Sponsor Our Community
Go Back   The Reef Tank > The Reference Place > Equipment, Start-up, and Education Archive > Lighting Archive

Lighting Archive Search here for lighting information.


Registered Members don't see these ads. Register now it's free!

 
 
Thread Tools
Old 05-06-2003, 04:45 PM   #1
RJ
Canadian Reefer
 
RJ's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2001
Location: Ottawa,Ont. Canada
Posts: 164

PC's or VHO?


Hey folks,

Just looking for everyone's .02 here. I've got a 46 bow with 3 55w PC's now. For actinics I'm using 2 NO 03's. I find the daylights are overpowering the 03's. I was thinking of going with 2 3' VHO tubes or maybe 2 55 W PC's of 03. I can get a VHO ballast here fairly cheap and it seems like it would be cheaper to go that way. I'll include a pic of my tank so maybe you'll see what I mean light wise. Thanks!
Registered Members don't see these ads. Register now it's free!
__________________
46 gal Bow, CPR BakPak, Hang-on- Fuge, 3X55W PC's, 2 VHO 03's, No DSB!
RJ is offline  
Old 05-06-2003, 05:29 PM   #2
Casey
Eat more PIE
 
Casey's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2002
Location: Florida Panhandle
Posts: 18,594
Images: 111
vho vho
__________________
Double your drive space. Delete Windows

Casey is offline  
Old 05-06-2003, 05:33 PM   #3
RJ
Canadian Reefer
 
RJ's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2001
Location: Ottawa,Ont. Canada
Posts: 164
that's what I figured....now...what's the diff between the $50 ballast I can buy vs the $$$$$ ice cap or others?
__________________
46 gal Bow, CPR BakPak, Hang-on- Fuge, 3X55W PC's, 2 VHO 03's, No DSB!
RJ is offline  
Old 05-06-2003, 06:45 PM   #4
MontanaRocknReefer
Nothing to See Here
 
MontanaRocknReefer's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2001
Location: Montana
Posts: 5,816
Images: 1
Ice Cap electronic ballasts operate various types of fluorescent lamps including standard, HO and VHO. These ballasts are more energy efficient so they run cooler and extend the lamp life.
MontanaRocknReefer is offline  
Old 05-06-2003, 08:26 PM   #5
thefatman
Shark
 
thefatman's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: Toledo, Ohio
Posts: 3,076
Images: 8
yeah and ice caps weigh approximately 273.6 pounds less than the 50 dollar ballasts... i may be off by a pound or two though

it took three guys to bring my ballast in my house. ok, not really, but it sure would have been nice lol
__________________
Proud member of the "J" Crowd
Proud Co-Founder of the SRD's
Proud-Macho Member of the MMR club

thefatman is offline  
Old 05-06-2003, 08:36 PM   #6
Buzz_Hog
Ughhh.. Dinoflagelettes..
 
Buzz_Hog's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2002
Location: Yardley, PA
Posts: 1,262
Images: 5
Did you weight the ballast while you were holding it Jay???
__________________
Come Join Us
Buzz_Hog is offline  
Old 05-07-2003, 12:33 AM   #7
Doug1
Super Moderator
 
Doug1's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 1999
Location: Southern Oregon, Way West of Dimples ;)
Posts: 21,486
Images: 1
hmmm I would look into the 4 bulb vho from hello lites or similar. I am too much of a red neck to do or be PC
__________________
I'm not going to wake you, I'll go easy on your heart
I'll just touch your face and drift away , like smoke rings in the dark

Doug1 is offline  
Old 05-07-2003, 12:45 AM   #8
Stang69
That Biker Looking Guy
 
Stang69's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2001
Location: Bremerton Wa
Posts: 2,446
Images: 11
I pesonally like VHO's over PC's I think you get much better color rendition with vho. Or maybe it is just more appealing to my eye


Jef
__________________
Proud to be a card carrying member of the "J" Crowd
Body By Nautilus; Brain By Mattel.
If Walking Is So Good For You, Then Why Does My Mailman Look Like Jabba The Hut?
Stang69 is offline  
Old 05-07-2003, 07:49 AM   #9
Mrs Smith
Banggai Mommy
 
Mrs Smith's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2002
Location: Orlando, FL
Posts: 2,274
Images: 8
Word of warning... in one bad and ungraceful day, we broke $80 in PC bulbs. ( DOH! )They're delicate, so you do have to be more careful than with VHOs.

Personally, get the VHOs - then you'll have them when (note the "when") you decide to go MH. I wish we had started with VHOs rather than PCs...

