My tank has 4 VHO (2 white & 2 super actinic) that need to be replaced. They are about 2 years old. There are so many to choose from, what would be the best combination?


10,000K VHO Fluorescent Lamps, High intensity light for high intensity colors!
Simulates natural daylight. These cost about $10 more than the others, which is ok if they would be better.

Actinic White VHO
Unique very high output (VHO) lighting combination now with the Actinic White bulb. This bulb is the first of its kind to offer a 50/50 combination on triband and actinic phosphors.


Super Actinic R VHO Lamps
The most widely used aquarium bulb in the market place cannot be bad! Super Actinic R bulbs emit 100% blue spectrum lighting for all reef applications and coral enhancement.


Trichromatic VHO Fluorescent Bulbs, Ideal full-spectrum lighting for your invertebrates, fresh and saltwater fish, and plants in an economical package with these Coralife bulbs. Each one contains rare earth trichromic phosphors for a high-density, full-spectrum output (again, these are more expensive if that means anything in lighting quality.)

Shopping at this site: VHO Fluorescent Aquarium Light Bulbs (http://www.thatpetplace.com/pet/cat/infoL3/22931/category.web)

Are you currently only running VHO Lighting or is this in combination with Metal Halide? What does your entire lighting setup look like?

the big question is, what are you keeping in the system? that will help determine what you need, altho off the top of my head, i typically prefer half 10k and half 03 actinics, not 50/50's, but separate tubes. that way, you can have a dawn/dusk effect if the 10k's and 03's are on different timers.

the big question is, what are you keeping in the system? that will help determine what you need, altho off the top of my head, i typically prefer half 10k and half 03 actinics, not 50/50's, but separate tubes. that way, you can have a dawn/dusk effect if the 10k's and 03's are on different timers.

I definitely agree with Saxman on having seperate tubes. :up:

I definitely agree with Saxman on having seperate tubes. :up:

and i definately agree with Jay !!

Wow, what a happy thread this turned out to be! Everyone agreeing with everyone, lol! Right now I have 4 - 48" T12 (440w total), 2 white & 2 super actinic. The tubes are retro'd to the top of the hood, there is a URI ballast/ no timer, they all go on & off together.

ok, back to the thread...started watching the clown & saying "yeah, go into the anemone, do it, you'll love it, yes, choose the anemone, no don't swim away, dam!"

It's my understanding that the lighting is ok for corals (lots), fish (5). 140lbs LR, so I can put the light lovers higher up in the tank. I have a maxima clam that has been under T5's for 10 months. It was almost completely overtaken by nasty green zoo's & had to be cut from the LR. So far it seems to be ok in the LSB, but it will go back to the top in a few days. I'll go with 2/2 combination, but is one brand better than another? Is this an item that price indicates quality? The Tricromatic says it contains "rare" earth trichromic phosphors, sales pitch or worth the extra cost?

before i upgraded to halides, i used VHO's. i used the combination about and was very successful with montipora caps and digitata. i was not so successful with acropora or any other light demanding coral unless they were right under the lights. i had to keep acro's about 3" from the lights.
mine were also retro fitted into a hood and only about 2" above the water level. i would go with 2 10k's and 2 03 actinics. i think you will like the color and results.

I'll get my new tubes tomorrow & I am anxious to see how much change there is with new ones. I got a green acro a couple of weeks ago and it seems to be doing ok, although not as green as it was under the MH at the LFS. I have it on top of the rock, about 6" under the lights. Thanks for all the replies & info!

As far as manufactures for the bulbs if you dig far enough you might find they all come from 2 or 3 actual manufactures so If you like the brand you had then use them. Price does not mean value.
Remember any change in light will affect the corals so you might have to drop time a little in the begining or raise the light if you can. New lights are much stronger and your corals have acclimated with the drop in lighting.

I was planning on replacing 2, waiting a couple of days and replace the other 2.
Anxious to see how much difference there will be. Have to wait until Saturday to get them. The flu has me down!

http://digilander.libero.it/le.faccine/faccinea/porello/0002016.gif

Bummer. :sorry: you are sick :sick:. Hope you feel better soon.

Bummer. :sorry: you are sick :sick:. Hope you feel better soon.

Darn co-worker came back from vacation & got me sick! 1 week of the head cold,
1 week of head & chest congestion, 3rd week was the charm with Pneumonia!
This thing kicked my butt! On the bright side it gave me 3 sick days off to just lay back on the couch and watch my tank!

I did finally get 2 new tubes & it made a big difference! Will replace the other 2 next payday so that will give them 2 weeks to adjust to the brighter lighting.