VHO bulb combination

[Amy]

I'm in the process of upgrading my lights to 3 4' VHO's over a 55 gallon (20" deep). I plan on keeping mostly softies: mushrooms, polyps & an anemone of some sort for my clown. Nothing that's going to require an immense amount of light.
What do you suggest for bulb combo's & what brands do you prefer? Also, is there any kind of end-caps that are preferred over all others? Can I purchase the end-caps at a Home-Depot type place or only aquarium suppliers?

 

[mtellin]

Depending on the type of color you are looking for, I would use two actinic whites and a super actinic (all URI brand) with the super actinic in the back. If you are looking for waterproof endcaps(which I would certainly recommend) I dont think you will find them anywhere other than an aquarium type store. Usually around 10.00 per set I think.
HTH,
Mike

 

[Colin Smith]

I second Mike's opinion, with the possible exception of a URI full spectrum in place of one of the actinic whites. Depending, of course, on how blue you want it.

I think the waterproof endcaps you're looking for are only available at aquarium places.

HTH,

--Colin

 

[shawnz28]

I agree with Colin if you're going to run 3 bulbs go with one 50/50, one aquasun, and one actinic 03. This would be what I would personally do.

Shawn

 

[shawnz28]

If this is going to go in a canopy you may want to check and go with 46.5" bulbs instead. Just a thought.

Shawn

 

[Amy]

Shawn,
Why 46.5" instead of 48"?
Just my guess, but wouldn't 48's be easier to replace or are 46.5's more common than I think?

 

[mtellin]

I think he said that because your tank is 48" long and the waterproof endcaps add a little bit of legnth and may not fit in your canopy, however I also have a 48" tank (75 gallon) and 48 URI bulbs will fit in it just fine with the waterproof endcaps (for some reason corallife(sp?) bulbs are 1/4" longer than URI bulbs.

Mike

 

[mtellin]

Also, URI is one of the few (if not only) brand that makes the 46.5" VHO

 

[jaydse]

any one got a link for the coralife bulbs Iwant to check price & watts.

 

[mtellin]

they have them at lampsnow.com they are the same wattage per legnth as the uri's or any other vho for that matter, but they have 360 degree output(no internal reflector)