Color shift on VHO's

[Richy]

I am currently running 2 Super Actinic and 2 Actinic White VHO's on my tank.

Question: Do the Super Actinic bulbs color shift the same as the actinic whites and aquasuns? The reason I ask is do I have to change the super actinics every 10 months too or are they just for appearance?

Thanks

Rich............

[Stasher]

I am not sure as I run the same bulbs as you, I beleive they were supposed to last 14-16 months. I have the 48" URI 110w super actinics. I am do for a change as well but have thought of changing my lights and end caps out to run T5 instead of vho for my actinic supplement. Have you tought about this?
I want to cut back on heat and power a little as I already have 2 250w MH for full spectrum light.

[Richy]

I beleive the vho's are better than the t5's..just my opinion though..

Rich......

[Invigor]

I beleive the vho's are better than the t5's..just my opinion though..

Rich......

Better at using power and not gaining output :P

I found VHOs went to crap output in as little as 6 months...however I was using them on workhorse 7 ballasts which really cooks the ends when they turn on...I'd expect a longer life from a better ballast such as an Icecap.

I used to prefer the color rendition index of VHOs (URI brand to be more specific) over any T5, but since Giessmann and ATI have stepped it up a notch, I have no reason not to love T5s. Great color, great output, and half (if not more than half) the power consumption and cooler.

[Richy]

and half (if not more than half) the power consumption and cooler.1/2 of $50.00 year..big deal.. I just dont get it..........

I used to prefer the color rendition index of VHOs (URI brand to be more specific) over any T5, but since Giessmann and ATI have stepped it up a notch, I have no reason not to love T5s.So they have produced almostwhat vho (URI Brand to be more specific)is now...t5 bulb is smaller(but not when you add the reflector...so what do you gain...less heat( nothing that a couple of 5" fans cant take care of ($38.00) and power consumption ($25.00).

Cost of retrofit....$1000.00ish ?? Hmmm, I cant figure the math here...

Lots of hype...just something new to sell! But I guess some people like hype.

Just my opinion!

Cheers

Richy...............

[Invigor]

My retrofit cost about $200 for a 4x48" lamp setup...including parabolic reflectors.

I was just supporting Stasher's reason for wanting to switch, as he was concerned about power consumption and heat issues.

[Richy]

I still cant see the benefit...

URI = 4x110W=440W
t5 = 4x54W = 216W

URI has internal relectors (granted not the best but still reflects the light) t5's use parabolic refector( slightly better than URI (10% max) and you have to purchase them..).

Having said that, The t5's are not 100% more efficient. Nope, they just arent!

As far as heat yes they are cooler because they put out (approx) 1/2 the light.

Standard flourescents put out less heat than t5's.....

Here is 1 for yall: URI 110W VHO no internal reflector with same parabolic refector versus T5 54W parabolic reflector. How would that compare? Just asking...


I was just supporting Stasher's reason for wanting to switch, as he was concerned about power consumption

That is like not ordering coffee with a meal because it costs to much. ???

Were talking aprox. 200w for ??10/12 hours day..365days yr. I dont know maybe someone who knows how to calculate this can chime in here. I would really like to know. I cant see the power issue being significant at all.

heat issues.
You will always have heat issues if you are running Metal Halide. The heat generated from the VHO vesus t5's is minimal. Move your MH lights up 2" and you get the same thing. Less light and less heat. And it cost you 2 minutes of your time and no jack.....

Just my opinion. Cheers!

Richy....

[Richy]

My retrofit cost about $200 for a 4x48" lamp setup...including parabolic reflectors.

My math:
4 - t5 lamps 4x $25.00 = $100.00
4 waterproof endcaps 4 x $12.00 = $48.00
4 stand offs 4x $6.00 = $24.00
4 parabolic reflectors 4x $21.00 = $84.00

Now this isnt ati bulbs and quality reflectors either.

Add in 2 Ballasts for t5's
Plus something to put this all into..

or

T5 Tek Retro Kit 48in- 4 x 54w $209.95
plus bulbs ($100.00 )plus shipping freight customs duty blah blah blah oh and gst..:)
$400.00 +- ???

