Can't find 60"VHO Actinics anymore... LED recommendations

mikej22

New member
I'm an old school reef hobbyist for 30+ years. The reef tank is a std 180g 24x24x72 used as a pennisula walk around. Lighting is (3) Ushio 10K 250W MH pendants & (2) 59"140W VHO Actinics. I have finally used up my supply of VHO O3 bulbs and find that they are all most impossible to find. (liferocknreef have 4 @ $210 shipped)
I am considering switching to blue LED strips but not sure what is a practical choice to achieve what's best for the corals. I am not into the SPS as most everything I have is what has lived in the tank for 20+years and survived my occasional mistreatment 😣. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.
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How about going T5 in place of the VHO?

 
FWIW, I’m still using MH and currently have a 36” Aquatop Sky actinic LED on my 40 breeder. I’m in planning stages of an upgrade and have 4’ T5 actinics for the 120 upgrade.
 
Check out the Quanta Atlas LEDs for a direct replacement of the metal halide fixtures and the Quanta Helix LED bars for your VHO replacement.

 
Mikej22,
Props to you for still running this combo..... 👏👏👏

I'm still with MH's since the late1980's, but was sad to have to switch from VHO Actinic about 7years back. Nothing compares to the subtle glow that they created.

I currently am running MH's & reefbrite XHO's blues. They look great without MH's (probably too blue for what your use to)
Corals really POP, a bit too intense it's not the same...
 
First off thanks to everyone for input and I will continue to pursue options (y)

Polywise~ not many of us "old schoolers" left 🧐 been using MH since 1989
I really appreciate your comments... once you have lived with that MH & VHO Actinic look it's hard to switch. It's a lot different than the LED only tanks. But the corals do "pop" and when my pieces are traded in they take several weeks to adjust.
 
First off thanks to everyone for input and I will continue to pursue options (y)

Polywise~ not many of us "old schoolers" left 🧐 been using MH since 1989
I really appreciate your comments... once you have lived with that MH & VHO Actinic look it's hard to switch. It's a lot different than the LED only tanks. But the corals do "pop" and when my pieces are traded in they take several weeks to adjust.
There’s a few of us dinosaurs around who are clinging to MH. I’ve got enough MH bulbs stockpiled for 13-15 years.

My actinic is another story. I only have 4 T5 actinics for when I upgrade. And I don’t know how long those bulbs will be available.

My concern is availability. There are several people still making importing MH bulbs and one or two still making/importing ballasts. But, that stuff is going to continue to get harder to find IMO.

Here’s a thread talking about places to get MH.
 
First off thanks to everyone for input and I will continue to pursue options (y)

Polywise~ not many of us "old schoolers" left 🧐 been using MH since 1989
I really appreciate your comments... once you have lived with that MH & VHO Actinic look it's hard to switch. It's a lot different than the LED only tanks. But the corals do "pop" and when my pieces are traded in they take several weeks to adjust.
This isn’t true. They can look the same.
 
wvned,
same spectrum- yes
IMO can't get the same subtle glow as actinic use to produce
 
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I guess I should have been clearer in my comments as not all MH bulbs have the color spectrum that I am used to. I have pretty much always used the USHIO MH-S250W/10,000K/CWA/E39/T15. I recently (Dec '24) purchased them direct from the manufacturer @ $55 ea and were delivered in 2 days (estore.ushio.com). The 250W 14K & 20K's are discontinued but some varieties for the 150W & 400W are still available direct.
 
I'm an old school reef hobbyist for 30+ years. The reef tank is a std 180g 24x24x72 used as a pennisula walk around. Lighting is (3) Ushio 10K 250W MH pendants & (2) 59"140W VHO Actinics. I have finally used up.


my supply of VHO O3 bulbs😣. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.
Ok from a "spectrum" point of view any clarity on, apparently, which O3 bulbs?

the traditional "super actinics" are the ones that have been around forever, and are probably the vho actinics you have been using for 20 years...

now there is a new "03" actinic. the super actinics peak at 454nm, while the new "03" actinics peak at 420nm
Back from 2009....
Screenshot_20250205-072621.png
 
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I'm an old school reef hobbyist for 30+ years. The reef tank is a std 180g 24x24x72 used as a pennisula walk around. Lighting is (3) Ushio 10K 250W MH pendants & (2) 59"140W VHO Actinics. I have finally used up my supply of VHO O3 bulbs and find that they are all most impossible to find. (liferocknreef have 4 @ $210 shipped)
I am considering switching to blue LED strips but not sure what is a practical choice to achieve what's best for the corals. I am not into the SPS as most everything I have is what has lived in the tank for 20+years and survived my occasional mistreatment 😣. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.View attachment 32408996View attachment 32408997
Also, Aquatic Technology still has VHO listed on their website for sale.
 
for $290 you can get a 60" Orphek bar.. Spectrums "not quite" VHO.. a bit more in the lower violet end.
No green spike or the bit of amber/red that gives the vho a smidge of white (RGB).
Screenshot 2025-02-05 174019.png
 
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