Anybody still running VHO bulbs?

[SunnyX]

Hey guys/gals,

I know that talk these days concerning florescent's is T5, but I am wondering if anyone is still running VHO's as supplements.I know the current spotlight reef is running them, and wanted to see how many others are as well. I plan on taking out my XM 20K bulbs and replacing them with XM10K's, and am looking to replace the four T5's I have with a few VHO Super Actinics. The VHO Actinics look like no other lighting in the hobby. The blue is incredible, and the "POP" is unique. THose that have run VHO Super Actinics know what im talking about.

We are going old school baby!

The tank is currently running:

246gl 72x36x22

3xXM20K 250W MH
3x ATI Blue+ 54w T5
1x KZ Fiji Purple 54W T5

 

[Dan Rigle]

haha,yep you know I am Sonny and have done so for 15 or more years.Never found anything that made my corals as happy as Radiums and vho super actinics.

 

[roblshan2000]

I still run VHO supplement over my DT and my frag tank. My 180 SPS DT has 2 Super Actinics and 2 454nm as supplements to the three 10K MH. The frag trough has 1 of each (Super Actinic/454). You can't get any better color than an old school VHO, only downfall is the electricity bill every month. Color is amazing though.

 

[Salty Dog]

I love my VHO lights,

 

[KoleTang]

Nice tank! Why change when tank is happy? How old is the tank?

 

[KLR]

Looks like I need to go invest in some,lol.

 

[AZDesertRat]

I still ran VHO until switching to LED's last summer. You are correct, nothing provides the POP VHO actinics do. I have to say, the adjustability of the AI Sol Blues is pretty impressive though and I love the lower power bills every month!

 

[Otter_rs]

I think VHO's are the best fluorescents out there and are worth the higher electric bills. Corals grow faster and look better than T5's in my experience. Only thing I like better is a high wattage MH! I run both.

 

[Saltgator]

I run one 454 and one super , each 160 watts/ 72 inches with my three 14k mh. Love them, and considering add 2 more in a canopy build.

Country boy using tapatalk from Evo 4g

 

[jukboxx]

have had VHO's and MH now for 7 years and i love'em. although i had thought about switching to LED maybe next year, i have just been putting it off, i am afraid i might regret the switch!!

 

[UFreefer]

I run a couple on my cube. I've noticed that they seem to grow coraline algea like no other bulb. They have a very calming look to them when they are the only lights on.

 

[melev]

Not only am I running VHOs, I'm thinking about running four bulbs instead of two.

 

[Otter_rs]

Not only am I running VHOs, I'm thinking about running four bulbs instead of two.

Do it! The brighter the better in my opinion.

 

[SunnyX]

Thanks for all the feedback! I would be using three 60" bulbs in my setup. Now, I just need to track down some bulbs and get going. Its going to be strage going back to a 10K bulb at first, but I should get used to it in no time.

 

[Dan Rigle]

your growth will explode once the corals acclimate to the switch.My first lighting I loved was 10K XM and 4 four foot vho actinics.Stuff grew like weed and colored quite nicely also.Not quite the radium color burst but nice in its own right

 

[SunnyX]

Yeah, XM10k are amazing. I ran them along with VHOs in 2006 when I won Tank of the Month on RC. Its has always been one of my fav combos.

Thank you,
Sonny

 

[SunnyX]

Ok, one more question. Are you guys running the Super Actinic or the 454 bulbs?I know that the 454 is bluer, and Super Actinic is Purple. Im thinking about using one 454, and two Super Actinic.

 

[Reef UP]

I run 3 Phoenix 14k 250 de bulbs and 2 6' super actinide and 2 6' 454's the color range pop is awesome I've actually thought about going back to all vho's haha

 

[Reef UP]

I'll also not that the 454's bring out more reds and some greens and oranges where's the super actinics bring out the greens etc so it's a great combo!

 

[AZDesertRat]

I ran two 250w XM 15k MH and two 140w VHO Super Actinics myself and loved the combination.