VHO color ?

eaglelox · 02-07-2003, 09:57 AM

hi all. let me riddle you this.the new VHO's 3 50/50 white antic and 1 antic give the tank a pinkish look. when i do replace them, what can i put in there to get rid of the pink and get maybe a blueish look. thanks everyone.

Doug1 · 02-07-2003, 10:04 AM

I run 2 actinics on one 430 ballast and 2 daylights on the other

Big Dave · 02-07-2003, 11:59 AM

I run the same as Doug. It is quite a site when you have the 2 actinics on and the daylights have shut off!

David Grigor · 02-07-2003, 02:04 PM

What brand bulbs are you running ?

Big Dave · 02-07-2003, 03:57 PM

I think mine are URI aquasun and URI super actinic. I can check when I get home. 165 watt 6' VHOs. 2 dual hamilton ballast.

-Big Dave

David Grigor · 02-07-2003, 04:10 PM

Aquasuns do burn kinda pink. Running Actinic-Whites and SuperActinics gives is still more in the violet range instead of blue but doesn't look as pink but tank will also not look as bright either.

If your running an Icecap ballast you can try replacing 1 and/or 2 of the Aquasuns with a 65K daylight NO bulbs from HD for only $3 each and see if you like it any better. Supposedly it will run NO up to 80% of the output of a VHO. With the lower Kelvin you may get the look your after with minimal expense and since lower K bulb probably very comparable PAR......

I ran the 65K HD bulbs on an Icecap for my FW planted tank for quite a while before switching to Aquasuns. The Aquasuns showed off the color of the fish better in the FW tank.

David Grigor · 02-07-2003, 04:12 PM

Ooops. Didn't read carefully enough to know your running hamilton ballast.

It may run overdrive NO bulbs as well but I don't really know for sure as I only own Icecap flourescent ballasts.