Lighting recomendations

[xroads]

I am thinking about adding 2 of these pendants over my 125.

http://cgi.ebay.com/Metal-Halide-pe...ryZ46314QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

I thought about leaving my coralife lights on the tank towards the front. These have 2 92 watt bulbs with 10k & 2 92 watt antinics.

7am-9am Antinic only
9am-4pm 10k PC & Halides
4pm-8pm 10k & antinic
8pm-10PM antinic only.

Advice would be appreciated.

What bulb should I specify for the Halides, 10k or 13k?

Craig

 

[got2lb]

Why not go with a DE pendant instead? http://www.hellolights.com/250wahqirelo.html Not much more money. (plus I know someone who could probably get you a better price than that on it! coughjeremycough)

I would get the 14k hamilton with it.

 

[got2lb]

Actually the PFO mini http://www.hellolights.com/25pfomipe.html is cheaper than the other one.

 

[xroads]

Those would be options, although I like the sleek looks of the others ones better. Is the DE a better light? How high should I plan on hanging these above the water?

Thanks alot
Craig

 

[got2lb]

I think you would get more PAR out of the DE fixtures. If it were my money that's what I would get. I guess it depends if you like the looks of them or not. Not sure how far above the water.

 

[Covey]

Here Sanjay site:
http://www.reeflightinginfo.arvixe.com/
You can compare all the PAR numbers you want. DE bulbs are not always brighter. XM 10K SE put out more PAR than the XM 10K DE. "DE is brighter than SE" is marketing. So what I am going to buy? Still no clue. What I have found is DE bulbs are supppose to last longer. There is generally still a better selection of SE bulbs at most places.

 

[mwood]

SE bulbs have a better selection and with the right reflector a se bulb will usually beat a de bulb for par. The reports of de bulbs having more par were exaggerated and mostly contributed to the de reflectors.

Sunlight supply is coming out with a smaller version of the lumenmax in a pendant. Looks pretty good and 40% more light out of a bulb doesn't hurt.

14k lights look pretty good. If you go DE, pheonix has a good bulb. If you go SE, radiums are a whiter 20k, Aquaconnects are the best but pricey, coralvue reeflux look good, and hamilton look good but are lower on par.

Marcus

 

[mwood]

 

[got2lb]

Yes with proper reflectors (lumenarc and others) I'm sure you can get more par out of the SE bulbs. I was comparing the bell pendants he originally posted about and the DE pendants.

What kind of par do the bell pendants put out compared to the PFO minis or the reefstar pendants?

Whatever you think looks better is what I would go with. If you like the looks of the bell pendants, get them. You're the one that has to look at them! I was just pointing o

For my money I would go with the PFO mini pendants and maybe the phoenix bulbs (I forgot about them!) But that's just my opinion.

 

[xroads]

OK,

Now please explain to me par, de, se.

Thank You
Craig

 

[mwood]

photosynthetic available radiation =PAR
A measure of usable light for a coral. Higher the better.

double ended bulb=DE
non screw in type bulb.
single ended bulb=SE
screw in type bulb.

You'll need to know what type you are going for to be sure your ballast, reflector or pendant, and bulb match.

 

[xroads]

Well I just ordered the 250 wattHQI Reefstar with a hamilton 14K light. Will get the other side in a few weeks after the wallet recovers.

 

[got2lb]

SWEET! I'm sure you'll love it! I can't wait to see it!