cerreta
Premium Member
OK, I called the direct source, ASM distributor in Ca. They said there is no T6 VHO bulb that they know of.
I am wondering if manufacturers just list the same HO bulb as a VHO and sell it that way. The reason I presume this is the fact that a VHO ballast like the IC 660 will overdrive bulbs. Therefore a NO 40 bulb will run about 80 watts on the IC660. Likewise, I bet the 54watt T5 or 55watt T6 will run about 100watts on the IC660 ballast. I don't have a way to measure wattage, but I'm sure that the manufacturers are catching on to the multifunctional use of the latests electronic ballasts.
Anyhow, I bought some T6 bulbs today. I will be sure to post pics of the install and I'll measure the LUX output.
For comparitive reasons, here are the specs of the current lights.
MH 250watt ReefFanatic ballast with Phoenix 14k (2mo old) and PFO pendant produces 31,500 LUX. The current 9mo old VHO 48" (too old for acurrate comparison) uri bulbs on a IC660 produces 8,500LUX.
I was also told by the seller of the T6 that they do feature a 5/8" OD, not the 3/4" OD as would be expected of a T6 based on the bulb diameter rating system.
I am wondering if manufacturers just list the same HO bulb as a VHO and sell it that way. The reason I presume this is the fact that a VHO ballast like the IC 660 will overdrive bulbs. Therefore a NO 40 bulb will run about 80 watts on the IC660. Likewise, I bet the 54watt T5 or 55watt T6 will run about 100watts on the IC660 ballast. I don't have a way to measure wattage, but I'm sure that the manufacturers are catching on to the multifunctional use of the latests electronic ballasts.
Anyhow, I bought some T6 bulbs today. I will be sure to post pics of the install and I'll measure the LUX output.
For comparitive reasons, here are the specs of the current lights.
MH 250watt ReefFanatic ballast with Phoenix 14k (2mo old) and PFO pendant produces 31,500 LUX. The current 9mo old VHO 48" (too old for acurrate comparison) uri bulbs on a IC660 produces 8,500LUX.
I was also told by the seller of the T6 that they do feature a 5/8" OD, not the 3/4" OD as would be expected of a T6 based on the bulb diameter rating system.
