VHO bulb choices

[JohnH2]

I have had my VHO lighting for almost a year now on my 90 gal. Icecap 660 ballast, 2 URI Super Actinic Blue bulbs & 2 URI white bulbs. I relocated in september, but the tank was only down for less than 1 week so the lighting has been in use the entire year. I always heard you should replace VHO bulbs every 6 - 9 months, & I am thinking about replacing them, but in the last month or so I am seeing really nice corraline growth which tells me maybe the lights are still fine after all.
So I guess I am looking for opinions both on the life of these bulbs without hurting coral growth, & also on different combinations of bulbs as I would like a bit less blue, but definitely don't want that yelow look either. Also, opinions on keeping SPS under VHO??
Right now I only have a couple of corals: green open brain, candy cane, purple gorgonian, & just got a galaxia from JennM's shop on friday.
Thanks for any opinions!

[Minnreefer]

I try to replace our VHO bulbs at about the year mark, I am about 1month + this year and I think I notice more algea growth due to it. You can grow some smaller and easier SPS with VHO but they won't do great.

HTH

Jon

[sally]

Once a year works for me.

[Doug1]

A year is pretty typical with IC/URI , also you may want to change them out like a week apart so thet the tank reacclimates to different light level. Use a sharpie to number or date your bulbs

[Big Dave]

I use 4 6' VHO's so I change one out every 3 months. At $50- a pop I can't do a total change at once. Plus it keeps the lighting conditions pretty constant, without having a huge increase of light when you change all the bulbs at once. HTH

-Big Dave

[JohnH2]

I like Big Dave's idea of changing one at a time. Easier on the wallet & the lovestock I would think! Any ideas on what are the best combinations of bulbs?

[Big Dave]

When I first got my VHO's, I had 2 daylight, 1 50/50, and 1 actinic. It looked pretty good like that. When it became time to change out the 50/50, I went with a second actinic. I think it looks even better. The actinics are on a timer together and come on first and go off last. Nice visual effect too. I like the look of the tank with 2 of each, a much crisper look. FWIW, I have the daylights on the outside and the actinics in the middle. HTH

-Big Dave

[RWD]

IMO with a electronic ballast like the IceCap, one year isabout right. In the past I have used tar ballasts and the bulbs don't last nearly as long. Bob

[fredly]

How ironic... I've been pondering bulb replacement on my 1 year old hellolights 440w system recently as well. I don't think all of my corals are growing as fast as they used to - definitely seen a slowdown on the xenia crop. I recently added a near dead pair of sarcophytons (saved them from the LFS - for free!) and they have just gone nuts...so I guess it depends. Next time I drive to San Diego I'll be getting some more URIs (2 actinic and 2 aquasun). Anyone see any reason to choose different bulbs? Read something that said the Coralife 10000K has more PAR than the URI.

Fred

[Doug1]

Mine go white,blue white,blue front to back
FWIW I found the Corallife actinics never lasted more than 9 months for me where as the URI go way longer before failing

[DennisW]

I run 4 VHO, URI bulbs on a LampsNow, electronic ballast. I use to change my bulbs once a year, until......I changed them once at 6 months! WOW.....WHAT A DIFFERENCE!!!!!!!! I think the light levels REALLY drop off quick on VHO's. Electronic ballast or not!

Dennis

[maphew]

I had URI 4' bulbs (2 actinic 2 aquasun) i replaced 1 of each after about 7-8 months, I could really tell a huge difference. I know you can prolly push the bulbs to 12 months, but with how well the tank was doing I just replaced all of them.

I also had a customer who had 2 actinic and 2 aqua sun, and he liked the look better with 3 aquasun and 1 actinic. He said the corals also responded to more white light.