vho users inquire with in....

[Troylee]

im about done with my new diy led build and i was gonna supplement it with t5s but i already have vhos on my tank and i love them... they pop way more than t5s imho... anyways i just ordered new bulbs and got a super actinic like i currently have and tried the some what new 454 they came out with... currently i have 2 super actinics supplementing my radiums and love them but there old....so now it will be all leds with a super actinic and a 454... anyone have exp. with the new 454??? if so what is it like compared to a t5?? im wandering if i should have added a couple bulbs since i was already paying the shipping lol...

 

[Troylee]

No one has used the 454?

 

[Anthony Calfo]

I do...just for a few months. Its not about good or bad, per se - unless the context here is purely aesthetics, in which case thats your call. But rather, do you have an idea of what peaks or (narrow) bands on the spectral chart are optimal for the corals you keep specifically? Corals can be tough that way...they often flourish at only very specific points. Thats why people are having such hot and cold experiences with LEDs versus halides. Halides blast light over a wide spectral range, while LEDs are (spectral) laser points. So when you dont know what parts of a spectrum your corals need, a broader approach (shotgun versus sniper riffle) is best. Translation: use more than one kind of blue when we are talking actinic blues ;)

Oh...and I'm not sure if I like the 454's so far. Not as purdy to my eyes (aesthetic, professional term LOL)

 

[Reef UP]

I use two super actinics with two 454s great combo in my experience I'm going on two years with this combo along with my Phoenix 250de I think youll really like the combo if I was you though I'd put them both to the front of your tank so one or the other isn't washed out by the LEDs
Also in my experience the vho 454 is very close to a actinic+ t5 but about twice as bright brings out reds oranges and pinks out very good and the super actinic as you know makes the greens pop so all and all you get much more pop from many more colors I think rev uses 454s doesn't he?

 

[Anthony Calfo]

hadn't noticed it, but the red (pink/orange/rose...whatever) BTAs I have under those 454s do look better. New lights but old colony (120 gall full of them)...good point Reef Up

 

[Troylee]

Cool I was looking for a more broad spectrum that's why I choose one of each... To answer your question Anthony no I don't lol... Right now I run radiums and vho super actinics... My tank is 98percent acro dominated and a few challies... The LEDs are all cool white and royal blue... I guess I can always change
It up if need be.... I thought the 454 was close to a blue+ no???

 

[Reef UP]

I would say closer to giesman actinic+ true I have them running next to each other and. They're very close

 

[mfinn]

I added 2 x 75 watt VHO 454 to my 250 watt Radium over my zoanthid tank and liked it so much I switched my super actinic to the 454 bulbs on my 240.
I really like the color. Makes the corals look great.

 

[Troylee]

I got my 454 bulbs today!!!! Awesome!!!! My oranges really pop now very happy if everything holds it
Color...;)

 

[Just Clownin Around]

I ran 2 radiums with a 454 and super actinic and loved it.changed to a reef brite and fried about 7000 in corals. Saved thirty bucks in electricity :squigglemouth:

 

[gqjeff]

Add some warm white and blue LEDs... You will ditch your t5 like I did.

 

[SPS Addict]

454 is the same look as blue + which is the same as gmann's actinic plus. HTH

 

[Maximus]

I run a pair of Super Actinic VHO bulbs now. What coloration does the 454 produce? Who makes the 454?

 

[Troylee]

Uvl makes the 454 I'm running radiums with a super actinic and now a 454 love it!!! Hope they look good and work with my new LEDs.....;)

 

[RogerWilco357]

funny huh your old vho's kicking actinic butt. yeah I have them over my tank with 10k ushio's and they just rule..now I have another setup just t5's with blue plus this and that and still not the same pop as my old vho's gotta love em. Hey post A pic of your new lights..Troy

 

[john90009]

pics of before and after with the camera set to the same white balance?

 

[Troylee]

Here is a shot with my iPhone actinic only....
With 454 looking for one before I swapped it...

 

[Troylee]

Yellows, orange, and reds just pop way more with a 454 bulb I have been using super actinic bulbs for 2 years now and I noticed a huge difference imeidiatly it's way brighter and my tank looks completely different..... I'm liking it something new ya know...1smile1

 

[john90009]

your you probably notice a bluer color with the halides on to- the reason why i switched over from halides back to t-5 was the super actinics didnt make the tank blue enough for me even with radiums on the tank and no where near me has 454's- plus when the actinics are on by them self it was way to dark and purple.

 

[Troylee]

Well right now it's radiums with super actinic and and a 454 those 2 vho bulbs
I just bought the super actinic and 454 are going on my led build which is 100 royal blue LEDs and 50 cool whites.... It should be plenty blue lol... I was looking to Cover a broader spectrum since I feel LEDs alone don't cover much...should work out great..;)