PC vs. HVO for 75 Gal FOWLR Tank

[JST]

I'm trying to decide if I'm going to go with PC vs. VHO lighting for my 75 gal tank with canopy. Trying to way the pros and cons of each.

I'm looking at the 48" CoralLife with moon lights. From this forum I've received good reports about the light. Pros - one compact unit, includes fans, low heat output, internal moon light. Cons - could be a hassle to move each time I need to get inside tank. Lower light output.

I'm looking at the IceCap retro fit for the VHO. Again from the forum I know this is a good product. Pros - lighting installed on canopy, easier access to tank, good lighting. Cons - high heat output, fan may be needed, no moon light.

If I do go with VHO, I not sure if I should go with 36.5 or 48 inch kit because when I measuring canopy the 48" would be a tight fit. Also not sure about number of lights, 2, 3 or 4? 3 sounded like a good compromise.

[Reefland]

Hi JST,

Personally I would go with the VHO 4 bulb retro kit using 2 AquaSun and 2 Actinic Blue lamps. If you measure inside your canopy and have more than 46.5" inside of it, then get the 46.5" 4 bulb retro kit; they are made for 48" canopies.

If heat does become an issue, the addition of a 4" fan in the side of the canopy is an easy addition and here again the Icecap fan is a great choice. I don't think you would need more than 1 fan if you need that at all. If the canopy has any vents in it at all it won't be a problem.

The Power Compacts are nice but I prefer VHO's; really it's a personal preference though. Another option you may look at is a T-5 retro kit.

[JST]

What is a T-5 retro kit?

[Reefland]

T-5's are another type of HO lighting available.
http://www.sunlightsupply.com/aquari...ture.shtml#bw5

[Jimbob]

I am with Reefland on the personal preference toward VHOs as opposed to PCs. I have owned both and I currently use the VHOs due to lower bulb cost and much better color rendition in the tank. Plus, I just simply love my IceCap ballast.

For a FOWLR, you really do not NEED a 4 bulb VHO retrofit however. A 2 bulb VHO retro will do just fine for a FOWLR and truthfully, if you are only going to go FOWLR, you don't even need VHO... a 2 or 4 lamp NO fluorescent set-up will do you just fine and you won't need to worry about heat concerns, etc. Even with the NO bulbs, you could add some mushrooms down the road if you wanted to.

I have a 4 bulb VHO set-up over my 85G and keep several SPS and xenia very successfuly in the top third of the tank, tons of different zoas and palythoas in themiddle third, and several different species of mushrooms and LPS in the bottom third. Everything grows very well and is very healthy.

Therefore, if you do decide to go with the VHOs, you don't have to keep it a FOWLR unless you want to. If you want the FOWLR though due to your choices in which fish to keep, I would personall save on the initial expense, save on the monthly electricity, and save on bulb replacement costs and go with a standard NO fluorescent set-up.