Actinic supplementation

[pumpdogs]

I bought a 72 inch maristar 250 metal halide unit today.It comes with a 4 bulb t5 set up and he also hooked up A 2 BULB vho setup on the outside of fixture.
I am only going to get bulbs for one or the other.Which would be better T5s or the Vhos?

 

[AlSimmons]

They're basically the same thing, but the VHO Actinics are pretty hard to beat IMO.

 

[pumpdogs]

They're basically the same thing, but the VHO Actinics are pretty hard to beat IMO.

So which would you pick.4 36 inch T5s or 2 72 inch VHO ACTINICS.

 

[notenoughtanks]

I would say if you look at overall cost it will be a wash to run the 2x VHO bulbs plus the added electricity vs replacing twice as many T5. And being the VHO will be way better in color rendition and growth IME. Personally would love a feasible reason to go back to them. Only concern is the lower availability of Uvl bulbs and how long they'll continue to make VHO.

 

[jkapit]

I have a 10 year old MH fixture which uses 72" VHO. LOoks great and can get the bulbs from drfostersmith, but virtually no other vendor carries the 72" length. considering that I would go with the T5s, readily available and easier to ship.

 

[pumpdogs]

I would say if you look at overall cost it will be a wash to run the 2x VHO bulbs plus the added electricity vs replacing twice as many T5. And being the VHO will be way better in color rendition and growth IME. Personally would love a feasible reason to go back to them. Only concern is the lower availability of Uvl bulbs and how long they'll continue to make VHO.

Well I think I will go with the vhos.If they discontinue them all I have to do is order the T5 bulbs.Its already built into the fixture anyway.

 

[sirreal63]

Well I think I will go with the vhos.If they discontinue them all I have to do is order the T5 bulbs.Its already built into the fixture anyway.

Agreed and it isn't true that nothing else compares to the VHO SuperActintic. I did like the Geismann T5 actintics but they were not even close to the VHO. Order bulbs every time you find them and you can have a lot of years worth easily.