Adding VHOs for color. Do I accclimate?

[AcroporAddict]

OK guys,
I have a 465 gallon SPS tank, currently lit by four 400 watt Radium halides. I am going to add some VHO for color. Tank is 8 foot long (96x40x28), and I will be adding two sets of two 46.5" VHO bulbs, so there will be two VHO bulbs running the length of the tank. Bulbs will be two UVL Super actinics and two UVL 454s (blue spectrum). So I will be supplementing purple and blue light to the current lighting setup.

Should I acclimate the corals to these new bulbs? I would guess not since there is no daylight in these, and they are just for color. Thoughts?

Thanks.

 

[trueblackpercula]

Just food for thought I would try and stay away from VHO bulbs. Yes they work well but they are harder to find for sale and I read somewhere they will be discontinued soon. I would use the newer bulbs like T 5 or LEDs.
Good luck and post some pictures when you decide.

 

[Chris Lakies]

Just food for thought I would try and stay away from VHO bulbs. Yes they work well but they are harder to find for sale and I read somewhere they will be discontinued soon. I would use the newer bulbs like T 5 or LEDs.
Good luck and post some pictures when you decide.

Agree. Id try to do the t5 option. One URL super Actinic and one ati blue + on each side.

 

[sirreal63]

I doubt you will have a need in acclimation, you are not adding much par. I also would count on VHO being around at least a few more years, more if people keep using them.

 

[_ToXIc_]

yes... unless you already have the VHO equipment and bulbs go T5

or better Yet go DIY LED... i'm not drinking the LED only koolaid.. but i do believe LEDs are great for supplement...

 

[rtparty]

VHO will be around for at least another 2-3 years unless the government does something to end it sooner. T5s may be great but they aren't a great supplement like VHO bulbs.

 

[jda]

If you can believe the manufacturers, they are selling more VHO bulbs now than ever. Sometimes, they cannot even keep up with the demand and get backordered. There are still a TON of VHO users, especially the Super Actinic. Posts and trends on message boards don't represent a critical mass of people in this hobby. I would guess that there are more VHO users around here than LED users... but most of them don't post or have an online presence at all.

There is nothing beyond the anecdotal that suggest that they will be discontinued. They sell like crazy and specialty bulbs are always exempt from any EPA/Whatever regulations.

I have never met anybody who used VHOs for any significant time over a nice tank who would ever suggest that T5 of LED as a good alternative. Don't switch to VHOs unless you want to be hooked.

To the original question, you should not need to acclimate.

 

[psykobowler]

I still use 4 x 110watt VHOs along with 5 x 400watt radium bulbs on my 96"x30"x24" display. I agree that VHOs aren't going away anytime soon. However, I am planning on getting kessils a350w to replace all the vho fixtures so that I only have to purchase the 400 watt radium bulbs periodically. At one point I even had 8 x 54watt ati blue plus in the display hood and I had so much bulbs to buy. Just throwing in that in. The 400 watt radiums does plenty that no supplementation is needed. Adding supplemental lighting to me is just to extend the viewing pleasure during the day. The LEDs would do it for me.

Also check out the buildmyled super actinic in YouTube. I swear it is a lot brighter than the regular VHOs.

 

[trueblackpercula]

If you can believe the manufacturers, they are selling more VHO bulbs now than ever. Sometimes, they cannot even keep up with the demand and get backordered. There are still a TON of VHO users, especially the Super Actinic. Posts and trends on message boards don't represent a critical mass of people in this hobby. I would guess that there are more VHO users around here than LED users... but most of them don't post or have an online presence at all.

There is nothing beyond the anecdotal that suggest that they will be discontinued. They sell like crazy and specialty bulbs are always exempt from any EPA/Whatever regulations.

I have never met anybody who used VHOs for any significant time over a nice tank who would ever suggest that T5 of LED as a good alternative. Don't switch to VHOs unless you want to be hooked.

To the original question, you should not need to acclimate.

Yes VHO are the best but it's a law that will be shutting them down.

 

[jda]

What law? I will read it if you can post it. I searched the house bill inventory and saw nothing about T12 lamps. Nearly every energy/safety issued law that ever got passed was to stop new units from being built, not supplying materials and fuel to old stuff.

I will worry when such a bill is actually passed, not just talked about.

What is the bill number that got passed into law?

 

[trueblackpercula]

What law? I will read it if you can post it. I searched the house bill inventory and saw nothing about T12 lamps. Nearly every energy/safety issued law that ever got passed was to stop new units from being built, not supplying materials and fuel to old stuff.

I will worry when such a bill is actually passed, not just talked about.

What is the bill number that got passed into law?

This May or may not answer your question

http://www.lrc.rpi.edu/education/outreacheducation/pdf/CLE4/AM_FedStateLegislation.pdf

 

[Nanook]

No need to acclimate unless they are inches above. VHO will be around for a long time.

 

[sirreal63]

I only saw general service lamps in that listing, not specialty bulbs, or the VHO wattage bulbs.