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

[mikej22]

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.

 

[griss]

How about going T5 in place of the VHO?

ATI 80W True Actinic 03 | Premium Aquatics

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[griss]

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.

 

[ironwill723]

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.

Quanta Lights

Quanta Lights

www.quanta-lights.com

Atlas

Designed for simplicity, reliability, and easy installation, this industry-leading light features 720 LED chips along with both primary and secondary optics to optimize light output, spectral blending, and efficiency. The unique, science-based spectrum design incorporates the correct ratios of...

www.quanta-lights.com

Quanta Helix

Includes mounting brackets and a hanging kit. This light is air cooled and it is not designed for unventilated enclosed canopies. Please refer to the warranty to learn more.

www.quanta-lights.com

 

[Timfish]

Led Aquarium Bar Light 54w/81w/108w 470nm Blue Spectrum Strip Light for Tank | eBay

Spectrum: All Blue color 470nm Wavelength. PopularGrow LED Aquarium Lamp. Led with CE/UL/RoHS Certification. No Risky Led Light. What You Get With PopularGrow LED. What You Don’t Get With PopularGrow LED.

www.ebay.com

 

[wvned]

AI Blades?

 

[polywise]

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...

 

[mikej22]

First off thanks to everyone for input and I will continue to pursue options

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.

 

[griss]

First off thanks to everyone for input and I will continue to pursue options

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.

 

[wvned]

First off thanks to everyone for input and I will continue to pursue options

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.

 

[polywise]

wined,
same spectrum- yes
IMO can't get the same subtle glow as actinic use to produce