Vho vs Mh (1 Viewer)

[HongT713]

so i just added some vho to my tank to see the difference. I currently added 4x6' vho to my tank and since my tank is 4 ft deep how many vho will i need to power the tank if i decide to take off the metal halides? Would u guys prefer mh or vho's?

tank with metal halide

with vho

sps with mh

sps vho

 

[d2mini]

i always prefer a mix. MH for the main lighting and then vho/t5 for the blues.

 

[HongT713]

when i turned on the mh and vho at same time i hardly see the vho lights, maybe i need more vho to make it even?

 

[Llama]

Those VHO's sure seem to make everything pop. I like the VHO's and would say at least 8 bulbs? That is purely a guess though.

 

[HongT713]

yeah i noticed the corals looked more plump and colorful with the vho then the mh. If i do 8-10vho strips that should be enough light to where i can eliminate the mh?

 

[Llama]

Someone with more VHO experience will have to answer you there.

 

[DustinB]

I use metal halide and the vho super actinics. You don't see much of a change as far as color, everything just pops a lot more.

I don't know if VHO is good enough for most SPS? I wouldn't think so, especially in a 4' deep tank.

 

[rxonco]

I'd have a hard time thinking anything other than MH would be able to provide sufficient penetration in a 4' tank. Not sure though. Color looks good, but regular output 40 watt fluorescent bulbs can give great color.

 

[Ostentum]

I have sucessfully grown sps with both VHO, MH and a combination of both. Like what was said before VHO makes the colors pop a little more, but you probably wont see the growth rates you would with MH. With a tank of 4' deep I think you pretty much have to go with MH to get the penetration unless you are going to keep everything at the top of the tank. It seams like each varital of sps grows differently under different types. For an example pre hurricane Ike, my Tyree PM grew from a 1/2 frag to a 3" multi branch colony in about a year under only VHO in a 24" deep tank kept in the middle of the tank. I know people who have the same placement in tanks with only MH and havent seen but 1" of growth in a year, we will see how that holds up when I put my New Tyree PM frag in the tank next week under some MH. I have always personally liked the look of a combo of VHO and MH, for the more Natural Sun look with supplemental Blues for the "Color Pop"

 

[HongT713]

yeah mayb ill do just do a combo of mh and vho just to be safe cause when i turn on just the vho dosnt look like enough light for the sps. Thanks for the input guys

 

[RGH69]

Hong, I think you need a couple of these to point at your SPS. 4 Feet penetration would be no problem.



http://www.ecoxotic.com/products/modular-led-lighting/cannon-led-pendants.html

 

[HongT713]

Wow those look great im going to have to look into somthing like that much cleaner also.

 

[Ostentum]

I am not convinced that an LED can put out the same par levels and provide the lighting effects similar to sunlight. Why not go with Solar Tubes on the roof?

 

[HongT713]

that was my plan to do solar tube had the ok from my wife but all the ac units are right above the tank so it will be to much work. I hear that the led works great and provides enough lights for sps as well. Il prob call the company later to ask more details about them

 

[Ostentum]

a couple of articles that I read is that the par ratings for current LED will put out close to the same levels of MH up to about 18-24" anything deeper the 400w MH way outperform the LEDs. Best thing I can say is google alot. I will try and find some of these later. I found a couple that people had actual PAR ratings posted for different lighting options but I dont remember seeing any that would be for a tank as large as yours.

 

[flexrac]

you would be better off with a plasma setup mixed with vho on your tank. you'll get the spread you need from one plasma bulb with the right reflector
(they customize) and some vho's to match. best thing is you can turn the plasm up or down to adjust par and color.

 

[RockNReef]

Hong you didn't tell them that your SPS are only 2ft from the top. He has all the SPS at the top.