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11-16-2005, 04:23 PM
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#1
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Whuch' you need?
Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: West Saint Paul
Posts: 3,809
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4 vho bulbs over a 48" 55 gal?
As I have stated in previous thread I am looking to get my mother some lights for x-mas.
She has a "standard" 48" 55 gal tank. I was wondering if I could fit 4 VHO bulbs over the tank? She has a canopy for her PCs and I though I could just stick the VHO's in there.
Any opinions?
Derek
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Don't choke there buddy-boy!
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11-16-2005, 04:29 PM
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#2
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TCMAS Member
Join Date: Apr 2004
Location: Lakeville, MN.
Posts: 263
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Depends on the canopy! You may be able to fit 48" bulbs in it. Measure carefully, especially if you plan to retrofit it with new endcaps - you might be forced down to the 46.5" bulbs in that case!
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11-16-2005, 04:56 PM
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#3
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TCMAS Member
Join Date: Mar 2000
Location: Brooklyn Center, MN
Posts: 5,665
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Providing you can pretty much use the full 13" width. Four bulbs shouldn't be a problem. I was able to fit 4 on a 72G bow and at the ends the tank was only 12"wide.
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11-16-2005, 05:06 PM
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#4
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Whuch' you need?
Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: West Saint Paul
Posts: 3,809
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I think I will have to use the 46.5" bulbs- which I don't think will be a problem.
Thanks David, that is what I wanted to hear.
Derek
__________________
Don't choke there buddy-boy!
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11-16-2005, 09:43 PM
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#5
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TCMAS MEMBER
Join Date: Sep 2004
Location: Savage, Minnesota
Posts: 507
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You may have trouble squeezing 4 VHO's on a 55. i have that many acros my 75 which is 6 inches deeper than a 55 and it's tight. But it all depends on the hood. Remember measure twice cut once.
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Gotta love Zoa's!
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11-16-2005, 09:50 PM
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#6
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The Ninja MOD
Join Date: Mar 2004
Location: Planet P.....Why Me?
Posts: 12,113
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My old 55 had 4 48" VHOs and it worked great. It was a retro kit from Hellolights.
R
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After 2 years I finally have water in it! (no, really)!
Where is Planet P?
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11-17-2005, 09:56 AM
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#7
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TCMAS Member
Join Date: Apr 2004
Location: Lakeville, MN.
Posts: 263
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I too have 4 VHO's on our 55. I custom built the canopy, and we had to mod it at the end to accomodate the full 48" bulbs (which I had already bought!).
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11-17-2005, 10:05 AM
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#8
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Lost in Reeeeef
Join Date: Mar 2004
Location: The Reeeeef
Posts: 2,401
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You need just under 47" to fit the t-5s in. Width would not be a problem  |
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11-17-2005, 10:22 AM
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#9
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Nothing to See Here
Join Date: Dec 2003
Location: Corvallis
Posts: 903
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are you dead set on VHO? T5 would be a more cost effective.
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11-17-2005, 10:23 AM
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#10
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Whuch' you need?
Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: West Saint Paul
Posts: 3,809
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not for the ballast, and it will not be an sps tank, just softies and LPS,
derek
__________________
Don't choke there buddy-boy!
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11-17-2005, 11:27 AM
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#11
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micro nut
Join Date: Jul 2003
Location: TWIN CITIES
Posts: 4,853
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Quote:
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Originally Posted by drock59
are you dead set on VHO? T5 would be a more cost effective.
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how is that?
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11-17-2005, 11:30 AM
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#12
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Lost in Reeeeef
Join Date: Mar 2004
Location: The Reeeeef
Posts: 2,401
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Efficient. They should be equally effective if set up right. Colors are a personal choice.
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11-17-2005, 01:17 PM
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#13
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Nothing to See Here
Join Date: Dec 2003
Location: Corvallis
Posts: 903
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bulbs last longer, use less energy, put out more PAR.
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11-17-2005, 01:46 PM
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#14
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TCMAS Member
Join Date: Mar 2000
Location: Brooklyn Center, MN
Posts: 5,665
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I can't speak for any other ballast but on Icecap, The difference in actual wattage from VHO is actually less energy than T5s. 4X110W bulbs run 285W on an Icecap. T5s on an icecap run 320W. Running at rated 54W on a non-icecap ( if that's the actual wattage used ) 216W. That's not enough difference to even buy a cup of coffee a month on the energy savings unless your running lots of tanks such as Fritz are you even going to notice.
Yes, the bulb life can possibly be more but difference is not as drastic as with other ballasts. 18months is about as long as I would run VHOs without shift in color spectrum. Again, $100 in bulbs replacement every 1.5 years vs. every 2 years really isn't a big issue unless your running lots of tanks with lots of bulbs to replace.
Of course a valid argument is that with the T5s, you could possibly cut down on the # of bulbs which would increase the effeciency in this case providing it does still provide adequate coverage.
For LPS/Softy more PAR isn't an issue, based on my experences I feel quite strongly that VHO is a better fit and corals will respond better and is worth the few extra $$ in maintenance costs...........
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11-17-2005, 02:55 PM
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#15
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Whuch' you need?
Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: West Saint Paul
Posts: 3,809
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Though the wattage is quite different how the the PAR compare... How many t-5 bulbs do you need to eqhal a VHO ?(insert size where applicable)
Derek
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Don't choke there buddy-boy!
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