VHO actinics vs T-5 actinics?

[Coral Keeper]

I wanted to make a Sunrise and a Sunset feature on my 28 gallon HQI mixed reef and was wondering which one would be better. So, which is better? VHO actinics or T-5 actinics?

-Thanks!

 

[Reef Pets]

In my opinion, T5.

 

[oceanparadise1]

t-5 all day

 

[RyanG]

If powered by a regular ballast that wont overdrive them Id vote T5s. There is no point in overdriving actinics. Im going to vote for VHO.

 

[gflat65]

I currently run VHO's (and have for 12 years +) and love them for the dusk to dawn. However, when this batch of bulbs is dead, I'm replacing with T5's. They add some serious pop and last twice as long as VHO's (I replace at the 6 month mark on VHO's). You won't get the purple, and I wonder how much I'll miss that, but I think the benefits will far outweight any negatives.

 

[Coral Keeper]

Yeah, I'm looking for something that will make my SPS really pop. Whats the smallest VHO and T-5s? I can't put a 24 inch long light on my 28 gallon HQI nano because alot will be sticking out and will look very ugly.

 

[oceanparadise1]

t5hos give you better lighting IMO and you can fit more in

 

[JGoslee]

I'd go with T5's.

 

[Azurel]

I vote for T-5s, I used to run VHO URI Super Actinics and there was no comparision to them for actinic. URI has the Super Actinic Rs now and they are just as good as the VHO version with less watts and more par.

Not sure but when I was looking for Actinic T-5s I couldn't find another bulb that was in the 420 spectrum other then URI Super actinics.

 

[Hypertek99]

I would go T5's and get reflector's for each bulb

 

[returnofsid]

T5s offer more light, given the correct reflector, burn MUCH cooler and cost less to run.

 

[oceanparadise1]

T5s offer more light, given the correct reflector, burn MUCH cooler and cost less to run.

.

they give off as much heat as any other lamp with the samp wattage, they just spread it out more, everyone thinks they dont get as hot but thats far from the truth

 

[Saltysteele]

okay, i'm in the minority - vho's

 

[Nate82]

Yeah, I'm looking for something that will make my SPS really pop. Whats the smallest VHO and T-5s? I can't put a 24 inch long light on my 28 gallon HQI nano because alot will be sticking out and will look very ugly.

i wanna say 12" but ik mine are 18"

 

[Lytehouse]

I would go T5's and get reflector's for each bulb

agree with this statement,

as well as the huge selection of colors.

 

[mpoletti]

Hands down VHO's produce more "pop" to the eye. T5's are more effecient, but I do not care about efficiency, I care about color. If I wanted efficiency I would of invested all the money I've spent in this darn hobby

 

[mpoletti]

okay, i'm in the minority - vho's

No.No. I am right there with you. :xd:

 

[Dejavu]

I prefer VHO's myself. After running them for yrs and then switching to T-5, i can say the VHO's will give you more "pop".

 

[Azurel]

Depends on what company that makes the actinics for that POP......URIs T-5 Super actinics give the same pop as the VHO......I have seen other manufactorures actinic bulbs and I would say you are correct as they don't get down to the 420 nanometer mark they only go to the 460/450.....But the different colors and wider array of spectrum's in T-5 over VHO is nice.....Never under stood when VHO was the mainstay in the hobby why more manufacturers weren't producing bulbs for the hobby.

 

[mpoletti]

Depends on what company that makes the actinics for that POP......URIs T-5 Super actinics give the same pop as the VHO......I have seen other manufactorures actinic bulbs and I would say you are correct as they don't get down to the 420 nanometer mark they only go to the 460/450.....But the different colors and wider array of spectrum's in T-5 over VHO is nice.....Never under stood when VHO was the mainstay in the hobby why more manufacturers weren't producing bulbs for the hobby.

Are you sure about that? I had a tank with T5, VHO and MH. The T5 super actinic was no where close to the "pop" that I got just with VHO's. I tried about 4-5 different bulbs just to compare visually and there was no copmparison. my $.02.