SE or DE bulbs?
- Thread starter ahayes13
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GrouperGenius
Active Member
It's all about the SE for me. Started with DE's but have made the switch and won't go back unless I do a small nano or something.
I used DEs for almost 3 years and switched to SE just to use radiums and get better reflectors.... My corals have never looked better.
I think DEs are great if you need alot of light from a small compact fixture... If you have the space the reflectors and bulb options with SE are superior in my opinion.
I think DEs are great if you need alot of light from a small compact fixture... If you have the space the reflectors and bulb options with SE are superior in my opinion.
Not arguing. honestly don't know. Wouldn't a DE bulb with the same wattage in a high end reflector like Lumen Max Elite or Lumen Brite produce more par?
SE here also. I just bought a sunpod so i'll let you know if i like SE or DE better in a couple of days.
They will but there is just so much more of a selection in SE bulbs.
I can't say in a high end reflector, but pheonix 14k 250s DE overdriven with a magnetic ballast, in an aquamedic oceanlight fixture i was getting around 350 Par at my reference point about 6" under the water.
With a lumenarc reflecter, icecap ballast, radium 20k Im getting 450-470. If i overdrive it with the same ballast i used on the DE it was closer to 600.
I didn't have a high end reflector to put the DE so i cant say for sure, but I had a few people over ant the local club let me try out a few combinations test and see. From that meeting of 3 people, all are now running radiums half lumenarc/half lumen Max.
I have both lumenarcs over my tank and a lumen max over the frag tank... i prefer the lumenarcs based on the color of my corals.... I think it is one of those cases where more isn't always better, becuase the lumen max def has a little higher par rating.
Hope this helps.
Brandon
With a lumenarc reflecter, icecap ballast, radium 20k Im getting 450-470. If i overdrive it with the same ballast i used on the DE it was closer to 600.
I didn't have a high end reflector to put the DE so i cant say for sure, but I had a few people over ant the local club let me try out a few combinations test and see. From that meeting of 3 people, all are now running radiums half lumenarc/half lumen Max.
I have both lumenarcs over my tank and a lumen max over the frag tank... i prefer the lumenarcs based on the color of my corals.... I think it is one of those cases where more isn't always better, becuase the lumen max def has a little higher par rating.
Hope this helps.
Brandon
That definitely helps! Thanks guys. I hear you on selection but the Phoenix 14K 250w DE on my Dual 250w electronic ballast was exactly the color I was looking for and also the price. I have been giving some thought to a 20k bulb, but I don't want the "Barney" deep purple look.
I'll say the radium on the electronic icecap ballast is very very close to the look of my 14k DE pheonix. I was in exactly the same boat as you are and it sounds like we had the same concerns. I know I personally don't regret making the switch.
mfinn
likes zoanthids
I tried de bulbs a few years ago and had problems with them, so I stay with se bulbs.
I like the Hamilton 14 k's
I like the Hamilton 14 k's
OP
OP
wow, i love all the input guys. the reason for this post was that i currently have de's and had put a se temp bulb over one side and like it alot better. so was trying to decided if i wanted to switch from the de to the se. i was getting a lot more shimmer and was thinking it was the se to de difference.
That is the bulb I use and have really liked the colors it gets out of the corals...I have seen both SE and DE I personally like the SE bulb and reflectors more....
SE for me, they dont need a UV glass to protech fish and corals(i have heard of the jacket coming off them and that is bad!), seems to put out more par with the right setup and some nice selections of bulbs out there for SE.
