End Result HQI vs SE

ReefDoberman · 06/07/2006, 02:41 PM

After reading through the wealth of information about reef lighting on RC I have come to no conclusion.

In your opinion (drawn from experience) would I get better growth and color out of a 250 watt Pheonix 14k Bulb on a Blueline E-ballast or Would I be better off running SE bulbs of a similar color on the same ballast?

I am growing SPS frags and colonies. Tank depth is 12inches.

Thanks
Steve

E-A-G-L-E-S · 06/07/2006, 02:43 PM

with that depth you can't go wrong....just pic the color you want

check here if you already haven't for par on that ballast...
http://www.reeflightinginfo.arvixe.com/

Stixbaraca · 06/12/2006, 04:21 PM

I have a DE Pheonix 14K bulb for my prop tank! I haven't finished setting up the tank yet, but that is the bulb I will be using!

LBCBJ · 06/12/2006, 06:15 PM

DE's have been shown to be slighty more intense then their counterpart (150w DE > 175 SE), but it really doesn't matter. The problem is that I doubt you can run a SE or DE on the same ballast, I believe they require different ballast. But as eagles said, with 12" depth you can't go wrong, so a 250 DE would be great. I use the Phoenix 14k and love it, but be warned it is quite blue....too blue for some. One day I want to build a shallow tank, I've always liked them. I'd be intrested in seeing yours.

s10willy · 06/13/2006, 11:04 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by LBCBJ
The problem is that I doubt you can run a SE or DE on the same ballast, I believe they require different ballast.

From the E-ballast section on the Blueline website: "Compatible with almost all mogul base and double ended lamps."
The Icecap electronic ballast claims "Will ignite ANY 250W Metal Halide lamp."

I don't think you can really go wrong with the color and growth from a Phoenix bulb. I was not impressed with the longevity of the bulb, but I did like the performance results for the first six months.

jman77 · 06/13/2006, 11:11 AM

yea the E ballast should fire bot the DE's and SE's.

P14's ar nice bulbs.

drock59 · 06/13/2006, 11:20 AM

IME, the phoenix will be more blue with the E ballast besides that you cant go wrong.

Horace · 06/13/2006, 11:56 AM

The one nice thing about DE is that you can simply wipe clean the UV shield and your good to go. SE bulbs/reflectors will tend to get salt spray on them degrading thier performance over time. I am in the process of changing from a 6x54w T5 setup to a 2x250w Phoenix on EVC ballasts in RO3 reflectors. I also plan on using a couple T5s for Dusk/Dawn and perhaps to adjust the color if need be...(the beauty of T5s)

drock59 · 06/13/2006, 12:15 PM

Horace, "2x250w Phoenix on EVC ballasts in RO3 reflectors", that is almost exactly the same thing I have except i bought blue wave HQI ballast. I also switched from T5 and I LOVE the halides. The color of the phoenix bulb is perfect.

Stormtrker · 06/13/2006, 12:31 PM

Horace, what made you decide to switch to MH lighting? Have read your other posts about getting the UVL SA bulbs. What is you opinion now agout those particular bulbs?

Horace · 06/13/2006, 05:42 PM

Carlab, there is absolutlely NOTHING wrong with T5. T5 does have its pluses which I talk about time and time again in other posts. However, I REALLY love the look of the halide shimmer and I think the colors you get with corals with MH are a bit more to my likeing. While T5 do give great color, they tend to be lighter and more pastel. I prefer the darker/rich colors instead. I also plan on upgrading my tank at some point to a longer tank, and the new halides will work great, I will just have to buy one more fixture and I am golden. With T5 that is not the case. T5s really arent as good for larger tanks because the reflectors arent as good nor long enough for a 6 ft tank.

If you already have T5 I would say stick with them. I just got a bunch of money burning a hole in my pocket and I have always loved the shimmer look

want2reef · 06/14/2006, 07:19 AM

Shimmer was one of the reasons I switched to MH.

06/07/2006, 02:41 PM	#1
ReefDoberman Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: PA Posts: 688	End Result HQI vs SE After reading through the wealth of information about reef lighting on RC I have come to no conclusion. In your opinion (drawn from experience) would I get better growth and color out of a 250 watt Pheonix 14k Bulb on a Blueline E-ballast or Would I be better off running SE bulbs of a similar color on the same ballast? I am growing SPS frags and colonies. Tank depth is 12inches. Thanks Steve

06/07/2006, 02:43 PM	#2
E-A-G-L-E-S Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Lehigh Valley, PA Posts: 7,038	with that depth you can't go wrong....just pic the color you want check here if you already haven't for par on that ballast... http://www.reeflightinginfo.arvixe.com/ __________________ Smug Egotistical Contemptuous It's difficult to get a man to understand something that his salary requires him not to.

