VHO vs T5 Whats better? Any Difference?

[jamirlima]

Whats the actual difference between VHO and T5? I have T5 running on my 120 gallon and I like it. I was told they reach bottom of the tank better.

I wanted to know if VHO only is as good as T5? Can I run T5 bulbs in VHO fixture?
Thanks

 

[kgross]

Normal T5 bulbs and T12 vho bulbs can not be mixed. They have different pin configurations and require different sockets to put them in.

The main difference though is the diameter of the bulb. VHO bulbs are T12, or 1.5 inches in diameter, while T5s are only 5/8 inch in diameter allowing for better reflectors in the same space.

 

[jamirlima]

Thanks. So VHO would also work as good as T5 in terms of reaching the bottom area of your tank?

 

[Saltysteele]

vho's are not as good as t5's for par, but in my opinion, are better for color depending on what you have available in your area. i could only find actinic whites and super actinics around my area, but the color was great. i have yet to see a t5 that can color up a tank the way an actinic vho can.

however, that having been said, they're 10-15 more per bulb (based on my experience with 5 footers) than t5's, and they last less than half as long.

imo/e, if you just plan on softies or lps, you'd do fine with vho's. however, your wallet might thank you for the t5's (last twice as long, cost half as much to run- 110w vho vs 54w T5, same size-, bulbs are cheaper)

i am trying to figure out if i can run a vho bulb with my T5's. I just recently switched to T5HO's, and have to say the actinics just don't cut it. i want to run one vho actinic with my 3 t5's. t5's have more resistance than vho's, and i'd like to run all four on my 660, but don't think i can, because of the difference in resistance.

 

[Poseidon]

T5's blow VHO out of the water, mostly due to the reflectors. The Geismann "True Actinic" is very close to what everyone loves about the old VHO actinic bulbs from URI. I think the T5 actinic is not as good as... is getting old. Yes, it is different, but the colors of the CORALS are excellent, so what difference does it really make?

 

[laskopyre]

I'm in total agreement with Poseidon. It really depends on the actinic bulb you get for your T5. The bulb making tech is changing, and new bulbs are coming out that are better then VHO IMO. I had VHO and they were great, but I couldn't get as many over a tank, and they just weren't as bright for me.

 

[Saltysteele]

for sure get good reflectors!

when i first put my retro kit in, i fired them up without reflectors, to make sure they worked. wasn't too impressed. after i put the reflectors on? fahgettaboudit! i could hardly stand to look at them!

i'll have to look for a geissman bulb. where would you place it among ati aquablue, actinic and a coralvue 10K (all 48" t5's), mike?

 

[Poseidon]

4 bulbs total?

True Actinic
AquaBlue
10K
True Actinic

But... I would do a Blue + instead of the coral vue bulb

 

[mpoletti]

I have used both and there is NO T5 that compares to the pop of VHO's. T5's are more effecient, but when people make the comaprison, I really question their objectivity.

 

[Poseidon]

Here is the point I was trying to make, YES VHO actinic has excellent POP, BUT T5 actinic seems to color up the corals better then what I had when I used halides and VHO. So...for the time that my tank is lit only by actinic, I don't really care if it had more POP when it was VHO.

VHO is good, and what we are "used too" T5 is brighter, gives excellent color, and is different then what we are used too.

Since all of this is subjective, it is REALLY hard to quantify which is better.