huskysglare1
New member
Which is better? please list the pros and cons.
SE vs DE MH Bulbs!
- Thread starter huskysglare1
- Start date
t4zalews
65g Ritteri Tank
I recently switched from DE to SE and I am very happy with my decision. I chose SE because of the reflector choices that the SE bulbs had. DE has some similar reflectors but no where near the size of the SE ones. I am covering larger areas and there were no DE reflectors that I could use. That and SE is cheaper.
DE seems too much like just a normal light output compaired to mogul setups. There are several reasons for this that I see and the biggest ones are the small filament and small reflectors that DE's use compaired to moguls. I would have to guess that DE's have become so popular because they can be crammed into such small housings and produce less heat.
huskysglare1
New member
SE seems to be the way to go. ^_^
dingdong03
Member
SE can use from 150-175-250-400watts just swap the ballast.
There is no filament in a halide lamp. The light is generated from a central arc tube in both SE and DE halides. There isnt any heat difference either if the two lamps are both seeing the same wattage.
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In terms of the reflectors ... The most popular high performance pendants are mostly the same size as far as the actual reflective surface ... Lumenmax (2 and 3) , Lumenarcs, Reef Optix etc ... The pendants themselves may be a few inches longer to accomodate the mogul socket but the reflectors themselves are the same in most of them.
I have the equipment to use either. Personally, I would choose one or the other based on my favorite lamp. If it were only available in one base type, then I would go with that type.
Aside from that, I could easily live with either but I stick with the Euro made lamps in general which means mostly Pulse start Moguls or DE's ... The consistency is far better in general in my experience and I cant see a discernable difference in the quality of light between, for example, the same Euro brand version of the same wattage lamp in the same K value ... both in reflectors of the same design/dimensions.
One other thing ... A LOT of SE lamps are Probe Start, in fact, most of them are last time I checked. Probe start is an older halide technology compared to pulse start and "hqi" (as the term is used loosely in the hobby). I have stated this before but I think it would be a safe bet that it is cheaper to produce a probe start lamp in general ... they dont sell for much less in general if at all, and it all equals a higher profit margin for the manufacturer ... especially when you consider that most of them are made in China. If you look at most of the mogul based lamps that are pulse start and/or "HQI" rated mogul lamps, the vast majority are Euro made (Germany, Belgium), not asian made. In other words ... the hobby is flooded with a lot or old tech Probe start mogul base lamps made in China and I bet that economic advantages for the manufacturers that have their names put on the lamps is one very good reason if not the main reason.
All one has to do is look at the pricing of the Ushio lamps. These are German made lamps of high quality (most are pulse start or "HQI rated") yet many of the Chinese made brand name lamps are priced similiarly and often higher, including the probe start lamps. Just a theory again but I think it is a safe bet that manufacturing costs are higher for the Ushio lamps because of where they are made and how they are made (quality difference) and because most are pulse start / "hqi" rated as opposed to probe start.
That's NOT a condemnation of all the Chinese made probe start, mogul based lamps. Just a very good reason why there are so many of them available to this hobby.
But hey, it's just a theory. I could be completely off base
ps. I am doing some generalizing here. There are some very good probe start lamps.
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I have 150 W DE 20Ks over all my tanks, 4 bulbs all together... I like the color. I appreciate when I see the more tranquil light that seems to be a result of the larger SE bulbs, but none of my tanks warrant the higher wattage, spread, or depth associated with SE bulbs.
I do love supplementing the two 150s over my 65 gallon tank with 4 blue actinic T5s. I
I guess you can say I am a fan of the blue light.
On a note to an earlier post... Radium does make a 150watt 20K DE bulb... and it rocks!!!
I do love supplementing the two 150s over my 65 gallon tank with 4 blue actinic T5s. I
I guess you can say I am a fan of the blue light.
On a note to an earlier post... Radium does make a 150watt 20K DE bulb... and it rocks!!!
stingythingy45
New member
Same here.
gordon2726
Member
I like the look of the DE fixtures. Most SE fixtures are too industrial looking...
mcarroll
Member
Currently $90/each at Marine Depot, FWIW.
Not to hijack the thread, but do you know if the Radium DE is a good/correct replacement for (e.g.) Coralife and XM 150w DE's?
I've read conflicting reports about whether Radiums take a different ANSI standard ballast to work, or even that it might work but not as well and/or burn out more quickly.
If I can get confirmation that they're correct, those may be what I replace my XM 20K's with next round in my Aqualight Advanced. (Tho the XM's have been great...no qualms with them, just want to experiment one more time.)
Thanks!
-Matt
They are Euro spec'd lamps but according to the resident halide lighting tech guru, PaulErik, the M80 and M81 magnetic "HQI" ballasts meet the euro spec operating parameters.
The 150 watt Radium is M81 spec'd for 150 watt magnetic "HQI" ballast)
The 250 watt is M80 spec'd for 250 watt magnetic "hqi" ballast.
Plenty of reefers running electronic ballasts as well.
The shortened lifespan is noted mainly for the 400 watt Radiums which many run on 400 watt "HQI" magnetic ballasts which are actually 430 watt HPS ballasts. These 400 watt Radium lamps are meant to see 360 watts and are signifigantly overdriven by the 400 watt "HQI" ballasts ... usable life is often reported as about 6 months on these.
BTW ... Check coralreefecosystems dot com for very good prices on Radiums. Steve is a good guy and has always treated me well.
Garage1217
GET OFF MY LAWN
DE fan checking in here personally on electonic ballasts.
Just just an FYI for those that do not know, breaking off a ceramic finger guard off a 250w DE does not ruin the bulb. Just makes it look... like it has a ceramic finger guard broken off haha.
Just just an FYI for those that do not know, breaking off a ceramic finger guard off a 250w DE does not ruin the bulb. Just makes it look... like it has a ceramic finger guard broken off haha.
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