what do you think

[rickytsui]

which is better for lighting a 250de or 400watt se??

 

[spykes]

400se

 

[jhale]

if I'm not paying the bill, 400se

 

[nanoreefer22]

Same as John...I'd go with the 400se

 

[bad coffee]

Conservation.

250de. Get the same output and spend less energy.

 

[jackson6745]

Unless you're going to go with 20K halides, go 250w DE. But if you do go 400w 20K make sure you have a 400w HQI ballast running them or the color will look dull and blue.

Honestly, I am really starting to hate my 250w DE's. I like the bulb selection and intensity but it seems everytime that I handle a bulb I end up breaking it. They're so fragile.

Another good choice would be 250w SE in Luminarc reflectors if you have the room for those monsters. Calireef runs 250w 10k XM's in his luminarcs and his tank looks as if it is lit by 400w halides.

Ricky, super bright light is not needed to keep really colorful corals, it's more of a water quality thing. If it's great colors you're after I would put every last bit of change into the biggest skimmer that you can afford!

HTH,
Rich

 

[DRZL]

ppfftt...get 400 watters.....



















and then end up having a 30 min lighting period.lol..

Its not about toasting them just keeping them lightly tanned. IMO higher (14K+) K 250W bulbs are perfect as they do not blast too much light and help keep a nice steady lower flux of PAR going. I think of it as 400 10K's (2 hrs of light until saturation) 250 14K-20K (6-8hrs until saturation). i mean when you see a girl that goes tanning everyday for 2 weeks and a girl that tans every weekend, who do you think is gonna be looking an alien?

I apologize in advance for the stupid analogy, its late:p

 

[nanoreefer22]

Although that was really really weird Andres, I think I got it this late at night...heh...The one that got tanned everyday would be the alien and that wouldnt be hot...so I'd stick to the one that got tanned every weekend...

 

[rickytsui]

how much is the Luminarc reflectors ? i think i will go with 2 250 and the Luminarc reflectors do u guys think will be ok over a 120 ?

 

[rickytsui]

oh yeah where can i buy Luminarc reflectors at?

 

[cali_reef]

oh yeah where can i buy Luminarc reflectors at?

http://www.pacificgardensupply.com/proddetail.asp?prod=LA3&cat=2

They are very bulky and require an extra "tall" canopy if you want to go this route. Getting some actinic supplement in the same canopy will also be very challenging.

 

[Sean]

If its a tall tank 30" or more I'd go with the 400

otherwise the 250's are fine

But like john said if I'm not paying the bill I'd go with the 400's

Jackson
in my shop I have two tanks side by side one with a 250 20k xm and the other ones a 250 10k xm I hve to say the 20k are much nicer and the animals seem to enjoy them more as well
just my 2 cents

 

[jackson6745]

Jackson
in my shop I have two tanks side by side one with a 250 20k xm and the other ones a 250 10k xm I hve to say the 20k are much nicer and the animals seem to enjoy them more as well
just my 2 cents

A big reason for this is because many corals are shocked by the intensity of the 10k XM's. SPS will often bleach and RTN and LPS and softies will not open if not properly acclimated.

Sean, are both tanks plumbed together?

 

[joseney21]

jackson didn't you move from rockaway park??i was at the beach today, awesome is all i can say.perfect beach day. what do you think about lighting my 180g with 8 48" T5??i plan on making a huge skimmer someday,i already have the huge tubing for it. lol,that's when we get things together (we means John, David and myself).

BTW ricky i know there's a thread on R.C. about making your own luminarcs, pretty cheap, but there's also a link to an auction site with very cheap authentic luminarcs (the site auctions off stuff seized by P.D.)

 

[bad coffee]

There was a thread on RC about building your own. The original thread had actual measurments, but Luminarc bitched and they pulled the thread. I bet if you pm the guy he'll give them to you.

BC

 

[nanoreefer22]

I remember that thread. I think it cost the guy $16 or $17 dollars to make the reflector and that thing looked really really good.

 

[rickytsui]

if i use luminarcs is hard for me to put vho or t5 in teh same hood =( . let say i run only mh 250 bulbs which brand will be the good?

 

[jackson6745]

Joseney, I moved to rockaway park . The weather has been nice and there are always quite a few sites on the beach If you're going to do SPS in the 180 with the T5's you must have great control over your water quality if you want to keep nice colors. A jumbo sized skimmer is a must for a system like that.

 

[Sean]

A big reason for this is because many corals are shocked by the intensity of the 10k XM's. SPS will often bleach and RTN and LPS and softies will not open if not properly acclimated.

Sean, are both tanks plumbed together?

yes both tanks are on the same system
the corals don't bleach or die they just dont look as good from a visial perspective

I have them setup like this so people can have a side by side comparison. So far most people like 20k better I'd say about 9 out of 10

 

[jackson6745]

Cool, good to know. Thanks for the input Sean!