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chris.rogers 
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 Topic: VHO setup question (Scott? You there?)
Posted: June 08 2007 at 3:55pm |
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Scott or Jon... well, anyone really. I'm not picky.
The closer I get to graduation, the more I think about my next tank. Could someone help me find a website that explains in detail a VHO DIY setup?
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Ils sont fous, ces Romains!
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Mike Savage
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Posted: June 08 2007 at 6:36pm |
Maybe this will help?
That's cool about Tina too!
Mike
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GARFVolunteer
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Posted: June 09 2007 at 4:40am |
Chris,
Are you just looking for a way to wire up a hood or a canopy with some awesome VHO lights??? I am obsessed enough that I could whip something up. 
Thanks,
Scott
Edited by GARFVolunteer - June 09 2007 at 4:42am
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President Idaho Marine Aquarium Society
A fair and biased reef hobbyist
"How do you make poor people rich by making rich people poor" Rush Limbaugh on Obama taxes
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chris.rogers
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Posted: June 10 2007 at 9:56pm |
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Scott,
More like looking for a detailed listing of things I'd need and wiring diagrams/schematics. Plus any tricks of the trade you might be aware of. I'm familiar with the way it should be setup, and I've wired together my own DIY metal halide setup (didn't use it.)
I got to thinking... (Here I go totally kissing up.) Your tank pics are NICE. And the VHO tanks I have seen in person are equally amazing. MH, on the other hand, seems to vary greatly on how it looks. Plus the heating issues in a desert state worry me.
I want to keep SPS, LPS and soft corals, anemones, and maybe a clam. I read your pros/cons in the other thread, and will continue to explore it but bottom line is: Yes. I am heavily leaning toward VHO. (Bear in mind it takes me awhile to get 100% cemented on something.)
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Ils sont fous, ces Romains!
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GARFVolunteer
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Posted: June 11 2007 at 12:23pm |
Hi Chris,
I have a few ideas that might help. When I get some time I will try to get them on paper along with wiring diagrams...
Thanks,
Scott
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President Idaho Marine Aquarium Society
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chris.rogers
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Posted: June 11 2007 at 12:51pm |
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Scott,
I found the workhorse ballast wiring diagrams to be quite handy, so while it's appreciated, I can wait for awhile to see what you have. If I can find some local shops that sell the endcaps, then all I'd need to do is buy the bulbs and mount them in a canopy. Any ideas you can add would be greatly appreciated.
What kind of endcaps would I be looking for? Standard T12, or do they need to be able to accommodate the high voltage?
Really? Just white paint?
Oh, and, I woke up this morning to a burnt out PC lamp. It smelled really bad and had actually smoked itself during the night. Good thing there was no fire. Have you had any accidents like this? How far off the water do you mount your bulbs? How many VHO bulbs and what color combo would you put over a 29 gallon?
Edited by chris.rogers - June 11 2007 at 12:56pm
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dustponds10
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Posted: June 24 2007 at 12:56am |
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look for the german end caps, I cant remember exactly the name but google german endcaps for t-12 and you should find them
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120
ASM G-3
T-5 lighting
130 frag system
T-5 lighting
asm G-1x
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Squiboy
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Posted: June 29 2007 at 6:47pm |
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GARFVolunteer
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Posted: June 30 2007 at 1:02am |
[QUOTE=Squiboy]Just curious why VHO's? http://www.utahreefs.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=19010[/QUOTE]
Because they are the best...  |
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President Idaho Marine Aquarium Society
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"How do you make poor people rich by making rich people poor" Rush Limbaugh on Obama taxes
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Squiboy
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Posted: June 30 2007 at 1:55pm |
[Because they are the best... [/QUOTE]
Best? In what way?
don't get me wrong, VHO's work just fine but it is an old tec.
have you looked at other options? 
"One of the critical parameters of good coral growth or even survival, espically hard corals, is light. With the advent of T5's (wich incidentally only describes teh small dimeter of the tube - 5/8" - and dose not indicate the lumen output), and the development of the correct phosphor blends it has been possible to produce a fluorescent tube, wich can emit 10% more light than the equivalent wattage from a metal halide bulb, This is achieved with a 40% reduction in running cost and without the radiant heat problems that are associated with metal halide lighting. The actual tubes themselves are significantly less expensive than metal halide bulbs and have increased longevity-up to 15,000 hours.
