MH/VHO need more suggestions/opinions...

[silly34]

Ok my LFS has shown me a setup where they use a 4 bulb VHO on one of their reef tanks, they keep SPS corals in it as well as other stuff.

This http://www.hellolights.com/724lamvhoret.html appears to be what I want if I go to VHO. If I go this route what bulbs should I get? I want a natural white or as close as possible.

Or are MH the better way to go? They both will cost relatively the same. The reason I like the VHO's is because they will fit under my current canopy. W/ the MH I will have to build a new canopy, which isn't a big deal..kind of fun actually but adds additional costs.

Anyhow thanks for the help!

B.

 

[Anonymous]

My LFS also uses VHO setups for everything, including clams (he has kept one for 12 years in his show tank).

I would go with VHO because they also consume less energy. Also, if you do decide to go MH, you will be glad to have the VHO ballast and parts arround for Atinic suppliment. Many people who run MH only run them for short periods (3-5 hrs) and run VHO for the rest of the light period.

While MH are "better" if you are looking for fast growth of SPS, I feel that the VHO lights bring out the colors of these corals nicely.

In my 90g I run 3 48" bulbs from URI, one is true atinic, the other 2 are 50/50 (12000K)bulbs and with the atinic in the middle, I have nice white light. No SPS or clams (yet?). EVrything is doing great!

If you want 4 bulbs, run 2 atinic and 2 50/50.

Hope this helps!

 

[Mikef1]

Hob big is your tank? I would go with 2 MHs and 2 VHO the wattage will depend on the size of the tank. I think if you go with VHO you will be unhappy later. I took the same route, I went with pcs only and then had to buy MHs also. The metal halides look better and have that shimmer to them.

 

[hillbilly]

VHO's are good lights. However, if you are planing to keep sps anytime in the future, go with MH. It will keep you from having to upgrade your lighting system later on. MH's are the most intense lights we have for keeping sps. I have used canopies in the past, but for the past 3 yrs. or so I've just hung pendants over the tanks. Works much better,IMO. I really like the Reefstar HQI. Aqua Direct has the best price on these I've found. PFO makes nice ones also. Aqualine Buscke make really nice units with the Aquaspacelight series, but these are quite pricey.

 

[ChrisRD]

I would go with VHO because they also consume less energy.

Not that I dislike VHOs, but I have to disagree with that notion. You can actually get similar light levels to your corals with less MH wattage as compared to VHOs. MHs lamps are more efficient and the point source nature of the light allows for much more efficient use of reflectors and much better penetration down into the water.

For example - a good 2 X 150 watt DE halide setup will get a LOT more light to your corals than the best 4 X 110 watt VHO setup. Watt for watt nothing will get as much light to your corals as a good MH setup.

JMO/JME

 

[Anonymous]

You can actually get similar light levels to your corals with less MH wattage as compared to VHOs.

This is true, if the effeciency of the ballast are equal between the VHO and the halides (for instance if both were 100% effecient, this argument would be moot).
This is not the case, and watt for watt, VHO ballast use less power due to more effecient ballast. (less energy consumption!)
Though, as you state this is a less intense light.


I am not an electric expert...
Nor do I consider myself a lighting expert, but I like the way VHO light my aquarium better that MH.

 

[Anonymous]

Plain and Simple..MH's..IMO of course...i have a 175W pendant over my 20..seems to work good and better safe than sorry..you can keep SPS under PC lighting honestly..Its all gonna depend on the size of your tank though.....if anything go with MH supplemented with VHO or PC...

 

[fredso2003]

:lol: Ah yes,yet another heavily debated lighting question.I might as well ad my 2 cents.I run 1 400 watt M/H with a 10000k ushio bulb with 2 40 watt atinics on a scedule:9am atinics on/11am M/H on 9pm M/H off 11pm atinics off.I have a variety of both SPS & LPS with no problems with either after I got the placement issue down and found out where each coral is happy at IE;lees light/more light less current/more current.I have not expierenced any signifigant discoloration and all of my corals are thriving,the 10000k ushio gives off a clear white and the atinics add a touch of blue,the color is really a matter of asthetics IMO.I often just run the M/H alone turning on the atinics at night after the halide goes off.I personally prefer the M/H over VHO'S because in my expierence I can keep virtually anything I desire inclucing a clam or 2 which I plan on adding soon,The only small setback that I have observed on my system is that my coraline seems to grow in the "shaded areas" more so than in direct lght of the halides,I have read that some systems with M/H's coraline doesnt thrive as much as with VHO'S?? I hope this help's......... 8)

 

[Anonymous]

Yes Fredso...totally agree...that supports my statement of better safe than sorry...

 

[ChrisRD]

You can actually get similar light levels to your corals with less MH wattage as compared to VHOs.

This is true, if the effeciency of the ballast are equal between the VHO and the halides (for instance if both were 100% effecient, this argument would be moot).
This is not the case, and watt for watt, VHO ballast use less power due to more effecient ballast. (less energy consumption!)

Again, I disagree. There are some major differences between the two systems that effect the overall performance - far more than ballast efficiency will (besides, efficient electronic ballasts are available for MH systems these days - just as they are for fluorescents). Modern test data appears to indicate that reflector/lamp geometry are the most significant factors in overall lighting system performance. This is why T-5 fluorescent systems with modern reflectors can far exceed the efficiency levels of a T-12 VHO system running on the same ballast.

With a PAR meter and a watt/amp meter you can easily settle the debate. Measure the actual light falling on a coral in your tank vs. the energy being consumed and then compare to a MH or even a T-5 setup. You'll find the MH system is far better at this which is one of several reasons they've gotten so popular in the hobby. It's also one of reasons HID lighting systems are so common in commercial applications - energy efficiency for the light produced. When's the last time you saw T-12 VHOs used in a commercial lighting application?

 

[Anonymous]

Ok ok....
I give up.
Get MH now and save time and money!

(But I am going to be happy with my VHOs :wink: )

 

[Anonymous]

To each their own...its really simple with lighting though..you have to consider the depth of your wallet and what inhabitants you want to keep...which is better is a matter of opinion for the most part...scientificially its gonna rely on what inhabitants you want to keep...