06/12/2006, 06:15 PM	#4
LBCBJ Registered Member Join Date: May 2006 Location: Richmond, Va Posts: 1,332	DE's have been shown to be slighty more intense then their counterpart (150w DE > 175 SE), but it really doesn't matter. The problem is that I doubt you can run a SE or DE on the same ballast, I believe they require different ballast. But as eagles said, with 12" depth you can't go wrong, so a 250 DE would be great. I use the Phoenix 14k and love it, but be warned it is quite blue....too blue for some. One day I want to build a shallow tank, I've always liked them. I'd be intrested in seeing yours. __________________ Brent

06/13/2006, 11:20 AM	#7
drock59 Premium Member Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Corvallis, OR Posts: 3,802	IME, the phoenix will be more blue with the E ballast besides that you cant go wrong. __________________ Get your facts first, then you can distort them as you please. Mark Twain Current Tank Info: 93g Marineland cube. SPS dominated. Vortech mp40. 2 x AI sol super blues. SRO 2000 int skimmer. Mag 18 return. Korallin 1500 calcium reactor.

06/13/2006, 11:56 AM	#8
Horace Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Atlanta Posts: 5,009	The one nice thing about DE is that you can simply wipe clean the UV shield and your good to go. SE bulbs/reflectors will tend to get salt spray on them degrading thier performance over time. I am in the process of changing from a 6x54w T5 setup to a 2x250w Phoenix on EVC ballasts in RO3 reflectors. I also plan on using a couple T5s for Dusk/Dawn and perhaps to adjust the color if need be...(the beauty of T5s) __________________ -Horace Pinker Current Tank Info: New 180g Mixed SPS Build in progress

06/12/2006, 04:21 PM	#3
Stixbaraca Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2003 Posts: 2,994	I have a DE Pheonix 14K bulb for my prop tank! I haven't finished setting up the tank yet, but that is the bulb I will be using!

06/13/2006, 11:11 AM	#6
jman77 Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: West Palm Beach, Florida Posts: 2,391	yea the E ballast should fire bot the DE's and SE's. P14's ar nice bulbs.

06/13/2006, 12:15 PM	#9
drock59 Premium Member Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Corvallis, OR Posts: 3,802	Horace, "2x250w Phoenix on EVC ballasts in RO3 reflectors", that is almost exactly the same thing I have except i bought blue wave HQI ballast. I also switched from T5 and I LOVE the halides. The color of the phoenix bulb is perfect. __________________ Get your facts first, then you can distort them as you please. Mark Twain Current Tank Info: 93g Marineland cube. SPS dominated. Vortech mp40. 2 x AI sol super blues. SRO 2000 int skimmer. Mag 18 return. Korallin 1500 calcium reactor.

06/13/2006, 12:31 PM	#10
Stormtrker Registered Member Join Date: May 2005 Location: Mississippi Gulf Coast Posts: 375	Horace, what made you decide to switch to MH lighting? Have read your other posts about getting the UVL SA bulbs. What is you opinion now agout those particular bulbs?

06/13/2006, 05:42 PM	#11
Horace Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Atlanta Posts: 5,009	Carlab, there is absolutlely NOTHING wrong with T5. T5 does have its pluses which I talk about time and time again in other posts. However, I REALLY love the look of the halide shimmer and I think the colors you get with corals with MH are a bit more to my likeing. While T5 do give great color, they tend to be lighter and more pastel. I prefer the darker/rich colors instead. I also plan on upgrading my tank at some point to a longer tank, and the new halides will work great, I will just have to buy one more fixture and I am golden. With T5 that is not the case. T5s really arent as good for larger tanks because the reflectors arent as good nor long enough for a 6 ft tank. If you already have T5 I would say stick with them. I just got a bunch of money burning a hole in my pocket and I have always loved the shimmer look __________________ -Horace Pinker Current Tank Info: New 180g Mixed SPS Build in progress

06/14/2006, 07:19 AM	#12
want2reef Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Tracy CA. Posts: 1,353	Shimmer was one of the reasons I switched to MH. __________________ Kevin The early bird may get the worm, but the second mouse gets the cheese. Current Tank Info: CADlights Artison II 165g, 50g sump,Aquamaxx Q-3 Skimmer, AI Hydra 26 HD.