150w DE or 175w SE halide?

[Nerdy Nudi]

is there any info on what are the benefits going with either a single ended 175w system or 150w double ended?

im interested in the new lumenmax elite which from everything i have read seems to produce the best light output in a 2' area (for a solana), intense and uniform, but does not come in a 150w DE version.

also, are there preffered ballasts to power either system?

any links or docs would be very helpful

thanks

 

[lurchccd]

You will have a better selection of bulbs with the 150w DE version. The best is you could use phoenix 14K!
JMHO
Have you looked at lumenarc? I have two sets of their reflectors, and they are great.

 

[wrestle1952]

Both systems will work. I switched to DE simply because it left much more space in my canopy. I do not see any difference in coloration or growth fro SE to DE. You have to be more careful with DE and not handle them directly with your hands. The oil from your hands will cause a shorter life for your bulb.

 

[noboddi]

I read (I think on Sanjays site) that 150w DE putout slightly more light than 175w bulbs as they are narrower and get more light reflected in the tank.

I do like my Phoenix 14k bulbs

 

[grigsy]

I would go with 175 watt SE. I feel those bulbs have a larger option of companies to purchase from as well as a larger variety of Kelvin available - 5K, 6.5K, 10K, 12K, 14K, 15K, 20K

 

[Nerdy Nudi]

you guys arent making it any easier

how about we narrow down the power source. what ballasts would you use, icecap electronic or say a blue wave magnetic?

any thoughts on the reflector?

if i went halide i was leaning 150 hqi, but the elite relector is better and may be worth going with the 175 se option instead.

 

[stanlalee]

I used both and had WAY better results with 175w SE. And its not water quality because the system and bioload were superior under the 150w and the 175w tank was 2" taller. Even tried the exact same ORA frags. Both had cheap reflectors (batwing for the 175w, all hammertone DE for the 150w).

The sanjay test was with two AB 13k (or 10k as some people refer to them). that test was without reflectors and the 175w output was higher in the proportion of its higher wattage which was found to be insignificant (he concluded output unreflected was a wash). In other words the stand alone output isn't where the performance gain or loss comes from. What cant be overlooked is how much PAR the required sheilding saps up from already weak 150w bulbs. All you have to do is check Manhattans reef 150w bulbs shielded performance overall vs 175w unshielded performance overall and its easy to see why 175w work better in practice. I dont buy the superior reflection of DE bulbs either. It might the case in actual capability due to its small size but all the newer reflectors and advances (lumanbright, elite ect) are going towards SE with the occasional copy made to work for DE bulbs. And many of those are only available for 250w DE not 150w. I used the 13k AB 175w and I would have been happy with the results they gave if I didn't know and were told they were a 250w set up..