Mogul versus Double ended MH

[Nemo2007]

I have posted in a while and I have sorel;y missed the contact with other reefers but here goes. I have a 72G Bowfront Oceanic which I has been illuminated by a Current T5 HO 8 Bulb fixture. In my ignorance, I used to love this fixture. Ignorance is bliss aftert all. It works but its shortcoming are many. For example, It lacks indiviual reflectors for the bulbs (Just one big parabolic reflector), it lacks reflectors for the three LED moonlights (illuminate maybe the upper third of the tank at best), and most of all, though they tought being American made which was a plus for me, the ballast are cheap and chinese made (I've had to replace two in two years). -Don't get be wrong, it is bright enough to grow just about anything in a reef tank but the growth is slow for many species, and the colors tended to change or fade compared to MH. One acropora species loves it and grows vigorously but as it grows it shades lower portions which fade. Lastly, though the acroporas seem to grow towards the light, the bases don't seem to encrust as well as I would like....but I digress.

I am ready to make the move to MH. I think the best MH set up would include some T5 lighting for the actinics. Is there any difference in energy effeciency versus effectiveness (PAR) when considering mogul base and double ended MH setups? I wish I had a hood so I could experiment with different lightg but I don't. They are not easy to get for a bow front tank with a custom stand. So does anyone have any lighting fixtures they would recommend? I think 250 setups would work best in my case since the tank is about 2 feet deep.

Thanks in advance for you help.

 

[Anonymous]

I am not aware of any real difference between Mogul and DE, except that DE can be difficult to replace bulbs due to how they are held in the socket. I would also look at LED's over TR for actinic - the color is better and you don't have replace the lamps.

 

[Anonymous]

with a tank that small (18" tall right?) I might just go with a couple 150w DE bulbs.

As to the efficiency question, there's so much different variation between different types of bulbs that any answer will be biased towards which ever bulb you choose.

The reflectors for DE bulbs tend to be smaller, and as such might work better with your setup as opposed to a good mogul reflector (something in the lumenarc design of things) that most likely will be the only bulb over your tank (those reflectors are quite large).

Basically if you want to cover a larger area with less bulbs, I'd say mogul, if you have space issues DE bulbs are great space savers (granted they do have a lumenarc for a DE bulb, but your bulb choices tend to be limited IMO.

 

[Anonymous]

The reflectors for DE bulbs tend to be smaller, and as such might work better with your setup as opposed to a good mogul reflector (something in the lumenarc design of things) that most likely will be the only bulb over your tank (those reflectors are quite large).

This ^^^^

 

[Nemo2007]

Thanks again for the input.

 

[Nemo2007]

Based on what was mentioned above and a few conversations at the LFS, I am considering the following:

http://www.marineandreef.com/Sunlight_S ... s00772.htm

and

http://www.marineandreef.com/ProductDet ... A42H1502T5

The tank is 23 to 24 inches deep. What do you all think?