VHO lights for Slippers?

[AHAB]

Hey All,
I am looking for recommendations (brands & spectrums) for VHO light bulbs for slippers.
I will be using the Icecap ballasts, most likely the 72 inch ones.

Any one have success out there with using VHO?
Any suggestions would be appreciated.
Thanks,
AHAB

[AHAB]

Anyone?

[quiltergal]

Ahab, you might want to post this under the Equipment forum. You'll likely get a better response than here in the Semi-Hydro forum. Just a thought.

[Ocelaris]

VHO is kind of old school... Why not try Compact Floursecent or T5s, I believe they're more efficient, and equally as bright. If you really needed a lot of light, metal halide setups can be made fairly inexpensive. I have used the CF kits from AHsupply.com with good success, they're fairly easy to come by replacement bulbs, and it's about the best price you can find anywhere, plus they come with a great reflector.

[Lagoon]

I'm using T-8's, also using CFL's. My slippers do pretty well.

[Ocelaris]

Very nice, I forgot about them... I think T-8s are the king of good wholesome lighting, same output as the T-5s (almost) and half the cost of any other light, great selection of bulbs. Only trouble is making a good reflector, but I bet for the lighting needs of 90% of the plants, T-8s are one of the best selections at the cheapest price. I'm just doing 2 foot long streches, so it's easier to do CFL or MH in a small package.

[Ross]

Originally Posted by Lagoon

I'm using T-8's, also using CFL's. My slippers do pretty well.

Most CF bulbs are really t5's wrapped up. Sorry.

[AHAB]

Hey All,
Thank you for the responces.
I have a bunch of VHO (Icecap electronic) ballasts from the days when I was into reef tanks (until the hurricanes wipped me out).
I was hoping to use the ballasts, the VHO did put out quite a bit of high quality light and they did a great job of growing corals with great color and growth rates.

My indoor area is 7 foot long so I was looking for a 7 foot long tube.

What is the spectrum of the T-8s
I'll try posting under equipment - Thanks again

[Ocelaris]

Yes, not to detract from where you will get the most info, I made a large post in there about lighting, but I came from reefs too a long time ago, got into metal halides. Hence the nic name, Ocelaris = Percula Ocellaris = Clownfish = Nemo the clownfish type reef fish

You can still do VHOs if you have them, no sense in tossing very good ice cap ballasts, they're still the same as always.

T-8s are similar to VHO T-12s, but the T-12s probably are easier to get in grow light type output... I wouldn't know precisely, I tend to favor plain old 4000k 80+ CRI bulbs these days because they work fine, and are cheap, plus who likes those obscure "plant lights" they're so ugly, and orchids are to be admired under lights, not grown on some martian soil under red and blue lights.