VHO Lighting for Reef Tank

[twinsnharley]

I am currently Running a 3 tube VHO lighting with Super Actinic lighting. I have 2 blue and one white light. all of my coral and my single rose BTA is all looking well, for now, But is this sufficient lighting? I have tried to convert to a better lighting system but they all cost well over 1000$ just for the lighting system, (not including lights) any suggestions? I have heard that this is sufficient lighting, but I have also heard that I need more wpg. What do you think? this lighting is on a 100g acrylic tank. thanks for the advice

[Doug1]

Originally Posted by twinsnharley

I am currently Running a 3 tube VHO lighting with Super Actinic lighting. I have 2 blue and one white light. all of my coral and my single rose BTA is all looking well, for now, But is this sufficient lighting? I have tried to convert to a better lighting system but they all cost well over 1000$ just for the lighting system, (not including lights) any suggestions? I have heard that this is sufficient lighting, but I have also heard that I need more wpg. What do you think? this lighting is on a 100g acrylic tank. thanks for the advice

Moving this to the General Reef Discussion forum for better coverage

[crvz]

Originally Posted by twinsnharley

I am currently Running a 3 tube VHO lighting with Super Actinic lighting. I have 2 blue and one white light. all of my coral and my single rose BTA is all looking well, for now, But is this sufficient lighting? I have tried to convert to a better lighting system but they all cost well over 1000$ just for the lighting system, (not including lights) any suggestions? I have heard that this is sufficient lighting, but I have also heard that I need more wpg. What do you think? this lighting is on a 100g acrylic tank. thanks for the advice

Well throw out the idea of watts per gallon, recent lighting technology development has made that a useless measure. There are a number of lighting solutions for a 100 gallon setup that will easily be half the $1000 you've been quoted. I was looking at an 8 bulb T5 (which are fluorescent bulbs with smaller diameters than your VHO) fixture with individual reflectors that was ~$530 including bulbs.

But before I give any specific recommendations, can you give the dimension of your tank? Also the type of corals you have or want to have, and a picture would be most welcome.

Welcome to TRT!

[scoop]

Welcome to TRT! Looking forward to helping you with your lighting decision.

[Hop]

I would keep the VHOs as supplemental lighting and look into a couple 250 watt hallides. Then you can keep anything you want

Or sell them and get a T5 set up...

[Seamore]

Welcome Twinsnharley,
Tell us more about the tank, dimentions including depth, the type of balast you have for the existing VHO bulbs. What type of corals you hope to have thrive in it. VHO may be all you ever need depending on the livstock some corals may do better in VHO. You may be able to use the existing balast to drive 2-4 T5 bulbs, add endcaps and individual reflectors and you could easyly be doubling the PAR (a measure of the radiation usable for photosynthisis by the photosynthetic livestock you choose to put under those lights (your corals and BTA...)), if not more for much less than $1K half even. But without more info suggestions may only lead to more and needless expence.

[twinsnharley]

My Tank is 27" tall and 60" across. It is an acrylic flat back hex. I only have some corals no sps, and one anemone. I currently have a pumping xenia that looks great, some leathers, also looking great, a toad stool that is stressed out a bit he hasnt let out his fingers yet, I have only had him for a week and a half, and a green BTA that so far is looking very good. I only have had him for a few days now. All of my fish are perfect and for the 6month life of the tank I havent lost anything. I do weekly water changes, and everyother day chemical testing and supplements. I would like to have a big beautiful coral reef tank I just dont know how much I can do with my current hood. It is about 400 to replace it for a retrofit hood, my current hood only gives me about 7 inches clearance between lights and bottom of lights. I would like to get a 12 inch hood though. My current hood is a clamshell hood. any suggestions? my lighting is currently 4.3 WPG and VERY Bright. I change the bulbs every 4 months

[crvz]

You'd probably have to build something to fit custom for any lighting you'd want, but I think that's what you mentioned (the $400 for a retrofit hood). I'd still look for some retrofit fixtures to mount some T5 bulbs in the hood, they'll be plenty to keep anything you'd want in the tank. One thing with that is you'll surely want to figure out a good way to ventilate the hood with any upgraded lighting.