Can I use VHO (rather than HO) T5 bulbs in an Outer Orbit fixture?

[AquAsylum]

The slipaq bulbs that came with the fixture are 54 watts, and I want to replace them with the URI VHO T-5 bulbs that are 54/85. Do VHO T-5s require a different ballast?

Thanks

[Racing1]

As long as they are t-5 bulbs they should be fine......

[KEstep]

Yeah you should be fine. I run VHO bulbs on regular NO ballasts for my freshwater tanks. As long as you do not put a low wattage bulb in a high wattage fixture you should be ok.

[bigfruits]

why would you want to put vhos on that ballast? if im not mistaken, they will just run at regular wattage...

[AquAsylum]

I thought the point of VHOs was that you get better output at the same wattage- shouldn't they get overdriven?

Either way, I didn't see URI HO T5s, and I don't like the slimpaq bulbs.

[bigfruits]

im pretty sure the vho bulbs are meant to be overdriven by an icecap ballast and will not have the short lifespan of HO bulbs being overdriven. if you put them on a regular ballast they will be the same wattage as regular HO bulbs.
im 99% sure that im correct but you might want to post on the Grim Reefers thread just in case. If im wrong, i'll have to buy myself some of these magical bulbs.

[AquAsylum]

bigfruits, you're right (sorry, no magical bulbs)

[ganjero]

Originally posted by AquAsylum
The slipaq bulbs that came with the fixture are 54 watts, and I want to replace them with the URI VHO T-5 bulbs that are 54/85. Do VHO T-5s require a different ballast?

Thanks

You are a little confused. There are VHO bulbs and there are T5 and T5HO bulbs, but there are not T5VHO.

If your endcaps are for VHOs you cant use t5's, and the same for the other way around.

FYI. T5 VHO is a concept made up by some retailers, and all it means is that the t5HO bulbs are overdriven, most of the time by an icecap ballast.

[oct2274]

They are not VHO bulbs. UV just calls them VHO T5 because they are made to tolerate being overdriven on icecap ballasts and when 48" T5HO bulbs are run on icecaps they run at 85 watts vs 54. They run at 54 watts on regular ballasts just like every other t5HO bulb out there.

[KEstep]

I use the VHO t12 bulbs in a regular NO ballast because the bulbs last much longer and give great color over freshwater tanks.

[A.T.T.R]

variable high out put i think uri ( uvl) calls them

the bulbs WONT be over driven but they will light fine

fwiw i put current t5 (no) on a ballast then a current t5 HO on the same ballast and lux remained the same

also
you can run 250w MH on a 175 w ballast