[newtoit]

I actually like vho lights inb his tank I have t-5 ho on a 40 breeder and I could not be happier but I also have a 37g column that is 25 inched deep thats getting halides soon

	VHO Very High Output Fluorescent Lighting - Fluorescent bulbs that run on special ballasts and have an output that is significantly higher than normal tubes. It is very possible to run an entire reef system on VHO lighting providing the proper number of bulbs and mixture of spectrums are chosen. For most hobbyists, these tubes are used in conjunction with Metal Halide lighting for simulating dawn and dusk. They often provide the "bluer" end of the light spectrum and thus a more aesthetically appealing display.

[Tom K]

I am more confused than ever... I have 4 VHO 110 watt = 440 watt
if I were to use 8 T5's @ 54 watts =432 watts

why are not 1/half as many VHO's the same as 8 T5's

or if I use 2 250w MH =500watt

do use gauge the light output in something else than watts?????????????

whaT LIGHTING SHOULD i USE FOR A 90 GAL?????????

	MH Metal Halide Lighting, typically used for high intensity light demanding corals such as SPS. Bulbs come in varieties of spectrums (7k, 10k,20k), and intensity (175W, 250W, 400W).

	VHO Very High Output Fluorescent Lighting - Fluorescent bulbs that run on special ballasts and have an output that is significantly higher than normal tubes. It is very possible to run an entire reef system on VHO lighting providing the proper number of bulbs and mixture of spectrums are chosen. For most hobbyists, these tubes are used in conjunction with Metal Halide lighting for simulating dawn and dusk. They often provide the "bluer" end of the light spectrum and thus a more aesthetically appealing display.

[reefkprZ]

Quote: Originally Posted by masterswimmer You won't have great success with the more difficult corals, LPS and SPS. Russ

I think My SPS and LPS would all disagree with you. I run 440W vho on an icecap ballast and couldnt be happier with the results for acropora, montipora, poccilopora, blastomussa, duncans, and many more. VHO's are prefectly suitable for a permanent fixture over an SPS or LPS dominated tank. my corals show better color that some people local who run MH lighting, while the par rating is not as high you get a more even l8ight intesity through out the tank where as halides are really only "great" directly centered under the bulb while there intesity fade rteally fast off to the sides limiting their usefullness especially since they burn through electricity so fast as well as being enourmus wasters of energy in the form of heat.

	MH Metal Halide Lighting, typically used for high intensity light demanding corals such as SPS. Bulbs come in varieties of spectrums (7k, 10k,20k), and intensity (175W, 250W, 400W).

	SPS Small Polyped Scleractinians - Sometimes known as Small Polyped Stony corals. These are hard corals that have extremely small polyps. They are typically on the difficult side and require Metal Halide lighting or dense Power Compact or T5 arrays. These corals are prized for their rareness and ability to be easily fragged into multiple colonies.

	VHO Very High Output Fluorescent Lighting - Fluorescent bulbs that run on special ballasts and have an output that is significantly higher than normal tubes. It is very possible to run an entire reef system on VHO lighting providing the proper number of bulbs and mixture of spectrums are chosen. For most hobbyists, these tubes are used in conjunction with Metal Halide lighting for simulating dawn and dusk. They often provide the "bluer" end of the light spectrum and thus a more aesthetically appealing display.

	LPS Large Polyped Stony corals – In the aquarium hobby this is a common division of the species of stony corals based upon the visual assessment of the size of the polyps. Corals in this category were among the first stony corals to be kept successfully in captivity and include many very beautiful species. Commonly kept Genera include Euphyllia (hammer/frogspawn coral), Favia (brain coral), Plerogyra (bubble coral), Lobophyllia (meat/tooth coral), and Caulastrea (candycane coral). LPS corals also include the popular solitary non-colonial stony corals such as Fungia (plate coral), Cynarina (button coral), Trachyphyllia (open brain coral), and Herpolitha (tongue coral). Like their SPS counterparts, LPS corals require good water quality, intense lighting of the appropriate spectrum, adequate water movement and regular supplementation of calcium.

[reefkprZ]

here I will attach some pictures of the SPS and LPS I keep under 440W of VHO

	SPS Small Polyped Scleractinians - Sometimes known as Small Polyped Stony corals. These are hard corals that have extremely small polyps. They are typically on the difficult side and require Metal Halide lighting or dense Power Compact or T5 arrays. These corals are prized for their rareness and ability to be easily fragged into multiple colonies.

	VHO Very High Output Fluorescent Lighting - Fluorescent bulbs that run on special ballasts and have an output that is significantly higher than normal tubes. It is very possible to run an entire reef system on VHO lighting providing the proper number of bulbs and mixture of spectrums are chosen. For most hobbyists, these tubes are used in conjunction with Metal Halide lighting for simulating dawn and dusk. They often provide the "bluer" end of the light spectrum and thus a more aesthetically appealing display.

	LPS Large Polyped Stony corals – In the aquarium hobby this is a common division of the species of stony corals based upon the visual assessment of the size of the polyps. Corals in this category were among the first stony corals to be kept successfully in captivity and include many very beautiful species. Commonly kept Genera include Euphyllia (hammer/frogspawn coral), Favia (brain coral), Plerogyra (bubble coral), Lobophyllia (meat/tooth coral), and Caulastrea (candycane coral). LPS corals also include the popular solitary non-colonial stony corals such as Fungia (plate coral), Cynarina (button coral), Trachyphyllia (open brain coral), and Herpolitha (tongue coral). Like their SPS counterparts, LPS corals require good water quality, intense lighting of the appropriate spectrum, adequate water movement and regular supplementation of calcium.

