VHO or PC

[krismist]

I am redoing my lights on my tank. I can't decide what to use. I have PC on my tank but I have messed up two of the endcaps, so I will have to replace them. I also have a set of VHO laying around and not sure which to use or to add both to my tank.

I have 3 250 10,000k MH and should have 4 96 watt PC atinics(only 2 of them are working now.) I have 2 660 Icecap ballast and all the end caps.

Any suggestions on which I should use or use both.

Also I have a 150 gallon reef tank. THanks

 

[marineduud]

I would go with the VHO's.

 

[Bennihanna]

Definately VHO's much better color.

 

[mikeatjac]

VHOs here.

 

[sea devil]

VHOs

 

[PelagicMagic]

VHO. Never liked the pc's for reef, they are fine for FO. You want to sell your extra 660? or pc's? Im looking for better light for my FO

 

[robwsup]

VHO again

 

[nikonosis]

Metal halide or T5 but if you are just using them to actinic the mh then go with vho!

 

[robwsup]

I'm sure she was just asking for opinions from people that have used both lighting.

 

[nikonosis]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=6847884#post6847884 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by robwsup
I'm sure she was just asking for opinions from people that have used both lighting.

well i can tell you right now pc's suck unless you are using them on a very small tank, not very deep, or just keeping fish. For a 150 they are horrible. I assume since she already has MH she would be using them for the blue to actinic the MH which wouldn't be doing much for Par or anything else and would be just for the look. In my opinion if you are running 10k bulbs and want to add some blue, the vho looks the best for true actinics, way better than pc's or T5's. I have never owned t5s but i know they will run off the 660 ballast she says she has and they use alot less watts and last alot longer than the vhos do but imo they don't look as good color wise. She never mentioned what size tank she was going to use them on or what she planned on keeping in the tank.

 

[PelagicMagic]

When URI releases their T5 it will/should be better looking color wise

 

[nikonosis]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=6848444#post6848444 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by PelagicMagic
When URI releases their T5 it will/should be better looking color wise

Then i would say go with the t5s and use the 2 660 ballasts. Just get t5 endcaps and reflectors.

 

[sea devil]

I think the question was," VHO's or PC's"

 

[nikonosis]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=6848526#post6848526 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by sea devil
I think the question was," VHO's or PC's"

maybe they don't know anything about t5's? or maybe they didn't know they could run t5's off of the 660s ballasts? just giving another alternative. i dunno

 

[SSweet1]

VHO's are much nicer in my opinion.

 

[nikonosis]

i personally would go with vho's and the halides and just use the vhos for acintics.

 

[krismist]

I was not aware that I could use T-5 on the 660. That is an idea. I don't know much about T-5, are they that much better than VHO

 

[nikonosis]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=6856155#post6856155 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by krismist
I was not aware that I could use T-5 on the 660. That is an idea. I don't know much about T-5, are they that much better than VHO

they run way cooler and use alot less electricity than the vhos

 

[Bennihanna]

Remember that less in this sense is a relative term.

 

[krismist]

but what about the light. I need it for atinic. i see that they are less watts? is this going to be a issue