Thinking About New Lights?

[kb0vhy]

What is wrong with a VHO setup? 3 95watt, 1 110 watt bulbs? I've got the ballast (2 Ice Cap 430's or 1 660). Dont know a whole lot about this yet, but want to learn. Running a 75 D.A.S., with a 30gal sump.

It has a Canopy with fans now, was thinking about going open top, and building a suspended light system? Not having a heat problem now. Just like the look of open top.

 

[triggerjay]

I believe T5 or PC have higher PAR than VHO's... I may be wrong though, but I have always been told stay away from VHO if I have any light demanding corals whatsoever...

Jason

 

[hambandit]

halides son. anything else is a waste of money.

 

[triggerjay]

lol, I have been looking into them myself... I want to find some that will fit into my current canopy though.. They would have to be REAL slim...I found an HQI 250 that would work, but the guy only had one....


Jason

 

[Shaun120]

250w for a 55gal??? You could save some money buying 150w HQI and it would be plenty of light for a depth less than 24" JMO.

 

[triggerjay]

lol, I have 390w right now, but they are PC's..

Jason

 

[Shaun120]

You get more light output and intensity from MH and espically HQI bulbs.

Wattage alone should not be the best way to determine your lighting needs. A 150W HQI DE puts out more light than a 175W SE MH. A 250W HQI DE is way too much light for the depth of a 55gal tank. Go with 150W and you'll have enough light for about anything you will want to keep.

 

[AqCons]

Also depends on what you want to keep. If you're wanting softies only or softies and LPS, your current VHO would be fine. However, if you're wanting SPS, then you would be better off with MH. If you're fairly new to the hobby, stick with softies and when you have that down you can start adding LPS and eventually switch over to SPS. That way you wouldn't have to go with MH quite yet.

Just my 2cents.