Why do people use VHO!?

The simple answer is because in the Actinic field, T12 VHO's (commonly referred to as "VHO") is unmatched when it comes to flourescing the corals. Even the T5HO UVL Super Actinic R cannot match its T12 VHO counterpart. I've used both... there's a big difference.
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^ +1

I've seen people for their canopy do t5, but than throw in 2 vho's just for actinic. Corals literally glow under them...
 
How many VHO do you need in a 170g tank? I am thinking of doing 2x lumen bright 250w and VHO Actinic supplement. How many bulbs would be sufficient?
 
my ballast is ice cap 660 how many 60" bulbs can it handle? are all t12 bulbs pretty much the same? which brand VHO bulbs are the best?
 
My 660 runs 3x72" bulbs. So, at least 3, maybe 4.

For actinics, I alway liked the Phillips 03 (if you can even find it!) or the URI. I'm currently using a mix of Aquasun and URI bulbs.
 
One of the best LFS I've ever seen uses all VHO and their display tanks are huge, crammed with animals and spectacular. The guy has been in business a while and convinced me the newer technologies are just that, newer.
 
A few pics of my 150 gallon (72"x18"x28"). Lit with 5, 160 watt VHO's

Pic #1, Ricordeas love VHO's

PICT0105-1.jpg


Pic #2, Coraline loves VHO's. Far right is about 4 weeks growth, middle is about 3 weeks growth, left is about 3 days (all gone now)

PICT0116.jpg


Pic #3, FTS all lights on. 2x URI Super Actinics, 2 x URI Actinic Whites, 1 x URI Aquasun. Bulbs are about 4 months old. Bulbs are 8.5 inches above the waterline. PAR at middle of tank, at the water line is 300. PAR is 260, 12 inches from the end of the tank, at the water line.

PICT0117-1.jpg


Pic #4, Super Actinics only

PICT0118.jpg


Pic #5, Actinic Whites and Aquasun only

PICT0119.jpg
 
At one point VHOs were the way to go, but since alot of people have upgraded and a you can pick them up pretty cheap. They seem to last forever, other that replacing bulbs. And even when people upgrade they can usually just add to them.
 
I was running VHO super actinics for 7 years and thought they were doing well untill I decided to try the Giesemann T-5 460nm actinics on a simple WH-7 ballast, Im going to say this about that, they are much brighter and are a better spectrum than the URI's, hands down. For one, the 'intrenal' reflectors on the URI's are a joke, whenever you can see light throught the top side of the bulb, theyre not doing the job of directing the light down efficiently at all, where as the T-5's use an external reflector which does a much better job getting the light where it needs to be. Ive been doing this reefing thing steady for over ten years so this aint my first lighting rodeo, would I go back to VHO actinics? NO WAY!
 
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15370426#post15370426 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by JD52
I was running VHO super actinics for 7 years and thought they were doing well untill I decided to try the Giesemann T-5 460nm actinics on a simple WH-7 ballast, Im going to say this about that, they are much brighter and are a better spectrum than the URI's, hands down. For one, the 'intrenal' reflectors on the URI's are a joke, whenever you can see light throught the top side of the bulb, theyre not doing the job of directing the light down efficiently at all, where as the T-5's use an external reflector which does a much better job getting the light where it needs to be. Ive been doing this reefing thing steady for over ten years so this aint my first lighting rodeo, would I go back to VHO actinics? NO WAY!
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Not saying your wrong, but the gieseman pure actinic's are ok. Their color is not as good as the uri's. The uri's have a better spectrum. The only way to get the giesemans to start to compare is to overdrive them. Then you are just killing the bulbs.
I have used both also and also been reeding for over 10 yrs. That is why I am switching back to vho for supplements.
 
Im not referring to the Geisemann 03 420nm pure actinics, Im talking about the Power Chrome Actinic plus 460nm bulbs.... Huge difference,.. No overdriving necessary.. These with good reflectors will blow the URI's away..
 
I've been using VHO lighting on my tanks for almost 20 years.
Maybe I'm just old and don't like change???lol
Or maybe I just like the color!
 
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15370741#post15370741 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by JD52
Im not referring to the Geisemann 03 420nm pure actinics, Im talking about the Power Chrome Actinic plus 460nm bulbs.... Huge difference,.. No overdriving necessary.. These with good reflectors will blow the URI's away..
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Just my opnion since I am running 1 Geisemann 03 420nm pure actinic and 1 Power Chrome Actinic plus 460nm as we speak on my tank, but the Power Chrome Actinic plus 460nm is way too blue. It is not really an actinic color. Actinic should be purple/violet. And what ever Phosphorus URI is using seems the be the best Actinic color. Like I said this is just my opnion ;)

Oh, I am also changing my bulbs out this week to VHO URI Super Actinics :D
 
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15375204#post15375204 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by mfinn
I've been using VHO lighting on my tanks for almost 20 years.
Maybe I'm just old and don't like change???lol
Or maybe I just like the color!
Click to expand...

I was the same way until I tried the G 460's, perfect balance with a quality 10k halide.
 
My old Icecap 660 is just sitting around right now. I can't wait to use it all over again with VHO's and go the sps route this time. 440 watts over a 60 breeder sounds about right.

;)
 
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