Switching Over to MH [Update]

Since DE are HQI bulbs, they do look totally different.
As with all DE 20k bulbs, they just cant get as blue as the SE ones

 

man mh bulbs and ballast still confuse the hell out of me lol in going with the radiums 20k with blue wave ballast what you think?

sorry dont mean to hijack

 

I dont believe they make a 250 watt DE radium bulb. Only 150. the 250 and 400 Radiums are SE.

 

sorry i put the wrong ballast its a blue wave

 

I don't care about the other questions as that helps me decide too. I think I've set my equipment list to the following.

36" SLS Maristar 2x250w MH, 2x39w T5
SLS Galaxy 250w Dual Electronic Ballast
2 14K Phoenix HQI bulbs
2 ATI Blue+ T5 bulbs

I will be ordering this stuff as soon as I get my next check, which should be this week sometime. I'm really looking forward to getting it and comparing my experiences with T5 and MH. While the discussion of what is "better" will probably never stop, especially with new lighting types, mainly LEDs, many people have only used one or the other, not both, so hopefully I can give an honest comparison between my experience with T5s and MH.

 

Doh! And I have made that mistake a couple of times. No 250 w DE Radium. Just the 150 like you said. I would have liked to give one a shot but no such thing.

It's going to be a great comparison. Personally I like MH and how they look. I like the point source too and not spread out like T5s. For me.... LEDs are still a couple of years out. Still way too much spectrum and choice development needs to be done. Now there is not a big enough power difference between MH and T5s for me. I just like MHs. But there is enough of a difference between MH ands LEDS. But LEDs still need some development, then maybe they will dominate.

The P14K is about the best all rounder going. Is there a reason you want e-ballast specifically.

 

I dont have anything to compare to, but the Aquamaxx 250 DE bulbs that I have been running for a few days look really good on my Lumatek ballasts which I believe are real similar to the galaxy ballast. I think you will be really happy with the setup that you have chosen. K+ for the switch to MH

 

I like that they are more efficient then the magnetic ballast and run cooler. Plus they run silent, at least most, compared to some of the magnetic ballasts.

 

All very true. I never heard my Coralife HQIs though. I certainly never had a problem with my dual Galaxy.

 

I have 2) 250 MH & 4) T5 over my 90 w/ 29g refugium and I will be looking at a chiller. The house is at 74 but my tank is hitting 82.