Lights?

SweetFawn · #1 12/02/2005, 06:55 PM

I have found some VHO's on RC selling forum and was wandering what you guys think? Also, I'm a little nervous about sending money first. How do I know what I'm really getting? Or am I just being paranoid?

Anyway here's the lights....

quote:
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Originally posted by cozmo1
i have for sale a 330 watt vho retrofit kit sale.
kit includes:
1-aro model 4l ballast
48l x 10w x 3t reflector
3 sets of water resistant 3pc endcaps
2-6,500k bulbs
1-10,00k bulb
plug and play unit
everything in excellent condition and purchased from www.hellolights.com
asking $125 plus shipping
thank you

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for some reason I can't copy the pic of the lights, look new though.

Thanks!!

new day · #2 12/02/2005, 07:47 PM

I think you need to find out how old the bulbs are??? Will this unit fit on your tank???

jjmcat · #3 12/02/2005, 10:12 PM

IF your wanting to fish and softies and some lps these would be great.

SweetFawn · #4 12/02/2005, 10:14 PM

Bulbs have been used for about 1 month. It's a 48" unit and that is how long my tank is so I assume it will fit.

SweetFawn · #5 12/02/2005, 10:16 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by jjmcat
IF your wanting to fish and softies and some lps these would be great.

As of right now all I really would like to keep is softies due to the Trigger. May change my mind later but at the price of these lights I wouldn't mind.

alljap · #6 12/02/2005, 10:21 PM

2 x 6500k and 1x 10k will give you a very yellow look. You will need atleast 2x 10k and 1x actinic 03.
What kind of bulbs come with the setup. URI bulbs are the best VHO bulbs IMO.
Hope this give you a little help.

jjmcat · #7 12/02/2005, 10:24 PM

lets see
Aro ballast 35$
3 sets end caps 30$
3 uri bulbs 60$ If you use Uri bulbs you dont need the reflector.

I could be wrong but I didnt think the aro ballest would run 3 four foot bulbs.

SweetFawn · #8 12/02/2005, 11:03 PM

Mabey I'm jumping the gun a little...I just want the best quality for the $$$. I would like to keep this upgrade fairly cheap as I still need to get a skimmer too.

I Love Coral · #9 12/03/2005, 01:11 AM

I have been very frustrated with this question as well. What about T5's Considier this thread.....
http://archive.reefcentral.com/forum...hreadid=700454

Ask people that have experience with T5â€™s. Awesome Price! Bulb last twice as long!

quaz · #10 12/03/2005, 10:26 AM

I like t5's. I don't have experience with all the different spectrums they offer for the bulbs. The ones i've used put out great light but I think the spectrum is a little off for the absolute best color IMO. I really like them though. Our lights at the shop are a combo of 10k and 20 bulb and it has the visual appearence of a really bright pc.
I love VHO's too however. I think they give an awesome color to coral and you can grow anything under them(any unbelieving sps growers talk to Bobby M.) the mix of the URI 50/50 actinic white and the super actinic give a great visual enhancment to the coral.

I Love Coral · #11 12/03/2005, 10:42 AM

Like I said . Powered with T5

http://archive.reefcentral.com/forum...hreadid=700454

Color is amazing!

phetish · #12 12/03/2005, 11:21 AM

stacy

if i remember correctly, you have PC's now, right? if all you want to keep is fish and softies, then the PC's you have will be sufficient. in my opinion, if you have pc's now, the next step should be to metal halides, not to vho's. the difference between pc's and vho's isn't enough to warrant spending the $$$.

i could be wrong... but for me... the next step is going to be a MH fixture. I have a 260w pc fixture, and when i'm ready to replace it, i'll be going MH.

derek

SweetFawn · #13 12/03/2005, 11:35 AM

I currently just have NO florescent. Things are doing good for now but I know I will get no growth with these lights.

quaz · #14 12/03/2005, 10:26 PM

pardon as i wipe the drool from my chin.

quaz · #15 12/03/2005, 10:28 PM

other then usa it's really hard to get vho's. t5's are your best bet outside the us.

new day · #16 12/04/2005, 12:52 AM

Stacy, which ever lights you decide to get do your research before you spend your $$$$. You should clean the lights once a week to get the salt splash off. About the t5s there are 12 bulbs on that tank and he changes them every 6 to 8 months.

Corals Need
1. Food
2.Flow
3.Light

jjmcat · #17 12/04/2005, 11:19 AM

HELLO THATS NOT ALL THEY NEED!

They also need love.

SweetFawn · #18 12/04/2005, 03:54 PM

They get lots of love here!!

BTW I found some PCs that look pretty good

http://www.geocities.com/plasmod3/DSC00885.JPG

http://www.geocities.com/plasmod3/DSC00886.JPG

has 2 65w actinics & 2 65w 10000k daylights for a total of 4 cfs as well as 4 moonlights. will come with adjustable legs from coralife as well. bought only 3 months ago new for 250 selling for 140. will consider shipping if buyer pays

????

phetish · #19 12/04/2005, 06:39 PM

here's the lights that I have - 260w PC's for under $90. $110 with moonlights.

http://www.aquatraders.com/index.asp...PROD&ProdID=13

actually this one is slightly newer than the one i have. Mine only has a single power cord. this one has 3 cords allowing seperate timers for daylight, actinic, and moonlights.

never had a problem with mine... even when i dropped one end into the tank - while lit! DOH!

i need to crack mine open and rewire it for seperate power cords.

derek

SweetFawn · #20 12/04/2005, 07:35 PM

awesome! Thanks for the link.

SweetFawn · #21 12/07/2005, 02:11 PM

I just bought some lights

about an hour ago!

Heres the specs:

48" 260W (65Wx4) Power Compacts
2x 65 W 12000k Daylight PC bulbs
2x 65W Actinic 03 PC bulbs
Acrylic splash guard over bulbs
2x built in fans
3x ON/OFF power switches
flip-able light stands/legs
4x add on Blue Moon Lunar LEDs

Now, how do I acclimate my tank to the new lights to have the lowest chance of algea blooms.

Travis L. Stevens · #22 12/07/2005, 02:22 PM

With PCs there is no acclimation for corals needed. Algae will immidiately adapt to any new lighting. If algae is your concern, then sticking with the original NO Lights will be a lot better than the PCs. But as for coral growth, going with the PCs is a better choice. To keep algae at bay, though, you will need to make sure that the bulbs are replaced often. Once every 6 months I believe, but it varies on the type of bulb (IE MH, PC, VHO, T5, etc). To help deter algae growth, lower degree bulbs help keep algae from growing but won't stop it. 20,000K bulbs for example produce less amount of needed light. 5500K-7200K produce some of the best light for algae.

scott0615 · #23 12/09/2005, 12:54 AM

New, more intense lights, add organics [algae food] be careful. You may experience an algae bloom. Cut down your photo period. Increase it slowly!!! Monitor PO4!

SweetFawn · #24 12/09/2005, 01:14 AM

Thanks for the helpful hints!

I can't wait to see the difference!

Knyght · #25 12/09/2005, 03:06 AM

I have an old 48" PC light strip that holds 2-55w bulbs that I would let go very cheap if you find you want to add just a bit more light. indoreefer over in the C.O.M.A.S. forum had some bulbs for it that were just actinic for sale recently. He may still have them, not sure. I`m pretty sure they will fit this light strip as they are the same 4 pin 55w bulbs.

PM me if you are interested and need more info.