VHO and Acropora

l3atman3 · 07-27-2007, 11:26 PM

i have been in the hobby for about a year now and i am thinking of starting to add some acropora to my 75 gallon tank. I have 390 watts of VHO light which works out to 5.2 per gallon.

is this going to be enough light for them?

i have heard from some places that they only grow well under Metal hallide, is this true?

Any other advice is always appreciated.

DrHank · 07-27-2007, 11:31 PM

I wouldn't try it with VHO. You just don't have enough PAR. If you were running 6 to 8, 54w T5s you could probably do it. Ideally though you should be running 500w of MH.

They do grow best under MH lighting. There is little doubt about that.

BoomerD · 07-28-2007, 12:18 AM

Watts per gallon is a poor way to calculate how much light your tank has. It doesn't measure PAR, penetration, intensity, clarity of the water, etc. T-5's are pretty good for growing SPS corals, but (IME) VHO's just don't have the stuff. (and I've tried...I couldn't get SPS to grow even with 660 watts of VHO over my 90 gallon)
IIRC, it would take 6 or 8 T-5 HO bulbs (preferably over-driven with IceCap ballasts) to do a decent job with SPS, but there are many people doing it successfully.

prow · 07-28-2007, 08:00 AM

yup to the above. VHO's maybe some sps if place high enough/close enough to the light, dout acros, still a few and but even those may not color up. T5's will work fine. that is if you get the right set up. i am actually having to reduce my T5's lighting. only running all bulbs 4 hours a day. supports acros at 20" under the water line with good color and growth.

mps9506 · 07-28-2007, 10:44 AM

I ran 440watts of VHO over a 75, and had difficulty growing acros, and they would brown up quickly. MH or T5 is the way to go. Some SPS did fine like Hydnophora, Montipora, and Pavona.

07-27-2007, 11:26 PM	#1 (permalink)
l3atman3 Tunicate Join Date: Oct 2006 Posts: 17 View Gallery Karma Komment	VHO and Acropora i have been in the hobby for about a year now and i am thinking of starting to add some acropora to my 75 gallon tank. I have 390 watts of VHO light which works out to 5.2 per gallon. is this going to be enough light for them? i have heard from some places that they only grow well under Metal hallide, is this true? Any other advice is always appreciated.

07-27-2007, 11:31 PM	#2 (permalink)
DrHank Golden Moray Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Crestview, FL Posts: 2,758 View Gallery Karma Komment	Re: VHO and Acropora I wouldn't try it with VHO. You just don't have enough PAR. If you were running 6 to 8, 54w T5s you could probably do it. Ideally though you should be running 500w of MH. They do grow best under MH lighting. There is little doubt about that. __________________ Doc Dr Hank's 210 Build: http://www.reefsanctuary.com/forums/...nks-tanks.html

07-28-2007, 12:18 AM	#3 (permalink)
BoomerD Reef Shark Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Northern California Posts: 5,638 View Gallery Karma Komment	Re: VHO and Acropora Watts per gallon is a poor way to calculate how much light your tank has. It doesn't measure PAR, penetration, intensity, clarity of the water, etc. T-5's are pretty good for growing SPS corals, but (IME) VHO's just don't have the stuff. (and I've tried...I couldn't get SPS to grow even with 660 watts of VHO over my 90 gallon) IIRC, it would take 6 or 8 T-5 HO bulbs (preferably over-driven with IceCap ballasts) to do a decent job with SPS, but there are many people doing it successfully. __________________ Intelligence is not knowing all the answers, but knowing where and how to find them! www.google.com

07-28-2007, 08:00 AM	#4 (permalink)
prow Tridacna maxima Join Date: May 2005 Location: Redondo Beach, CA Posts: 4,728 View Gallery Karma Komment Add yours!	Re: VHO and Acropora yup to the above. VHO's maybe some sps if place high enough/close enough to the light, dout acros, still a few and but even those may not color up. T5's will work fine. that is if you get the right set up. i am actually having to reduce my T5's lighting. only running all bulbs 4 hours a day. supports acros at 20" under the water line with good color and growth. __________________ "He who sees things grow from their beginnings shall have the finest view of them" ........Aristotle........ "The only difference between me and a madman is that I'm not mad." - Salvador Dali my chronicle........ http://www.reefsanctuary.com/forums/...al-system.html my clamicle..........http://www.reefsanctuary.com/forums/...my-tank-d.html

07-28-2007, 10:44 AM	#5 (permalink)
mps9506 Totally back Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Wilmington, NC Posts: 8,525 View Gallery Karma Komment	Re: VHO and Acropora I ran 440watts of VHO over a 75, and had difficulty growing acros, and they would brown up quickly. MH or T5 is the way to go. Some SPS did fine like Hydnophora, Montipora, and Pavona. __________________ Mike Reefkeeping Since '99 Help Build Reefpedia Premium Memberships Available! Support Reef Sanctuary Sponsors

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