Hamilton VHO Question

[chris]

Does anyone use (or have you used) Hamilton VHO's? If so, do you have a pic available? And would you use them again, esp when compared with URI?

Thanks,
Chris

[Irisservice]

I have only seen URI's and this what i know. The 03's that they put out are hands down the best out. The Aquasun has a slight pinkish tint to it when compared to other 10,000K daylight bulbs.

[chris]

I have only seen URI's and this what i know. The 03's that they put out are hands down the best out. The Aquasun has a slight pinkish tint to it when compared to other 10,000K daylight bulbs.

John,
Thank you for the reply. I use Uri's as well, but the 03 is a bit too purple for me and the Aquasuns are too pink. I was looking at the hamilton's in case they produce a crisper color without washing things out. I also tried Corallife, but that was a huge waste of money. Looked like NO bulbs instead of VHO.

Of course this may be a mute issue, because I am also looking at the T5HO's, whenever they can get the blue's in the US. :)
Chris

[Irisservice]

Thats why I stayed away from VHO and use PC's.
Have you ever thought of converting the daylight VHO bulbs to PC's.
PC's have awesome 10k's and now the 03's are great as well.

[Irisservice]

I put a post over here http://reeflounge.com/forum/viewtopic.php?p=4618#4618

[Irisservice]

Chris apparently the trick is using a 50/50 URI which puts out a nice white light.

So if you have 4 bulbs

URI Super Actinic
URI Super Actinic
URI Aquasun
URI Actinic/White

Also Which Coralife did you try
Coralife 10,000K
Coralife 6,500 K

[chris]

John,
Actually, that is what I'm using right now, 1 Aquasun, 1 50/50 and 2 acitinic 03's.

Regarding the corallife bulbs, to be perfectly honest don't know, it was suppose to be the 110w 50/50's and 110w acitinic 03's. Have since gotten rid of them.

The reason I was wondering about the Hamilton VHO's is because I was using a 10k ab MH bulb and then changed them out to 14k 250w hamilton bulbs and the color is much better. I figured if their metal halide bulbs looked that much better then their vho's might also be a good choice.

Chris

[Irisservice]

I never heard any one using one of those bulbs.

Check this site and see what they say about each bulb, or give them a call they are very realible.

http://www.hellolights.com/48daybulbs.html

This is what they wrote
The Coralife 10,000K bulbs are crisp white when compared to other 10,000K bulbs. If you are going for a "brighter" bulb, then go with this one.

The Coralife 6,500K appear to be a bit dimmer to the eye to us. 10,000K appear to be the best looking "crisp white

URI Aquasun Has a slight pinkish tint to it when compared to other 10,000K daylight bulbs.

URI Actinic/White bulbs are perfect if you are looking for a mix of white/blue light!

[Irisservice]

What size fixture are you using?
Is it a retro fit or hood?
How many bulbs and what configuration?
What kind of ballast?
The reason I ask all these questions did you everthink of swaping the daylights with T5's.