Difference between a pendant and retrofit kit??

[360Reef]

Since I have access to most lighting combinations I will be glad to measure the perforemance of the 250W DE vs SE and 400W DE vs SE, but I doubt anyone has one handy. I have read most of Sanjay's analysis on the matter and will be glad to post some links if anyone is interested in reading more about it. But I think Gary is right it is very easy to follow the market trends without hard evidence.

-Greg

[GaryP]

I have noticed a lot of people switch to 20K bulbs because of the color without a good understanding of what it will do to growth rates. Most of those people are coming back to 10-14K bulbs now. I think lighting is a bit trendy as Greg implied. I tend to sit back and watch before making a decision to make a change which can have such a large financial impact. There are a lot of improvements I would like to make to my systems. A new lighting system is way down on the list. If I had an unlimited budget it might be a different matter. Hey, after all, I'm the guy that buys his supplements at HEB, right?

Gary

[alexwolf]

i got my info from Sanjay as well. Scuba_Steveo and I just went through this not too long ago......IMO the best choice of bulb for PAR, power consumption, and heat (or lack thereof) is the 250w DE running off an electronic ballast. The new coralvue ballast with the 3 year warranty cant be beat, I should have gotten those instead of these Hellolights which fail from time to time. Trying to get wrranty work on the Hellolights (ARO) is near impossible as well. And, the coralvue pendants have cooling fans. Heat has never been an issue in my tank, and I have 3 pendants in an enclosed hood.

[RobertG]

Well like the topic says, the difference is the pendant is enclosed already. A Retro is DIY type make your own encloure.

To post on the difference in performance, I would say the DE 250 packs a nice punch. The pendant itself will have lots to do with the look also. The reflector size I should say. The coralvue pendants I got from Greg @ 360Reefs are awesome. They have a much greater spread than the Geissmann pendants I use to own. I have light in Places I never did before.

I have seen and looked into mogul base units. I have always heard the DE are cooler, same Par as 400W mogul base, more effecient. I bought a retro kit once, never again. Unless I have a great design that is very pretty, like it was mass produced. I dont like my electric bill now, so to go with something that is going to pull more power sounds real bad to me.

What kinda tank are these being considered for? Open Top or Not. I think you'll find most have been there & made a change or thinking about one. I like & run the 250DE Coralvue. I have noticed the pendants run cooler just standing next to them. Jim Norris was running the SE Retros & I choked when he told me the bill he had. The heat also, he had a nice chiller though so no worries.

I once got all charged up about swapping out my lights for the 400W Mogul. I could not find anyone that thought the idea was good.

Dont Stress just go to the pocket book! Happy Reefing......