NO on VHO

[maguz921]

I would like to try and burn NO actinics on VHO ballast can this be done?

[john rochon]

yes, It will light them close to VHO but will shorten the usefullness of the lamps quicker. Can be done in a pinch but if you have a VHO ballast best to use VHO lamps.

[ziggaboo]

i believe i have read somewhere that the VHO setups will burn NO bulbs at a near VHO wattage - the NO bulbs will burn out a lot faster than VHOs though. happy reefing.

[ziggaboo]

beat me to it!!

[Frick-n-Frags]

VHO ballasts will run NO bulbs nearly as bright as a VHO. The only thing is the thinner NO filaments burn out faster than VHO bulbs so the NO's don't last as long.

I'm a day late, but it was still worth repeating :D

[reefdood]

Burn out or change spectrum faster? I change my VHO yearly to keep up with the spectrum before any shift.

[Frick-n-Frags]

I've had them burn out. You should see how bright a $2 shoplamp gets on a VHO ballast WOW!

I also sometimes use those greenish tinted GE daylight bulbs on my VHO ballasts for $5-$6 each vs some $25 URI aquasun when I want some extra white light vs actinics. I say why waste URI money on white lights.

[cristhiam]

I guess depends on the ballast too, regular or electronic. I'm running 3 6500K from Home Depot Phillips bulbs and 1 actinic URI 110W on a 660 IceCap. IceCap says they should last longer than 2 years or even more but I'm not sure how accurate this is, so far I'm 4 months with this setup. Works good and it's cheap. I put the actinic because it was too yellow.

[Frick-n-Frags]

Yes, I should clarify, I have IC660's too. A lot depends on the bulb, but most NO bulbs go at least a year for me too, some more, occasionally less.

[Saltz Creep]

Have any of you noticed that pin to pin NOs and VHO tubes are not exactly the same length? My 36" URIs are between 1/4 - 1/2 inch longer than a 36" NO.

[bkiba]

how do you know when the spectrum has shifted? By looking at it, or do you have some special spectrumometer?

[charlesgage]

Wow i never knew that, i can go to home depot for some t-12's and just overdrive them? Rock!

[Frick-n-Frags]

ROCK!!!!!