[reefkprZ]

Quote: Originally Posted by Tom K do use gauge the light output in something else than watts?????????????

actually watts is the least reliable way to measure how effective a light is. wats only shows how much energy is consumed in the operqation of a device it has absolutly nothing to do with the ending output. Par (intenssity) is the more accurate way to measure a lights effectiveness a simple Lux meter can show how effective different lights are at different depths. honestly 4 inches of depth difference isnt going to change all taht much, but if you move 4 inches side ways out from under the center of a halide you expirience serious par drop off. in my opinion you can't go wrong using any of these (8 bulb t-5 ho set up, 2 x 250halides with either VHO or PC actinics, or 4x 110W VHO). I would not reccomend power compacts for a 90g.

	PC Power Compact Lighting, typically used in lower light aquariums supporting soft corals, LPS, and fish. Their low cost and cooler operating temperatures are an excellent choice for beginner aquariums and smaller tanks.

	VHO Very High Output Fluorescent Lighting - Fluorescent bulbs that run on special ballasts and have an output that is significantly higher than normal tubes. It is very possible to run an entire reef system on VHO lighting providing the proper number of bulbs and mixture of spectrums are chosen. For most hobbyists, these tubes are used in conjunction with Metal Halide lighting for simulating dawn and dusk. They often provide the "bluer" end of the light spectrum and thus a more aesthetically appealing display.

[fritz]

One of my top 5 favorite tanks is a 120 gallon sps tank (with clams) that is VHO lit only.

	SPS Small Polyped Scleractinians - Sometimes known as Small Polyped Stony corals. These are hard corals that have extremely small polyps. They are typically on the difficult side and require Metal Halide lighting or dense Power Compact or T5 arrays. These corals are prized for their rareness and ability to be easily fragged into multiple colonies.

	VHO Very High Output Fluorescent Lighting - Fluorescent bulbs that run on special ballasts and have an output that is significantly higher than normal tubes. It is very possible to run an entire reef system on VHO lighting providing the proper number of bulbs and mixture of spectrums are chosen. For most hobbyists, these tubes are used in conjunction with Metal Halide lighting for simulating dawn and dusk. They often provide the "bluer" end of the light spectrum and thus a more aesthetically appealing display.

[reefkprZ]

Quote: Originally Posted by Tom K or if I use 2 250w MH =500watt

not to confuse the issue even more but 2 x 250 w halides doesnt really equal 500 watts over the entire tank it is in reality 250w over the focal point under the bulb fading to the perifials, same for my VHOs if you break it into 2 foot sections I actually only have about 220 w for every 2 feet because the light out put from the far bulb (or far end of the bulb in my case) doesn not reach to the opposite side of the tank.

	MH Metal Halide Lighting, typically used for high intensity light demanding corals such as SPS. Bulbs come in varieties of spectrums (7k, 10k,20k), and intensity (175W, 250W, 400W).

[fritz]

Watts per gallon is not a good measurement because it doesn't take into account the depth off the tank. For example a 20 gallon high would need more light to penetrate to the bottom than a 20 gallon long would.

It has more to do with depth of the tank than volume of water. That being said lighting is not the be all end all. Science has shown that VHO doesn't penetrate as deep as MH does yet there are many fantastic VHO sps tanks. If you have VHO right now why not use it? It won't cost you anything and if the person you bought it from was using it and successfully why change it?

If it aint broke don't fix it.

	MH Metal Halide Lighting, typically used for high intensity light demanding corals such as SPS. Bulbs come in varieties of spectrums (7k, 10k,20k), and intensity (175W, 250W, 400W).

	SPS Small Polyped Scleractinians - Sometimes known as Small Polyped Stony corals. These are hard corals that have extremely small polyps. They are typically on the difficult side and require Metal Halide lighting or dense Power Compact or T5 arrays. These corals are prized for their rareness and ability to be easily fragged into multiple colonies.

	VHO Very High Output Fluorescent Lighting - Fluorescent bulbs that run on special ballasts and have an output that is significantly higher than normal tubes. It is very possible to run an entire reef system on VHO lighting providing the proper number of bulbs and mixture of spectrums are chosen. For most hobbyists, these tubes are used in conjunction with Metal Halide lighting for simulating dawn and dusk. They often provide the "bluer" end of the light spectrum and thus a more aesthetically appealing display.

[emmanuel]

I never had vho but am thinking of changing my pc lights for vho because the price for vho is so much cheaper , I also have mh but one of the most amazing tanks i ever saw was a guy in long island from RC his name I think was mjny he had a 180 with 6 72 inch vho the colors and the corals in his tank were gorgeous and he had sps in the sand bed

	MH Metal Halide Lighting, typically used for high intensity light demanding corals such as SPS. Bulbs come in varieties of spectrums (7k, 10k,20k), and intensity (175W, 250W, 400W).

	PC Power Compact Lighting, typically used in lower light aquariums supporting soft corals, LPS, and fish. Their low cost and cooler operating temperatures are an excellent choice for beginner aquariums and smaller tan