Compact Flourescent v. VHO

[rutz81]

Right now I am running 4 x 55W 03 Actinic. I was contemplating going to 2 x 110W VHO Super Actinic. I used to run XM 15K halides and got used to the bluer tank. Now I switched over to XM 10K(major difference in color) and was looking to get back some of that blue. Would this make a huge difference or am I just wasting money? 4 x 55W PC's= 220W 2x 110W VHO=220W
Are they the same??

Thanks,
Dave

 

[swashbuckler]

if you are looking for more blue....consider PC 460nm/7100k blue..that is...straight blue bulbs.. this will wash out much of the yellow color from the 10k.....

however, for color of corals and flourescence....VHO's are far more ideal.

 

[Entropy]

I think the switch will help, but it will not get you anywhere near the XM 15k color. You would need four 110w actinics bulbs for that IMO.

 

[rutz81]

thanks for the replies


Any other opinons on whether it would be a noticeable difference?

 

[electric130]

PC's are good for daylights, that's about it. for actinics or blue, they're crap. nothing beats VHO actincs, not even T5's. i like T5's and have installed a few systems of them, but i still prefer VHO's. if you want more blue, keep the PC's and run the 7100K blue bulbs and then add the 2-110w VHO's to it. don't get rid of any of the lighting you already have.

 

[rutz81]

JR-so, your saying to leave my PC's, but make them a lower K(10K, good?); and also, add in 2 x 110W VHO Actinic?

 

[swashbuckler]

no, he's saying run 7100k blue .....which is straight blue...7100k is just a name, dont put that on the "daylight" scale- its not "less" than 10k, its far more. looks like lots of 20k in one bulb.

 

[rutz81]

Swashbuckler, thanks now I read it, right... Don't you think that the PC's would be a waste at that point, wouldn't it be just as beneficial to JUST have the VHO's?? Do the 7100'Ks add anything besides color??

 

[rutz81]

I only question again, becasue I do not have an infinite amount of space in my canopy.

 

[electric130]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=6569758#post6569758 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by swashbuckler
no, he's saying run 7100k blue .....which is straight blue...7100k is just a name, dont put that on the "daylight" scale- its not "less" than 10k, its far more. looks like lots of 20k in one bulb.

exactly

 

[electric130]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=6569861#post6569861 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by rutz81
Swashbuckler, thanks now I read it, right... Don't you think that the PC's would be a waste at that point, wouldn't it be just as beneficial to JUST have the VHO's?? Do the 7100'Ks add anything besides color??

if you can fit them all, then i'd say do it. the 7100K PC's, while not an actinic, will give you a very bright blue light added to the tank to help balance the 10k MH's and get you closer to the 15k look (don't expect that though). the true actinic VHO's will give you the fluorescence you desire from an actinic, and also further help to balance the 10k's. i personally love the look of XM 10k's, but if it's not blue enough for you, i'd look at the newer coralvue 10k's. the latest one's i've seen look closer to a 12k than a 10k.