Which is the best suplement?

[CarlosS]

Hi Guys:

Currently I have a 400 watts, 14.000ºK, Hamilton MH Bulb. I suplement this with a 96 watts PC blue bulb. I would like change this PC for a HO(T5) or VHO, super actinic or true actinic or whatever.

I talked to premium aquatics and they told me that UV (T5) are the best suplementing Metal Halides with actinics. Also I am thinking in buy a actinic 03 PC bulb.

Which would you recommend?

 

[northbay-reefer]

Their is nothing better actinic wise than VHO actinic bulbs by URI

 

[CarlosS]

Thaanks for your soonest response:

Now. What do you think about two of these:

http://www.premiumaquatics.com/Merc...ROD&Product_Code=36BVHO&Category_Code=URIblue

Or only one would be enough?

 

[northbay-reefer]

For actinic supplement you only need 2 blue actinic bulbs, Especially with the 14k halide

 

[CarlosS]

Great!!!,

Thanks for your help

 

[CarlosS]

Vote please!!!

 

[bosworth]

I second the vote for VHO Actinic by URI these are the best bulbs on the market. So far the T5 version of this bulb hasn't been able to reproduce the same light.

 

[CarlosS]

Thanks for your comments.

Bt you can see that there are people that still like T5 HO. Why is that. I think that it is very different to VHO

 

[CarlosS]

Who is voting for T5 HO???, I can't believe it!!!. Why it is supposed that is best??

 

[killagoby]

I heard you do not need actinics with 14K MH's.

 

[bureau13]

14Ks have a lot of blue (450 nm or so) not so much 420 nm (the violet look that makes greens, etc glow) which is what you get from actinics.

I voted for T5 HO, because IMO the actinic T5 from UV Lighting (this is the company that used to be URI, the maker of the VHO actinics that everyone is raving about) looks outstanding IMO, and with proper reflectors, you get more bang for the energy buck from T5HO. Now, I have never compared the UVL T5 side-by-side with the VHO counterpart, but I'm very happy with mine.

jds

 

[CarlosS]

bureau13

I heard that the T5 can last 3 years with proper intensity? Is that true?

 

[Cubman777]

Now that they make a true actinic T5, it is my actinic supplementation of choice. It takes up less room and creates less heat and requires less wattage, and I feel still does the trick.

 

[CarlosS]

Excelent!

For the results, I think that the T5 is the winner. Does anybody want to vote??

In the other hand, Is the ICE cap ballast the best option for these T5?

 

[bureau13]

I heard two years, but I can't say for sure. I do know that of my 4 AB Ocean Blue bulbs that came with my fixture, 3 died in less than a year. I've since replaced them with a combination of UVL Actincis and ATI Blue+ so hopefully I will get something more like their expected life this time.

jds

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=9592233#post9592233 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by CarlosS
bureau13

I heard that the T5 can last 3 years with proper intensity? Is that true?

 

[CarlosS]

Nobody else wants to vote?

Come on!!! Try an let you know you position!!!

 

[CarlosS]

bureau13

But VHO is winning, as you could see.

 

[CarlosS]

And VHO is cheaper

 

[hahnmeister]

The lumen/watt of the T5s is greater than the VHO, but most people are conparing one super actinic (110watts) to one T5 (54watts)... not exactly the fairest of comparisons.

If you compare dual 54wattT5 super actinics to one 110watt VHO.... the T5s trounce the VHOs.

The other reason I like T5s better is not actinic at all, but the blue bulbs. The blue bulbs are where its at for me, and what most halides really need for supplimentation, not actinic (most 10,000Ks have tons of actinic already... more than a 20,000K... its the blue spike that they lack). The blue+ style T5s have a much higher visual impact and output than the actinics as well.

 

[CarlosS]

hahnmeister:

Yes you are right, but the super actinics improve the coral colors better than the blue ones.

In this matter I am considering in by two T5 39 watts, 36" for suplementing my MH, 400w, 14.000ºK. But i really would like super actinics. Blue ones are great, talking about visual impact, but actinics have a purple color that boost the colors of corals and fish.