Anybody Using VHO Lighting Today ?

[427HISS]

I've got the feeling of getting back into the hobby again after many years. I started out in 1995 with a 75g in-wall aquarium with 6 VHO lighting from Icap with their dawn to dusk timer, it was fantastic. All the corals grew, even true stonies. (what we called them back then) Later on I tried one single 175w halide in the middle with just one small fan blowing across the water surface for cooling, but then we retired for a few years so we did not see what that light combo would have given us. But now, I'm not sure about the LED lighting. Yes the lower in cost in the electrical bill and seem to last a long time, but some of the lights can dance around on the corals, fish, rock and sand and either their cheap on cost, but you get what you pay (some may be good quality) for or extremely,.....expensive !

So, how about the VHO's ?

 

[SaltyBlue]

Nice throw back! I haven’t seen anything VHO since probably 2008, metal halides are nearing extinction and T5s aren’t far behind. Past 10 years or so has had less emphasis on huge power output since the 90s / 2000s, more emphasis on even distribution and, if possible, measuring PAR to make sure it’s the environment the corals want.

I’ve been running 3X NooPsyches for 3 years, app is a little janky but rarely need to use it. Good price, happy corals, nice aesthetics

 

[oreo54]

I've got the feeling of getting back into the hobby again after many years. I started out in 1995 with a 75g in-wall aquarium with 6 VHO lighting from Icap with their dawn to dusk timer, it was fantastic. All the corals grew, even true stonies. (what we called them back then) Later on I tried one single 175w halide in the middle with just one small fan blowing across the water surface for cooling, but then we retired for a few years so we did not see what that light combo would have given us. But now, I'm not sure about the LED lighting. Yes the lower in cost in the electrical bill and seem to last a long time, but some of the lights can dance around on the corals, fish, rock and sand and either their cheap on cost, but you get what you pay (some may be good quality) for or extremely,.....expensive !

So, how about the VHO's ?

yea how about a $65 box for a $36 48" bulb..

VHO Fluorescent - Lighting - Shop By

championlighting.com

Well since the box can fit 12 bulbs I suppose that's only $5.41 extra

VHO's were never very efficient compared to t5 or MH or especially LED.

VHO Fluorescent - Lighting - Shop By

championlighting.com

On the bright side somebody must be using them...

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Bulbs appear to be made in Hungary..

Oh yea, not sure about ballasts or fixtures.


Apparently its the "look"... which is always subjective.
t12's, t5's a very flat look
MH's, led generally a more dynamic look.

 

[427HISS]

I really liked the VHO's, we could get them locally, came in a few great spectrums we liked and could mix any we wanted other than just 50/50. I changed them out every 6 months. Icap had a controller dawn to dusk. Wasn't like today, but it was fine, I think even for today, it's more for us than the fish & corals. Don't need them lighting shows, ya know. lol

 

[rtparty]

There are loads of good lights these days and VHO are dead.

There are still some T5 fixtures being made but not for long. Bulbs are also still available. BRS has a few fixtures in Open Box

 

[427HISS]

I agree, florescence tubes and halides are out, LED's are in. They still have a ways to go though. I hate.....the disco ball effect and high cost. I need to start a new build thread and ask questions like lighting. But, it's going to be a little while as I promised my wife I'd renovate our bathroom,..... FIRST. lol

 

[rtparty]

I agree, florescence tubes and halides are out, LED's are in. They still have a ways to go though. I hate.....the disco ball effect and high cost. I need to start a new build thread and ask questions like lighting. But, it's going to be a little while as I promised my wife I'd renovate our bathroom,..... FIRST. lol

There are multiple LEDs that don’t have the disco ball effect. Blades, Stratons, Radions, Nicrew Gen 2, to name a few

 

[Dmax]

Funny I found this because I just mentioned in my build thread about adding them to my tank. I ran them a long time ago and still have all the ice cap ballast and a box of 72" super actinics. I would like to see it again over the tank. For some reason I look back thinking that it looked so good from what I can remember. Willing to try and add two over my tank to see if i'm remebering correctly or its all bs. I do agree that leds are amazing and light bars for instance are a pretty sweet option. I run 4 reefbrite XHO's although pretty expensive I'm very happy with them. Also going to put my halides back on I do believe. Replaced the middle radions on my tank with a 400 watt running a radium bulb with Reefbrite ballast.

If I do throw them on top of the tank, I'll snap some pics and post them in here.

 

[alton]

Two VHO Actinic and 250 watt 10K MH on a tank and LED could not compete for growth nor color. Too bad everything good does not last. When the commercial market goes the hobby market follows close behind.

 

[skyrne_isk]

You can take my VHOs from my cold dead hands. I run them along LEDs so everyone knows I’m still actually a luddite (but seriously no LED delivers that 420nm glow like VHO).

 

[56longroof]

Im still running compact fluorescent bulbs on my tank. So I say go for it! The speculation on T5's and halides going away has been talked about for some time now. I honestly think its due to marketing and influencer chatter. Im running 850 watts of light and my electric bill still isn't that bad.

 

[Malum Argenteum]

So, how about the VHO's ?

I ran HO and VHO T8s for many years -- not quite T12 VHO, but similar. I switched to T5HO in about the middle of that phase of the hobby (once something other than obscenely expensive retrofit kits were available), and they were a good option. Living through power compacts (which I used a bit) made me realize a lot about just how disconnected from reality marketing claims can be.

Using just few LED models (AI Primes, Orphek bars -- I still use Fluvals on my FW tank and I like those even though they're crazy expensive) convinced me that T5HO might be a sweet spot in terms of technology, for me right now anyway. They might be a great choice for someone who sets the bar with T12VHOs. Electricity consumption and lamp replacement is a consideration, but so is replacing a $$$ LED fixture every couple years when they die (50,000 hour lifespan and no lumen degradation -- anyone remember those claims that helped get LEDs established?) or are made obsolete by a new controller platform or the hobby convinces everyone that yet more blue or some missing shade of blue is needed.

 

[VinsFins]

I'm running 2 MH 250watt radium with 2 vho URI actinic, and 3 kessils. They all have different schedules. My 180 reef is 28 years young. You can't beat a hybrid system. It gives you the best of both technologies.

 

[bobnicaragua]

I'm running 2 MH 250watt radium with 2 vho URI actinic, and 3 kessils. They all have different schedules. My 180 reef is 28 years young. You can't beat a hybrid system. It gives you the best of both technologies.

I have a closet full of lights and a canopy over my SPS tank, so I can run whatever lighting I want. It’s been fun to experiment and watch how the acros react.

I agree with VinsFins 100%.
“You can't beat a hybrid system. It gives you the best of both technologies.” Reefers would do better today if they ran more fluorescent and Metal Halide.

 

[Sam7]

I really liked the VHO's, we could get them locally, came in a few great spectrums we liked and could mix any we wanted other than just 50/50. I changed them out every 6 months. Icap had a controller dawn to dusk. Wasn't like today, but it was fine, I think even for today, it's more for us than the fish & corals. Don't need them lighting shows, ya know. lol

I used them long time ago too. The atinic bulbs were always nice for pop. The only real down side was the power usage and the high heat from them which was bad for me when i lived in Texas.