calling all Hellolights vho retro owners

[BryanJ]

I am in the market for new lights. If you bought the retrofit vho lights from hellolights.com please give me your opinion on how you like them. With the 4L ballast.

[fishdoc11]

I have had a 4 by 110 retrofit on my 55 for > 6 months and am very happy with it. I just put 2 110 atinics using the $35 ballast and their endcaps on my 90 and it is doing good so far(only 2 weeks though).
Chris

[BryanJ]

Does it look pink? I have seen complaints about the new 35.00 ballast making the day bulbs look pink. I was wondering if the 4L ballast had similar problems?

[fishdoc11]

The 50/50 bulbs on my 55 look a little pink but I only have atinics running on the $35 ballast.
Chris

[BryanJ]

Do you have any pictures of the 55?

[fishdoc11]

Yes but I'm not the best at posting pics. PM me your email and I will send you a couple for comparison:-)
Chris

[pvtschultz]

Click on my red house, there are a bunch of pics there with the cheap ARO ballast pushing a 10,000K and a 420 Act. It does look a bit on the pinik side, but I also have a NO 420 that I use as the sun rise/set and leave on all day. Personally I like the brighter look, but I think that when I get another 2X110W VHO setup from then, I will get a 420 Act and a 50/50 to add more blue to the color scheme.

[BryanJ]

Thanks Carl! That pink isn't to bad and I am getting the 4x110 setup and I will be running 2 day and 2 actinic vho and a NO 1x40 for dusk and dawn lights.

[kmu]

Bought a 4x110watt VHO retro aabout 3 years ago, still runs great, tried several bulb size combos and love it...


I really like Hellolights ballasts and kits..

[BryanJ]

Thank you everyone for your help. I have decided to go ahead buy the kit form hellolights.

[mr294]

I don't think you will be disappointed. I have 3 of the hellolights ballasts (2 from back when they were still LampsNow) and all have performed flawlessly.

[Imaexpat2]

OUTSTANDING! All my VHO's on my frag tanks and displays came from them and use the ARO ballast with 110 watt bulbs or 160 watt bulbs. I have only had one go bad about 11 months after pyrchase and they replaced at shipping cost only. Customer service and support has been phenominal. I highkly recommend them. They arent however I belive dimable though...

[mgpetitt]

I bought a 4 bulb VHO from HelloLights about 8 mos ago. I only bought it with 1 ballast though and I recommend buying the second. I added an ICE Cap 430 after the fact and found the wiring on the ICE Cap to be very simple. My problem came when I tried to wire my existing 4L from HL, it came with a 4 light harness, I had to purchase a seperate 2 light harness which cost me about an extra $50. On top of the $125 for the ICE Cap. So, if you plan to ever reconfigure your hood, by the 2nd ballast now.