lighting Q, magnetic/electronic SE/DE

[sfsuphysics]

Hopefully I won't start a huge flame fest here, but what is a better form of lighting? I remember hearing DE bulbs were better because of being smaller and penetrating deeper, but now there seems to be a big switch back towards the SE bulbs. I've heard of "less yellow" (for 10kK specifically), but what about the lighting intensity? Also do those lighting comparison places (I'm thinking Sanjay's specifically) take into account the reflector setup? So would a Reef Optics III (DE) give significantly more light into the tank than a spider reflector(SE)?

Then there's the question of ballast, is there really any reason to have an electronic one? Does it do anything "special" for the bulbs? Make them last longer? I know magnetic ran MHs tend to be brighter because they overdrive them slightly (or electronics underdrive) but anything else? I mean ok sure more heat on magnetic ballasts and the bulbs as a result of having more current running through them but is there a reason to want electronic ballasts?

I'm just thinking of upgrading soon to from 175w bulbs to 250w bulbs and just wanted to know what the lighting freaks (aka SPS keepers) think.

 

[chadfarmer]

i use icecap ballast ---only because the customer support rocks

i have used 10k ushio, xm, aqualine
14k hamilton
20k radium, xm

i run on my tank 10k ushio might be more money have it running 11 months and still looks like it is new

has white color (no yellow like the xm10k)

now for se or de

either is fine --- figure out what bulb you want to use and than decide if you want de or se because some bulbs dont come in both types

 

[moonpod]

DE pendants are good for lighting 2x2 footprint areas. They do not light larger areas well b/c the light drops off the edges rapidly. They really "cone down" the light, and that also tends to cause more shadows which some dislike.

SE is inherently always a more "scattered" lighting, less focused and therefore many like it more aesthetically--it "looks" brighter (isn't really but whatever). Additionally, if you are lighting any area beyond a 2x2 footprint, it really is easier to use LAIIIs/Lumenmax than increasing the number of DE pendants.

You still generate very impressive hotspots and absolute light numbers in the footprint of a DE pendant. However it's not like you can't get "enough" light using SE setups.

Final issue--bulb selection is still decisively in the favor of SE bulbs. There's just a whole lot more options. The options in the DE realm are still fairly limited IMO. Not that there aren't good options, but there are fewer of 'em.

Personally, I still think that what is the "right" choice for you depends a lot on your tank geometry.

The final kicker is the viability of T5HO lighting. It's another very, very viable option.

 

[moonpod]

Oh for ballasts, for 250w DE the M80 is the way to go.

For SE MH, b/c of pulse vs probe issues I prefer electronic, but probes will run the vast majority of bulbs and the "HQI" ballasts will give the bulbs shorter more glorious lives.

 

[marcrothschild]

Chadfarmer, how do the radium bulbs look on an icecap? Would running 3 250w SE bulbs on an Icecap be significantly cooler than on an HQI? I think the HQI can be about 20% brighter.