Feedback on lighting choices PLEASE!!!

[Chromed1]

I am ready to pick up some MH lighting for my system. I have narrowed down the choices and will be going with a pendant due to spacial constraints. There are 3 pendants that look to be the best choices and are in my price range of $250 to $300. Can you please provide some opinions and experiences to help sway my decision? Thanks!

I am looking at the following....

PFO Mini-250watt HQI Pendant System 10K DE $320

AquaMedic 10K 250 DE Ocean Light Pendant $260

Hamilton 250w 14K HQI ReefStar Pendant System $300

 

[davocean]

Tagging along here, I'm looking at the same (gotta gift cert for DRSfostersmith).
Also what is the difference between single or double end?

 

[Ceak]

I would get everything seperate, choose your bulb and ballast and get the Lumenmax 2 or Lumenmax 3 reflectors(2 is SE 3 is DE), they just came out this week, get more info in the Sunlight Supply forum...

If you want to get an all-in-one kit IMO this is the best option, but again I would wait for them to make a kit with the Lumenmax 3 as it's superior to the Reef Optix 3 which is already better than the 3 reflectors you mentioned...

DE bulbs/reflectors are smaller and will fit into smaller canopies... The bulbs also tend to cost a bit less...

SE bulbs usualy have a bit more PAR and since the reflectors are bigger they will also have a wider spread and cover a larger area...

 

[poedag]

i just ran into the same problem on my 40g. after much deliberation i went with a 250w PFO mini HQI pendant and the hanger kit (it looks nice in my living room) a 250w icecap MH electronic ballast, PFO ballast icecap ballasts box for icecap ballasts ($39 instead of $80), and a 20k ushio DE bulb. i have to say i am VERY pleased with the setup. i know the icecap ballasts are a little more, but after reading how well they hold up and how good their customer service is, i couldn't resist. hope this helps in your decision making. (ps. i got everything from aquariumdepot and shipping was $1.40, got to me in 1 day.)

 

[Chromed1]

Thanks for the input...