lighting comparison vho vs. power compact

[skennelly]

I already have a 90 gallon tank with a canopy setup with a icecap 660 and 4 x 110 VHO. The icecap ballast is capable of running 4 x 96 watt Power Compact. Should I convert from 440 watts of VHO lighting to 384 watts of power compact lighting.

Thanks

 

[theatrus]

Supposedly the PC lights last longer (12 months) vs. VHO. Can't make a claim either way.

PC is great because its easier to fit more bulbs over the tank.

 

[MadManMac]

I think it is up to you, but the PC lights are more expensive but last longer. I alos have heard that the VHO are more true to the deep actinic color and the PC tend to be a little more washed out. I do not have VHO so it is just what I have read and heard.

 

[fishman]

Skennelly
I hope I think I understood you right...You can run PC lights off of a Icecap 660 ballast? I have the same setup and hate the VHO lights for one reason...they are big and take up all of the room I have. I would love to run PC lights as I have 2 icecap ballasts...I only have room for one set of 4 VHO bulbs....If this is the case then I can run 2 ballasts and have enough room for all of the lights!!

 

[fishfreek]

My personal opinon is to stay with VHO. I have both VHO and PC. I first had PC and loved them and then got the VHO. Both used the same specitrum 2 X 10K and 2 X Actinic. I like the color apperance of the VHO better. I also replace my PC bulbs every 9 months. There is a noticable color shift after 9 months to where I feel my corals are at a disadvantage if I left the bulbs for another 3 months before I replaced them.

I am currently at 10 months with my VHO bulbs and I dont plan on swapping them out for another two months.

 

[fishman]

I just wish I could do something with my second ballast that is just sitting waiting to be used. I am very limited on the room I have under my canopy and if I were to hook up the lights (even 2), I would not have anough room to even stick my hands down into the water. Literally the light are 2 inches off the water and the canopy is about 3 ft from front to back...arg!

 

[skennelly]

Fishman,
You understood me correctly. If you go to the Icecap homepage they have a diagram of how you can use the 660 ballast. It can handle up to 4 x 96 watt power compacts.

http://www.icecapinc.com/flapp.htm

It also shows you a wiring diagram here.

http://www.icecapinc.com/aq.htm

 

[MarineFlake]

I have used VHO in my config, viewable in my gallery. Can't mess with success.

GL

 

[logman17]

I had the same question: VHO vs PC
I found this article:
http://www.championlighting.com/e/env/0001HHvTiaBku0MmtU1H8w8/Products/Lighting/vho.html?link=/Products/Lighting/aboutlight.html

You'll have to copy and paste link

It shed some light for me...

-Logan

 

[skennelly]

Thanks for the link....I'm starting to get happy about the VHO's I have.

 

[logman17]

That was my thought after reading that article.

The thing that got me was the fact that they seel PC setups....for more $$$
More $$$ = more profit, and they still steer towards VHO.

I'm looking into the VHO's from there as well...


-Logan

 

[loganj]

The Icecap ballasts will run any fluorescent bulb you can wire up to them. They will run VHO, HO, NO, PC, T-5, ect... VHO's, according to Icecap, will last for 12 months using their ballast. I just replaced two of the 6' bulbs on the 180 (URI bulbs) and I can't tell a bit of difference...of course, I'm blind as a bat too and that might have something to do with it. The old bulbs were almost a year old. I think Phillips makes a 48" 10k NO bulb that will give you good performance on the Icecap ballast (VHO level output) at a much cheaper price. You can even wire up different kinds of bulbs if you wish...2 VHO and 2 PC's. If I were you, and I already had the VHO's, I'd stick with them. JMHO.

 

[fishman]

PC
I assume you have 4 110-watt VHO lights is all?? If so, Im impressed. And encouraged. I am going to try and set up 2 more lights in my canopy and use my second ballast that is laying around.
Thanks