I have two ARO model AS-220 VHO light ballasts that I bought when I was going to start corals in my SW tank. The SW tank is gone, but I have these ballasts and was wondering if they had any use on my upcoming 75 gallon planted tank? I guess what I am asking, is can these ballasts power NO or HO bulbs or only VHO bulbs? And if only VHO, how well do they work for planted FW tanks?
VHO lights on FW planted tank.....
- Thread starter Nubster
- Start date
Hi,
Don't know if they'll power NO or HO but I can tell you that you have a LOT of light there. With planted tanks, you normally shoot for around 3 watts per gallon. If you have more, you need to be very careful as things will change quickly. You will also need to have automatic CO2 and fertilize frequently.
HTH
Don't know if they'll power NO or HO but I can tell you that you have a LOT of light there. With planted tanks, you normally shoot for around 3 watts per gallon. If you have more, you need to be very careful as things will change quickly. You will also need to have automatic CO2 and fertilize frequently.
HTH
THis is not a ballast I am familure with. I use the Ice Cap ballasts. If it is electronic, it should power so, ho & vho but check with the manufacture first before commiting to that.
I use URI's (ultra Violet resorce) Aqua sun-S VHO lamps on F.W. planted aquariums with excellent results. These lamps are compatable with most, if not all VHO ballasts.
Contact Perry at Champion Lighting for additional information (www.championlighting.com).
Joel
I use URI's (ultra Violet resorce) Aqua sun-S VHO lamps on F.W. planted aquariums with excellent results. These lamps are compatable with most, if not all VHO ballasts.
Contact Perry at Champion Lighting for additional information (www.championlighting.com).
Joel
Thanks for the input. I am planning on using the ballasts to run three bulbs at first with will give me 330 watts on a 75 gallon tank which is 4.4 wpg. I may even start with two bulbs which will be 2.9 wpg, but I am going after LOTS of carpet so I will likely end up with the three bulb setup. I can power upto 4 bulbs (440 watts) with the two ballasts, which are electronic. I am going to look into the possibility of using T5 HO bulbs with the ballasts too. The hardest part is finding bulbs for FW since the VHO are much more common in the SW world.
Just look at the spectrum of the bulbs. URI makes a lot of good bulbs not just for salt water. Sounds like Ornatapinnis has good results with the aqua suns. On my reef tanks that i've kept the vho's were just for actinic with MH lighting as primary. And I'm sure that running 3 aqua suns and one actinic would make your tank look outstanding or maybe the 10k's. just a suggestion. good luck!
my experience... i use a 220 watt fixture (4 55 watt compacts) on my 75 gal. is going excellent with the regular addition of flourish excel from seachem. i have three 10k bulbs and 1 blue spectrum bulb. contrary to what some have said, the plants on the end of the tank with the blue bulb are doing way better than the plants on the end with the two 10ks. i say go for it with just one ballast to save electrical costs..!