single ended vs de metal halide

[wizardx322]

I remember a while back someone else asked this but could not find thread.

so anyways, i want to know what is better to have single vs de metal halide and why?

and what is the difference in a grow (home and garden) metal halide and an aquarium one?

Edited December 7, 2010 by wizardx322

[don duncan]

The only difference I know of is uv shielding

[wizardx322]

The only difference I know of is uv shielding

ya thats all i read about

so no difference for growth in coral?

[Toxiq Reef]

I like SE, lots of bulb options

[teg]

I read somewhere that DE supposedly has better output efficiency than SE; but I haven't tested myself. Make sure you use good reflectors though, you'll be glad you did. I've used both myself and I still like SE more just because, like Toxiq said "lots of bulb options". Also DE lamp tends to be more expansive than SE.

[+Hydro]

SE fixtures are usually quite a bit larger that DE fixtures because DE bulbs are a fraction of the size of SE bulbs. There are more options for SE fixtures though, some can be air-cooled with 4", 6", or 8" ducting. I don't think that DE are more efficient, if that was the case then my industry would be using them. Personally I would make the decision based on whether or not I had room for SE fixtures, if I had room then that is what I would use. My display tank has all SE bulbs but my frag tank has DE bulbs b/c I just didn't have room for the SE fixture. Long ago John G told me that reeflux 12k SE 400 watt were the absolute best bulbs for reef aquariums and that is what I'm running now. I totally agree with him, my corals have great colors and they grow fast. What was interesting is that he told me that the 400 watt 12k reeflux DE was not a good bulb to put over a tank....just the SE. I have used both 250 watt 12k reeflux DE and SE and they look very different, the DE have more of a whiter light.

[wizardx322]

how do you know whats a good reflector?

[+Hydro]

Good question, go with a reputable company...Sunlight Supply or Lumenarc is what I would recommend. A reflector must be designed by a photometrics engineer to be efficient. The problem is that cheaper reflectors are made according to what is cheapest to manufacture, not what works the best. Slight changes in the angles surrouding the light bulbs can make great differences in the efficiency. Visually you usually can't tell the difference between an ok reflector and a great reflector, you have to rely on the manufacturer. I have been to the Sunlight Supply factory in Vancouver WA and I can tell you that their products are top notch and all of their reflectors are designed using Photopia software, which is the best available.