Ati or big G have to add more I think :icon_wink

For $200.00 you can get some light from the bulbs. Or..That is what you told the better half and now beleive it yourself:icon_lol:

Cheers


Richy..........

[sphelps]

Hey Old-timer (jk) the T5's are way better, you're just jealous. Not only are they more efficient in producing more PAR per watt but they produce WAY better color. More money of course but you get way you pay for, I've never seen a nice SPS tank lit with VHOs.

Also the light produced from the actinics will diminish just the same as the other bulbs. Some people don't change them as often as they do not provide much beneficial light for corals. However I would personally still change them as you'll notice a better light color spectrum.

[Invigor]

http://www.prairiereefsupplies.ca/index.php?id=36

(near the bottom of the page)

$99 (they were $89 when I bought them, I think shipping for 4 bulbs all the endcaps, both ballasts was maybe $15-$20. THANKS QUINN)
1 Electronic Ballast
4 Waterproof endcaps
2 bulbs (you choice of 10K or 20K with actinic suppliment)

who needs standoffs? and what's the deal, you'd have to buy all of that for a VHO setup too.

URI = 4x110W=440W
t5 = 4x54W = 216W

That's considering both have 100% efficiency, then of course VHOs would HAVE to be brighter. However, neither are 100% efficient.

Check this out: (this is just to prove that more wattage doesn't mean more light)
http://www.pcgok.com/PCGFiles/T5%20vs%20Metal%20halide%20Comparison.pdf

An airplane hangar filled with 16 4x54w T5HO fixtures produce TWICE the amount of light on the floor using HALF the electricity than 16 400w HPS fixtures.

Were talking aprox. 200w for ??10/12 hours day..365days yr. I dont know maybe someone who knows how to calculate this can chime in here. I would really like to know. I cant see the power issue being significant at all.


200w for 12 hours a day, 365 days a year = 876KWh. A recent bill says electricity at my house costs $.08990/KWh. Let's round it off at .115 for taxes/surcharges.
That's $100.74/year savings. So with that, I can buy some high quality reflectors..virtually for free.

Here is 1 for yall: URI 110W VHO no internal reflector with same parabolic refector versus T5 54W parabolic reflector. How would that compare? Just asking...

Considering T5s are 5/8" and VHOs are 1.5", you'd need a huge amount of space for a parabolic reflector to fit around the T12 lamp to be efficient. Just a quick calculation, a 5/8" lamp gets a 2" reflector, that gives us 3.2 as a constant for parabolic reflector size to lamp size...for the same effect, a 1.5" lamp would have to get a 4.8" reflector.

I'll look for VHO vs T5HO data...but it might take a while, there's not much documentation on VHOs anymore.

Oh, I don't have to clear anything past the better half, she just lets me spend on whatever I want since I pay the bills anyways :P

[Richy]

Sphelps...Whats this old timer stuff:pimp::icon_bigg

more PAR per watt

Yes maybe so but...More total par? no way.

Are you trying to tell me a 48" URI vho has less par than a 48" t5?

Hmm.

Cheers

Richy............

[Invigor]

Sphelps...Whats this old timer stuff:pimp::icon_bigg



Yes maybe so but...More total par? no way.

Are you trying to tell me a 48" URI vho has less par than a 48" t5?

Hmm.

Cheers

Richy............

I'll do what I can to prove it...and if not better, they'll be very very similar. :D

[Richy]

Invigor..

Oh, I don't have to clear anything past the better half, she just lets me spend on whatever I want since I pay the bills anyways :P

:poke: Just pokin some fun at ya!

'll do what I can to prove it...and if not better, they'll be very very similar. Go to it! No murcury vapor or sodium light comparisons either..

Were talking T5 vesus VHO here..:licklips:

Cheers

Richy................

[shroom]

T5's will get my vote,they kick a$$ !! vho are old school :P

[sphelps]

Sorry Rick you're simply wrong, although I can't find an actual article containing test results it seems clear from searching RC that a 4 bulb 54W HO T5 fixture with proper reflectors will out preform a 4 bulb 110W VHO fixture hands down.

