Where to get bulbs???

[kiowascout]

lombardi and ashland right in front of the tundra lodge next to the now defunct perry's cherry diner.

 

[BryanJ]

The diner had good food just overpriced thats to bad. Are they closing the one at 12th and lombardi?

 

[kiowascout]

closing and bulldozing it to the ground.

I guess that the guy who owns the land wants to build condos there.

I'm not sure who would want to buy a condo next to Smitty's used cars though.....

 

[yaitisme]

Just wondering if any of you T5 folks every owned VHO fixtures. Seems the biggest difference is the bulb diameter and the availability of individual reflectors. Any comments?

 

[BryanJ]

Never owned them all the stories about the retrofit end caps starting on fire turned me into a big chicken. I would buy them if they were in a PFO fixture and they were driven by a ice cap ballast. But the cost of a PFO VHO fixture with bulbs and ice cap ballast upgrade cost almost as much as other MH + actinic setups. what are you trying to light and are you on a budget?

 

[kass03]

The only one on here I know that has VHO is Johnanddawn.

I thought the bulbs were around $40 each at reefgeek but maybe the prices went down since I got mine.

I wouldnt know what colors to pick either lol I always liked Michelles combo.
I read on alot of threads that the purple actinic was'nt that good.
I know my purples faded alot faster than the blues I had before but mine werent from reefgeek so prolly different.

kass

 

[mako56]

I can check I have two 110 watt VHO's on my tank I think I might have the receipt.

 

[yaitisme]

Just curious, with T5 usage increasing I would expect to see used VHO fixtures at good prices.

As far as bulb price goes, from what I've seen T5 and VHOs seemed pretty close (within a buck or two).

I am looking at buying a bigger tank in the 35x18x18-ish tall range. From what I've seen MH and T5 fixtures are about the same price for that size. A T5 will draw about as much juice as a 175 MH. Bulbs are about the same $20x4 for the T5 and $70-ish for the MH. I will probable build a canopy to match my custom built oak stand so I just want to research all lighting angles. The T5 retros are a bit expensive compared to the prebuilt T5 pendent fixtures whereas the MH retros seem less expensive than prebuilt Mh pendants.

I did notice that the new Fleet Farm in Appleton is using what looks like T5's with individual reflectors to light the store.

 

[BryanJ]

I would consider one of these lights

http://www.premiumaquatics.com/Merc...uct_Code=AM-75040&Category_Code=Oceanlight-T5

http://www.marinedepot.com/md_viewItem.asp?idproduct=GL1221

 

[yaitisme]

Got some expensive taste Brian, they both do look nice. I am leaning toward a retro kit for use inside a custom built canopy.

 

[BryanJ]

I asked if you were on a budget before I posted that.:lol: I would have gone premaid on a 36 but on a 48 you jump straight to a grand for those prebuilts. Now that I know you are on a budget just go to www.reefexotics.com that is where I got my lights from.

I think I may have santa upgrade me to the lumnarc reflectors this year.

 

[yaitisme]

Thanks for keeping it under a grand, must be the gold plated reflectors!

Thanks for the link, don't remember ever stopping there before. Good luck on the lumnarc's they look pretty sweet.

 

[BryanJ]

The retrokits include the bulbs so keep that in mind when you are looking at the prices on the halides.