Danielle
__________________
BRW and Proud of it!
Mrs Smith is offline  
Old 05-07-2003, 09:17 AM   #10
mjsandbe
RMMAC President
 
mjsandbe's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2002
Location: Byron MN, USA
Posts: 1,498
Images: 11
If you are looking at VHO you should consider T5 also. I have both and the VHO atinic are superior but the T5 white is extremely intense.
__________________
Michael S. (Facebook Profile)
RMMAC President (www.rmmac.org)
58 Gallon SPS Aquarium Setup

mjsandbe is offline  
Old 05-07-2003, 09:57 AM   #11
Doug1
Super Moderator
 
Doug1's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 1999
Location: Southern Oregon, Way West of Dimples ;)
Posts: 21,486
Images: 1
T5 might be good in a lot of respects but VHO eballast fires any No Flo tube thats handy, as opposed to having to buy specialized bulbs (try replacing PC or T5 at 8pm on a sunday in most of the country
__________________
I'm not going to wake you, I'll go easy on your heart
I'll just touch your face and drift away , like smoke rings in the dark

Doug1 is offline  
Old 05-07-2003, 10:14 AM   #12
mjsandbe
RMMAC President
 
mjsandbe's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2002
Location: Byron MN, USA
Posts: 1,498
Images: 11
In my experence with VHOs, PCs, and T5s only PCs seems to break easily or burn out. I have never in my five years of using VHO had a bulb burn out or break once installed. So being able to slap in a Kmart special bulb seems of limited use to me. T5s are still new to me, I have had mine running for a couple of months now with no problems. They seem more durable and much easier to ship than VHOs and PCs due to their size. I have my T5s and VHO both running on IceCap 660s.

I have talked to IceCap about it and you can easily wire two T5 white bulbs and two VHO Atinic with one IceCap 660. This is what I am considering doing with my 90gallon T5 setup.
__________________
Michael S. (Facebook Profile)
RMMAC President (www.rmmac.org)
58 Gallon SPS Aquarium Setup


Last edited by mjsandbe; 05-07-2003 at 10:18 AM.
mjsandbe is offline  
Old 05-07-2003, 11:21 AM   #13
Jimmer
Professional newbie!
 
Jimmer's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2001
Location: Waukesha, WI
Posts: 404
Images: 1
Alright, I've about had enough PC bashing here!!

I for one LOVE my PC's. Why you may ask??

Because my canopy was reallllllllllllly restrictive, not to mention I have a 55gal tank and as we all know those are waaaaaaaay skinny.

If space is a concern as it was in my case PC is a good alternative.
__________________
Offical member of "J" crowd by blackmail!

Card carrying member of the CLR crew!

55 gal AGA, 100lbs 4" DSB, 60lb LR, 2 Maxijet 900 PH, US Aquariums PS, 4x96w PC lighting 2 actinic 03, 2 10k
Jimmer is offline  
Old 05-07-2003, 12:41 PM   #14
thefatman
Shark
 
thefatman's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: Toledo, Ohio
Posts: 3,076
Images: 8
jimmer, why such a hard time getting the lights in? i got in a full four bulbs over my tank (same as yours)

i love my VHO's and i HATE pc's.. why do i hate pc's i have no lcue lol i've never used them, never bought them, but doug, geoff, and stang were against them, so i'm against them yeah, i'm a follower

seriously, i jsut didnt like the price differances when comparing wattages to cover a larger tank, that's why i went with the vho's. came out cheaper in the end. the option of being able to replace on the fly with a noflo was a factor as well.

but i'll start liking pc's if it will prevent me from trying on a pair of cement sneakers
__________________
Proud member of the "J" Crowd
Proud Co-Founder of the SRD's
Proud-Macho Member of the MMR club

thefatman is offline  
Old 05-07-2003, 12:49 PM   #15
Jimmer
Professional newbie!
 
Jimmer's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2001
Location: Waukesha, WI
Posts: 404
Images: 1
Quote:
Originally posted by thefatman
jimmer, why such a hard time getting the lights in? i got in a full four bulbs over my tank (same as yours)
The restriction was/is my canopy. Its not custom made and the top of it is quite tiny. All the VHO (my original choice) retro fit kits were just too dern big.
Quote:
Originally posted by thefatman
but i'll start liking pc's if it will prevent me from trying on a pair of cement sneakers
Is it the brave man or the foolhearty that laughs in the face of danger?
__________________
Offical member of "J" crowd by blackmail!

Card carrying member of the CLR crew!

55 gal AGA, 100lbs 4" DSB, 60lb LR, 2 Maxijet 900 PH, US Aquariums PS, 4x96w PC lighting 2 actinic 03, 2 10k
Jimmer is offline  
 

Bookmarks

Tags
ice cap electronic ballast , vho ballast , vho tubes



Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)
 
Thread Tools

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is On

Sitemap:1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 49 50 51 52 53 54 55 56 57 58 59 60 61 62 63 64 65 66 67 68 69 70 71 72 73 74 75 76 77 78 79 80 81 82 83 84 85 86 87 88 89 90 91 92 93 94 95 96 97 98 99 100 101 102 103 104 105 106 107 108 109 110 111 112 113 114 115 116 117 118 119 120 121 122 123 124 125 126 127 128 129 130 131 132 133 134 135 136 137 138 139 140 141 142 143 144 145 146 147 148 149 150 151 152 153 154 155 156 157 158 159 160 161 162 163 164 165 166 167 168 169 170 171 172 173 174 175 176 177 178 179 180 181 182 183