Help deciding between VHO or Halides....

[tdcracing]

I currently have a 29 gallon High Tank. No corals yet. Been set up for about 6 months. Currently have a goby, Banded shrimp, CUC and a clown.


I have had two 24'' VHO ARO bulbs and balast for a cupple of years (New bulbs after tank getting set up again) and i'm having a hard time deciding if I want to upgrade to a 4 bulb harness or if I want to keep these two VHO's and just get a 175w Metal Halide DIY kiy.


I would like to keep zoanthids, Colt Corals, Anemones, Torch corals ect. not really into the hard corals.



What should I do?



Option 1:


Upgrade to a 175w Metal Halide along with my current VHO's ( about 210 bucks with bulb)




Option 2:


Upgrade to a 4 VHO harness and buy two new bulbs (I can run 4 VHO's on my current ballast) for (about 80.00 with bulbs)




Money is a concern but being able to keep the corals listed above is a bigger one.... Mainly wanted to get some opinions on how corals that are similar to the above mentioned ones will do under the two different options above.
****Lights will be about 8 inches above the water mounted in an enclosed canopy with cooling fan already installed*****

 

[Gold Stripe]

You're better off with VHO. Nothing you want to keep would require anything stronger and you can avoid the heat of MH.

 

[ModAquatics]

I run 4 VHO's. I think they bring out better color than MH. Here is a pic of my tank.

 

[jimsplace]

I would stay with the VHO's, why spend the money on MH when you can invest that cash in more corals. I also run only VHO on my 90 and can grow just about anything. Check out my pics on my user name.

 

[moondoggy4]

I like the VHO option since you already have it all the better. I've been wanting to run VHO's on my 33 gallon tank, I like the color options.

 

[grigsy]

You wont go wrong with either. 4-VHOs will give you better overall color IMO.

Nice tank ModAquatics. What 4 VHOs are you running?

 

[moondoggy4]

http://www.aquacave.com/2-lamp-as220-vhobr-ballast-kit-632.html I just bought this but I have not received it yet. I plan on running it on my 33 gallon tank it is 24'' long. Any thought or suggestions. Thanks in advance

 

[tdcracing]

What are you planning on keeping?

 

[moondoggy4]

I will be keeping LPS hammers, frogspawn, palys and chalice.

 

[moondoggy4]

wattage

wattage

http://www.aquacave.com/2-lamp-as220-vhobr-ballast-kit-632.html I just bought this but I have not received it yet. I plan on running it on my 33 gallon tank it is 24'' long. Any thought or suggestions. Thanks in advance

I just received this unit It is a 220 watt unit with two bulb configuration. I want to run two 24'' bulbs so I would want to put two 75 watt bulbs on it. Would it over drive the bulbs? Would it blow up the bulbs? Or would it match the bulb wattage? Thanks in advance

 

[Hendogg0]

Yeah I would also go with vho for just softies it just right don't need mh youll be happy with them

 

[RotaryGeek]

Honestly im a MH guy, but i was extremly impressed with the color of the VHOs and with your size tank you could still grow anything with 4 VHOs.