Double ended MH positioning???

VaderWS6 · 07/26/2008, 08:20 PM

I'll be ditching my SE metal halides for DE next week, and was wondering which position would give me a better light spread, sideways or front to back? I know you get a better light spread from SE's positioning front to back, so would it be the same with DE's?

I'm going from 250 watt XM 10k's on a dual PFO HQI ballast to 250 watt Phoenix 14k's on the same PFO HQI ballast. I hope its a good choice!

VaderWS6 · 07/27/2008, 12:21 PM

Anyone? There's gotta be an opinion out there.

JayB1224 · 07/27/2008, 03:47 PM

I tried my DE ReefOptixIII's both ways and found i had a better spread with them sideways. If you look at most DE fixtures out there they have them sideways also. If you have the option, try them both ways even if you just held them briefly over the tank.
Hope this helps a bit.

VaderWS6 · 07/27/2008, 06:32 PM

Yeah I guess the DE arc tube is a little different than the SE. The DE is sort of round whereas the SE is kinda like a cylinder. I hope I get more light switching to the DE.

07/26/2008, 08:20 PM	#1
VaderWS6 Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Kentucky Posts: 1,644	Double ended MH positioning??? I'll be ditching my SE metal halides for DE next week, and was wondering which position would give me a better light spread, sideways or front to back? I know you get a better light spread from SE's positioning front to back, so would it be the same with DE's? I'm going from 250 watt XM 10k's on a dual PFO HQI ballast to 250 watt Phoenix 14k's on the same PFO HQI ballast. I hope its a good choice! __________________ 2001 black T/A WS6~M6 ASC#6979 331rwhp/348rwtq Mods: !CAGS, Pro 5.0, TSP lid, BGRA, Raptor shift light, Strange 4.10 gears, Strano springs, SLP Bilstein shocks, GMMG exhaust Current Tank Info: Main reef:75 gallon w/ 2 250watt Radium 20k run on a PFO dual 250watt HQI ballast w/Lumenbright mini reflectors. 4 110watt VHO actinics for dawn/dusk,Geo kalkreactor,Litermeter 3,Xtreme 160 skimmer,2 Vortech mp40w's

07/27/2008, 12:21 PM	#2
VaderWS6 Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Kentucky Posts: 1,644	Anyone? There's gotta be an opinion out there. __________________ 2001 black T/A WS6~M6 ASC#6979 331rwhp/348rwtq Mods: !CAGS, Pro 5.0, TSP lid, BGRA, Raptor shift light, Strange 4.10 gears, Strano springs, SLP Bilstein shocks, GMMG exhaust Current Tank Info: Main reef:75 gallon w/ 2 250watt Radium 20k run on a PFO dual 250watt HQI ballast w/Lumenbright mini reflectors. 4 110watt VHO actinics for dawn/dusk,Geo kalkreactor,Litermeter 3,Xtreme 160 skimmer,2 Vortech mp40w's

07/27/2008, 03:47 PM	#3
JayB1224 Registered Member Join Date: May 2006 Location: Northern NJ Posts: 342	I tried my DE ReefOptixIII's both ways and found i had a better spread with them sideways. If you look at most DE fixtures out there they have them sideways also. If you have the option, try them both ways even if you just held them briefly over the tank. Hope this helps a bit. __________________ Jason Current Tank Info: 75g mixed reef, 30g sump, 2x250w reefoptixIII, Octo Extreme 160 w/PW

07/27/2008, 06:32 PM	#4
VaderWS6 Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Kentucky Posts: 1,644	Yeah I guess the DE arc tube is a little different than the SE. The DE is sort of round whereas the SE is kinda like a cylinder. I hope I get more light switching to the DE. __________________ 2001 black T/A WS6~M6 ASC#6979 331rwhp/348rwtq Mods: !CAGS, Pro 5.0, TSP lid, BGRA, Raptor shift light, Strange 4.10 gears, Strano springs, SLP Bilstein shocks, GMMG exhaust Current Tank Info: Main reef:75 gallon w/ 2 250watt Radium 20k run on a PFO dual 250watt HQI ballast w/Lumenbright mini reflectors. 4 110watt VHO actinics for dawn/dusk,Geo kalkreactor,Litermeter 3,Xtreme 160 skimmer,2 Vortech mp40w's