Sure argue all you want that the reflector does most the work but you can't get reflectors like TEK5s for VHOs.

It seems VHOs are the least efficent type of lighting, your tank will look better with four T5s! Ditch those VHOs before it's too late.

http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/search.php?s=&action=showresults&searchid=7559311&sortby=lastpost&sortorder=descending

[Richy]

Sphelps...:roflmao:

Have a good weekend!

Rich............

[Stasher]

Well, I was in the same boat as Richy and need new vho bulbs. I definately think I am going with a new set of T5. In my case all I need is new endcaps and new bulbs.

Uri 48" super actinic VHO....$29/bulbx2=58

Geissman 48" pure actinic T5....$38/bulbx2=76
new end caps for T5 $40 for 2 pair
Total....116

So my cost to upgrade is $58 dollars, not that bad at all...I should make that up in energy savings this year no problem.

[sphelps]

Also consider energy savings:

For a 4 bulb 4foot fixture
224W total saving (440w- (54W x 4))
0.5 duty cycle (12hours per day)
That adds up to a total of 2.688 kWh per day (224W x 0.5 x 24h)/1000
Saskatoon charges 9.89 cents per kwh
Which means a daily savings of 26.6 cents
That's $97.03 per year! Not $15

Rick you have a good weekend to :dance:

[Stasher]

Also consider energy savings:

That's $97.03 per year! Not $15

Thst means that I will come out almost $40 ahead :)

[Richy]

Just wondering if there are any decent Actinic t5's out yet? I know that was a big issue a while back.. Oh and is there such a thing as 72" t5's. I talked to Icecap and they didn't think anyone was manufacturing anything.

Thanks...


Richy...............

[sphelps]

Yeah you're kind of out of luck with the 6 foot tank, the biggest T5 is the 5 foot @ 80W a piece. However The spread I think would still be pretty good if you centerned them. It's what I plan on doing with my new 6 foot tank.

Both Giesemann and ATI make 2 kinds of actinic. The Pure actinic is less intense but produces that pinky-purple light that makes everything glow. The Actinic+ is the brighter blue bulb and an awesome actinic. There's also the ATI aquablue special which produces a corolated color temp. around 20000K. The Giesemann aquablue special is more like 13000K.

[Richy]

ahhhh. just use 5' and centre....never thought of that. 6" on either side,thats ?? cool. Now i have to find out how many 5' t5's can be run on an icecap 440. I think only 2.....Ill have to check. I think I can put 10 bulbs under there. Hopefully 4/4 and 2. I have 3 - 440 ballasts

Just checking my options..........I'm not converted:icon_cool

Rich....................

[Bayside Corals]

Hey Rich,

I remember having this same kind of conversation about the pro's and con's of having a sump with a drilled overflow....

You just got yourself thinking, and if I had to put money on it I would say you are converted. :icon_mrgr

Colby
________
Dc medical marijuana dispensaries (http://dc.dispensaries.org/)

[Stasher]

Here is a guys tank on RC...240g 8ft tank...
Ok my lighting list, I am running 16 48" T5's, 8 are over drivin and 8 a normal drivin. I am over driving the 8 bulbs with 2 IceCap 660 and I am using 4 advance T5HO ballast. I used an Apogee Quantum meter for the par readings.
Light bulbs list
back to Front
2 URI super actinic normal driven Advance T5 HO ballast
2 ATI Blue + normal drivin Advance T5 HO ballast
2 ATI Aqua Blue over drivin By IC
2 GE 3000k over drivin By IC
2 URI Aqua Sun over drivin By IC
2 ATI Blue + over drivin By IC
2 ATI Blue + normal drivin by advance T5 Ho Ballast
2 URI super actincs normal drivin by advance T5 HO ballast
Here is a pic of the light when I was doing a test run to make sure everything was working right.
http://i117.photobucket.com/albums/o76/reeferman75/oct06012.jpg

[Richy]

Colby....I don't sway that easy:icon_wink

Rich............

[stinga]

I'd forget about the cost of everything!AND JUST GET WHAT YOU WANT.if you don't like it sell it and try something else out.

no big deal-you don't always have to think out side hte box( :new_infin )