PC -VS- VHO...Which to choose??

[Horace]

I was just curious if I could get some opinions on what type of bulbs you would choose if given the choice? Power Compacts or VHO's. I plan on haveing 2x175W or 2x250W 10k halides with 2x96w Actinics. What type of actinic bulbs I have not decided yet and was hoping you all could help me make that decision :P

[Poseidon]

VHO's!!!!

The blue from PC actininc is just not the same!!!

[Shells]

Hi Horace!

You could try what i'm in the process doing. (I've got currnetly 1 400watt
m.h., 20k radium. Plan on getting 2, 250 watt iwasaki) and for my
supplement, (this is the part i was talking about trying) (2) T-5s, blue plus.
I will be using IceCap ballast on all of these.

[jiggly75]

I was just curious if I could get some opinions on what type of bulbs you would choose if given the choice? Power Compacts or VHO's. I plan on haveing 2x175W or 2x250W 10k halides with 2x96w Actinics. What type of actinic bulbs I have not decided yet and was hoping you all could help me make that decision :P

I use 10k halides and vho super actinic. I tried pc and it didn't come close to looking as good!

[charlie]

I think VHO. You will never regret the way your tank looks when your corals really start to "shine" when just the VHO's are on.

[kevinpo]

I put both on a 75 gal full of corals and turned one on then the other with the halides off. The VHO's made the corals look much better and the spread was better. On a small tank or one with a small surface area PC's or T-5's work best because they are easier to fit a small area.
VHO's also run much cooler.

HTH,
Kevin

[Reefland]

Did anyone recommend VHO's?

[Steven Pro]

Beyond the appearance concerns, VHO's also get my vote because PC's seem much more fragile and they are not standardized. As for VHO's in particular, I love URI lamps, even better on an IceCap ballast.