on. When I run MH only the colors get lighter and fade out more. HHHHMMMM, waste of money for deeper richer colored SPS? I think not.

RockyMtnReef
08/22/2006, 12:52 PM
I have 20K 400W MH on my 250. I asked the same question on the SPS forum and was told by several people that also run 20K lights that they had better color when they added VHO actinics. I ended up adding them because of that feed back. I would do it for sure. What is the harm?