Not happy with my lighting. Want to upgrade.

Well... I am not happy with my lighting at the moment over my 90 gallon reef. Dont take me wrong... my lights are good but could be better. I plan on upgrading into a canopy keeping the ballasts and moonlights.

I currently have a modded 48" Coralife Aqualight Pro. It came with 2 - 150w DE halides and 2 - 96w CF's. I modded the the metal halide part of the fixture. it now has 2 - 250w DE halides with galaxy ballasts. So its giving me plenty of light.

I have two problems with my setup. Reflectors for the MH's and the CF's.
I dont think the stock reflectors in the fixture I maximizing the bulbs light capabilities. CF's ... enough said... I want T5's

I want to retrofit a canopy with some "high quality" reflectors and go with t5's.

So 3reef this is where I need your help with these 3 things. Please copy and paste these 3 with answers.

1. I want to know if I should stay with DE halides or go to SE?

2. Top quality reflectors would be? I was thinking of these:
http://www.aquacave.com/reef-optix-3-plus-hqibr-pendant-reflectorbr-by-sunlight-supply-1141.html
OR
http://www.saltycritter.com/lighting/metal_halide_pendant_hamilton_reefstar.htm

3. For t5's I want to have two bulbs on each front and back of the canopy. Recommend a good t5 retrofit setup for me. I was looking at coralvues or ice caps. If theres better please tell me.

Thanks 3reef

 

1. I want to know if I should stay with DE halides or go to SE?
change to SE
2. Top quality reflectors would be? I was thinking of these:
Reef Optix 3 Plus HQI Pendant Reflector by Sunlight Supply - AquaCave
I would use these
3. For t5's I want to have two bulbs front and back of the canopy. Recommend a good t5 retrofit setup for me. I was looking at coralvues or ice caps. If theres better please tell me.
I have no experiance with the T5's, but with the previouse answers given, they are not really needed but staying with coralvues makes sense to me. not to put down ice cap in any way, they ave a great reputation as well

 

You say SE over DE???? why?

The coralvue reflectors look nice but will be too big for inside canopy :-/

 

bump

 

i know you have an extreme urge to give away your old lighting and must say i am willing to take it

 

if you want a shell..... wont be much.... moonlights are coming out of it.

just mh reflectors and cf's. Even the fan is coming out of it.

 

ouch... well good luck cant wait to see the new lighting!

 

personal preferance I guess, although I think I read there was a greater variety of bulbs available in the SE configuration. Also if you look around you can find just the reflectors instead of the whole pendent.

 

Double edged sword. There are bulbs that are SE that aren't DE and vice versa. However, DE HQI bulbs produce more light than SE from what I've read. I really wish there were 250W DE HQI Radiums but there aren't. I really like my current BlueLife SPS bulbs but would prefer Radiums. I e-mailed the manufacturer the other day and the guy is passing the note along but for now it's wait and see. I would still go DE HQI though.

 

here check them out 3reef sponser where i got my retro kit Metal Halide Aquarium Reflectors