The narrow diameter of teh standard linear T5 tube has allowed Sunlight Supply to manufacture a highly efficient feflector. The reflector is gull wing in shape, wich allows the light from the back of the tube to be utilized and not reflected back through the tube where it would be lost. This is only possible due to the narrow diameter of teh linear format T5 as the light is reflected in a clear path away form the tube."
(Sunlight Supply Catalog)
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GARFVolunteer
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Posted: June 30 2007 at 5:59pm |
The best tanks I have ever seen have always been VHO. Great color good growth... I have seen a lot of nice PC and MH tanks but they have never quite stood up to VHO. One of the best tanks I have ever seen is right here in Boise. It has VHO with MH supplementation...
I have used MH, PC, NO, and VHO. I have seen many T5 tanks. Each have their advantages over the other but considering everything, I would still go with VHO.
If I was to rate lighting systems for an SPS tank, I would start with URI VHO, URI NO, PC, MH and finally T5. But that is just me...
Thanks,
Scott
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President Idaho Marine Aquarium Society
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"How do you make poor people rich by making rich people poor" Rush Limbaugh on Obama taxes
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Adam Blundell
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Posted: July 01 2007 at 5:29pm |
Dang, I hate it when I agree with Scott.
Adam
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chris.rogers
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Posted: July 01 2007 at 10:13pm |
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The absolute most prettiest ever tank I ever saw, ever, was a VHO tank. Most of the tanks I've seen are pretty, but this one really took the taco. Plus the heating issues are non existent, you generally don't need reflectors, yadda yadda, I like them.
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dustponds10
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Posted: July 02 2007 at 2:48am |
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do you all like them for the color of the tank or for what reason? I liked them when I had them but they were harder to keep cool in my canope. It was well ventalated. and all. Just wondering. I like the way T-5 look and I can adjust them pretty good. I do agree with the URI actinics for the VHOs, i just bought some new bulbs for my VHO's for my 29 gallon. cant wait to set that one up
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120
ASM G-3
T-5 lighting
130 frag system
T-5 lighting
asm G-1x
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Mike Savage
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Posted: July 02 2007 at 8:37am |
I like them (flourescent) for the color of the light and the even light coverage. I find MH lighting harsh in many cases and since they are a point source of light there are bright spots and shadows in the tank. The bright spots and shadows do make it easier to have a mixed reef though since you can give corals they proper amount of light. The shimmer is nice too.
Mike
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Adam Blundell
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Posted: July 02 2007 at 8:45am |
I'm finding I like the look of the tank. The pink vho bulbs are a big plus and the overall look is more "mellow" if that makes sense. My halides just make my tank look bright.
Adam
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jfinch
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Posted: July 02 2007 at 9:13am |
I hate (well hate is probably too strong a word) the pink URI actinic white bulbs. I liked the crisp white bulbs they used to sell.
Scott's tank is the only VHO only tank that I've seen that has a "wow" factor. I'm still a big fan of 10K MH and VHO actinics. BUT I'm tearing down my big tank this week and setting up a little 30 gallon tank that will be VHO only. I'll have a couple years of this tank to see if my opinions change.
Who sells a nice crisp white vho bulb?
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Adam Blundell
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Posted: July 02 2007 at 9:29am |
Jon- really?
No offense to Scott (because his tank is great) but I've seen vho tanks better than Scott's. Mark P, Rick B, and of course Steve Lopez... and what is Steve Lopez North's name (in Boise)... it is also Scott but I can't remember his last name. I've seen a few "wow" tanks with vho.
Then again Jon's tank is also a "wow" tank and it has halides, so I could be wrong.
Adam
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jfinch
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Posted: July 02 2007 at 10:00am |
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I totally forgot about Lopez's tank!! All those fuzzy mushrooms and blastomussa are incredible. And it was normal output when I saw it. But I guess my "wow" factor is a tank with both sps and softies and Scott's certainly fit that bill and I think the only one I've seen. But my personal preferences have been changing lately too. I'm really looking forward to having a tank with mostly softies and LPS.
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Mike Savage
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Posted: July 02 2007 at 10:07am |
Steve's tank is beautiful. Those Green Sinularia really "pop" under those lights too!
Mike
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