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PFO-HQI +10k + VHO actinic THE answer?

2Sunny

2Sunny

Junior Member
Location
Pound Ridge, NY
Rating - 100%
3   0   0
So I was talking with Jason from Greenwich Aquaria and Chris Jessen (former owner of Reef&Fins in Stamford, CT) and we came to the conclusion that nothing beats the combination of PFO-HQI driving 10k MH + VHO actinc supplementation for ultimate coloration of SPS dominated tanks high in purples and blues.

What say you all? Do you agree? Do you have alternatives that are proven effective and what examples can you give? I ask because I am in search of the latest and greatest . . . the cutting edge of Reefdom. I tried T5s but I just don't think they have the umph necessary unless you start adding 8 or more bulbs and then you get into frequent changes of bulbs to keep it optimized so I'm just not convinced . . . Concince me please because I love to find new ideas and concepts. The alternative of course is simply to say that 10k on PFO-HQI with VHO is the current best of breed and that wouldn't be so bad, but I'm always lookin' to improve.

For my examples I would offer my tank (www.bluefrags.com) which unabashedly I say ROCKS, and then there is Rick Souta from www.ReefStuff.com and Steve Weast of www.OregonReef.com, Chris Jessen of www.aquariumarchitecturellc.com and of course Jason of Greenwich Aquaria.

So what say everyone? Don't be shy let's get into it . . . give me an opinion biased or un!

Joe
 
jackson6745

jackson6745

SPS KILLER
Location
NJ
Rating - 99%
201   2   0
Yeah I ran 250w 10k BLV's on PFO HQI ballast + 3 VHO's for 2 years. Great colors(every color) but nothing beats reeflux 10k on electronic ballast for blues. I'm also a fan of the 400w radium on HQI ballast :)
 
fritz

fritz

OG of this here reef game
Manhattan Reefs
Location
Marine Park
Rating - 95.9%
47   2   0
Weast uses a whole mix of ballasts and bulbs which he says he moves around a bit to fine tune his color. He said he likes using different ballasts in his array because it allows him to run the same bulbs on different ballasts to give him more of a "spot light" ability like in Japanese tanks. I didn't see too much in the way of lighting info on Chris or Rick's site.

Do you find that PFO ballasts make such a difference? What about electronic ballasts with 10ks. Which 10k bulbs specifically? I find the Icecap +XM 10k combo to be pretty popular.
 
2Sunny

2Sunny

Junior Member
Location
Pound Ridge, NY
Rating - 100%
3   0   0
Weast, bulbs, and ballasts.

Although it is true that Steve does mess around slightly with his lighting, I believe he always has several PFO-HQI ballasts driving several 10k bulbs along with VHO actinics around the perimeter of his hood. Now I could be wrong there - yes I know "me being wrong" how could that be you say, but I admit it has happened - ohh wait I was wrong :Yikes: :funnypost



As for my lights I use Hamilton 10k bulbs. I have tried several types of bulbs myself 20k to 6.5k and 1000 watt all the way down to 150 watt, but my personal experience found that Hamilton 10ks on PFO-HQI ballasts gave me the best coral coloration.


Joe
 
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