vho lit tanks?
- Thread starter humu
- Start date
Thank you Steve!
Toptank - Switching to VHO may have the opposite effect. Watt for watt they are very similar with heat output. MH confines the heat in one spot making it easier to disperse. That has been my experience anyway.
I assume you've tried fans... Do you have a sump?
Toptank - Switching to VHO may have the opposite effect. Watt for watt they are very similar with heat output. MH confines the heat in one spot making it easier to disperse. That has been my experience anyway.
I assume you've tried fans... Do you have a sump?
Hi Guy,
Pmfji and a little OT. What kind of macroalgae is that? It looks like what I have on some rock I got recently from Paragon. I thought my Tang would make short work of it, but he's ignoring it for now.
Do you trim it at all? Mine's really growing great guns and am starting to become a little concerned about it spreading too much.
I've been trying to find out exactly what it is for a couple months, now. Do you know
Tia,
Pmfji and a little OT. What kind of macroalgae is that? It looks like what I have on some rock I got recently from Paragon. I thought my Tang would make short work of it, but he's ignoring it for now.
Do you trim it at all? Mine's really growing great guns and am starting to become a little concerned about it spreading too much.
I've been trying to find out exactly what it is for a couple months, now. Do you know
Tia,
Check out the pics from my website to see my tank, exclusively lit by 4x48" VHO.
Barry, you might want to consider using 2 Actinic and 2 Aquasuns if you are going to switchover. The combo of 2 Actinics with 2 50/50 tends to look very pink. The Actinics with Aquasuns looks very bluish-white. I also have great success with my coral growth using that combo. Just my $0.02
Barry, you might want to consider using 2 Actinic and 2 Aquasuns if you are going to switchover. The combo of 2 Actinics with 2 50/50 tends to look very pink. The Actinics with Aquasuns looks very bluish-white. I also have great success with my coral growth using that combo. Just my $0.02
Guy, yes I have 4 x 4" fan in the canopy and also a fan over the sump.
Don't care what anyone says but 3 x 400 watters get hot and should not be run without a chiller and in my case that was going to cost me too much as I would also have to rewire my fish room for more amps. I thought 1800.00 was more than I wanted to spend at this time.
Andy, your tank looks great as always.
Barry
Don't care what anyone says but 3 x 400 watters get hot and should not be run without a chiller and in my case that was going to cost me too much as I would also have to rewire my fish room for more amps. I thought 1800.00 was more than I wanted to spend at this time.
Andy, your tank looks great as always.
Barry
Guy
Nice tank.
humu
Sorry no camera = no pics but if it means anything I really like the look of VHO's. That's not to say that I don't also like the look of MH - each is different. Why not visit a store somewhere near you that has a few VHO tanks. Nothing like a first hand look before deciding.
Barry
I don't blame you for switching to VHO if heat is a problem. 400W MH bulbs are fireballs compared to 6' VHO tubes IME. If you can handle the lower light you should be able to drop the water temp of your tank below ambient with 4 VHO's running for 10-12 hrs and only 2x4" fans in your canopy. If you find that you need more light you could always add 2 more bulbs like Guy's setup. Unless you are seriously into GROWING
SPS there is plenty that can be done with VHO
or PC's for that matter. IceCap and URI is still the best VHO combo IMO
Nice tank.
humu
Sorry no camera = no pics but if it means anything I really like the look of VHO's. That's not to say that I don't also like the look of MH - each is different. Why not visit a store somewhere near you that has a few VHO tanks. Nothing like a first hand look before deciding.
Barry
I don't blame you for switching to VHO if heat is a problem. 400W MH bulbs are fireballs compared to 6' VHO tubes IME. If you can handle the lower light you should be able to drop the water temp of your tank below ambient with 4 VHO's running for 10-12 hrs and only 2x4" fans in your canopy. If you find that you need more light you could always add 2 more bulbs like Guy's setup. Unless you are seriously into GROWING
SPS there is plenty that can be done with VHO
or PC's for that matter. IceCap and URI is still the best VHO combo IMO
bowfront, thank for the encouragement as I need it now. Almost sold my 180 a few week ago. I had some awsome SPS and they were starting to show some beautiful color and growth and then I had a heat spike and lost all within 48 hrs.
Am going with softies and leathers for now and I think the VHOs will work well for that application. I already had a VHO icecap 430 that I was using for atinic suppliment with my old 400ers so now I just ordered another 430 with more bulbs. I know these 4 x VHO, total wattage of 560 will not get as hot as those 3 x 400 MH ( 1200 watt) If I had or could have had a chiller then that would be a different story. Do I think you need MH for SPS, IMO and IME yes but also best to have a chiller.
Oh, forgot to ask, how long do you leave your VHOs on a day?
Barry
[ October 19, 2001: Message edited by: toptank ]
[ October 20, 2001: Message edited by: toptank ]
Am going with softies and leathers for now and I think the VHOs will work well for that application. I already had a VHO icecap 430 that I was using for atinic suppliment with my old 400ers so now I just ordered another 430 with more bulbs. I know these 4 x VHO, total wattage of 560 will not get as hot as those 3 x 400 MH ( 1200 watt) If I had or could have had a chiller then that would be a different story. Do I think you need MH for SPS, IMO and IME yes but also best to have a chiller.
Oh, forgot to ask, how long do you leave your VHOs on a day?
Barry
[ October 19, 2001: Message edited by: toptank ]
[ October 20, 2001: Message edited by: toptank ]
I am changing over from MH to 4 x VHOs as I was having a terrible heat problem. Long story but was going to cost me over 2000.00 for chiller and electric work. I am going to have 4 total VHOs 560 watts over my 180. 2 will be atinic and 2 superwhite. Should I run
blue, white, blue white or blue white white and blue or does it make that much difference?
Barry
blue, white, blue white or blue white white and blue or does it make that much difference?
Barry
No pictures for now. I have a 100 gal tank with 1 actinic 96 watt, 1 96 watt actinic and 2 50/50's. I always looked pink to me so I added 2 65 watt PCs with 10k smart bulbs. They are real green and balance the tank great. Plus it gives me more options for timers. I have the 40 watt actinic come on then the PCs, then the 3 96 watt VHOs, then reverse at night.
I thought I would chime in... I have an Oceanic 55+ (~62 gal) that is lit by 2 URI aticnic, and 2 white powered by an Ice Cap 660. I really love the look of MH but I don't have the extra money to get them.. I know I should change the bulbs more often on my VHO's too.. I average about every 10 months. This gives me over 7 watts per gallon, but it is also taller 24" sooooo.. I am rambling. I run it blue,white,blue,white. keeping the white towards the front of the tank, (it looks better that way). and.. I am a loser and don't have any pics to post.
Rich
How long are you running your VHOs( hours per day)?
I finally got these 4 VHOs hooked up today. A little pink but I am running blue, white ,white and blue . (front to back ) These bulbs are actinic white and super actinic blue. But they sure do show off the different colors of the coral.
Barry
Barry
I finally got these 4 VHOs hooked up today. A little pink but I am running blue, white ,white and blue . (front to back ) These bulbs are actinic white and super actinic blue. But they sure do show off the different colors of the coral.
Barry
Barry
Sponsor Reefs
We're a FREE website, and we exist because of hobbyists like YOU who help us run this community.
Click here to sponsor $10:
