What kind of lights do you use?

[hansmatt]

mine is on a 24" deep tank, and it grows things like crazy...I have a clam on the bed, 3-4 hammer/frogspawns down low to up high, the giant orange monti in the bottom 1/3. In a shallower tank you should be able to grow anything anywhere. I got the fixture with my tank...it's a set-on top enclosure (acrylic) with icecap endcaps & 2x external icecap ballasts (the smaller ones to give better overdrive). I only need to replace the lights every 18-24 months (according to many "experts" I've read, and lights are around $80 for the set, rather than double that. I have not run my kill 0 watt matter on them, but they are "reasonable" compared to other sources.
Considering selling them...

oh, recall that Chris W had two vho lights on his frag setup, and not how prolific the growth was in that one. Imagine that with FOUR on icecap ballasts!

[caseyjaydarling]

i loved my vho actinics....probably the best out there. big step up from pc too if you ask me.

[pogodzib]

IMO, VHO's are much better than PC for light penetration and color, but not as good as a good MH for penetration. I love my VHOs, but my guess is that it will get harder and harder to find bulbs in the future now that T5HO lighting has begun to take over. If I were going to buy a new unit, I'd either go with MH or T5HO. If I were buying a used unit at a reasonable price, VHO's would be a good option. Either way, I'd stear clear of PCs.

[caseyjaydarling]

agreed. I have never seen a tank lit by a t5 setup, but it sounds like they are the real deal. I love my mh, but if I had a longer tank and needed 2 or 3 mh, i would seriously consider t5s to save some money.