Opinion: 250W or 400W?
 

If you had a 50 gallon SPS cube and had the choice of a 250W-DE HQI or 400W-SE, which would you choose? Would 400W be overkill?

What are the dimensions? 24x24x24 ?

I had a 30x30x30 cube (115g) that I lit with a 250w DE right over the centre. It worked well enough for me.

If I were to do it over again or over a 24^3, I'd go 250 again, but I'd probably flank it with t5's or LED's to give a little more oomph and dusk/dawn variability.

It'll be over my 24x24x20 cube. Both fixtures have 4xT5 (main reason why I'm considering the change are the actinics themselves... this lead to finding some nice fixtures).

I would go with 250 watt. A 400watt might heat up your tank a bit too much and I don't think it is necessary with 20" high to have more than 250 watt. I have 250 watt and have very good results with my SPS, even in the middle of the tank and mine is 24". The fact that I have 250 watt also let me put some zoanthids at the bottom without burning them up.

It's only 20" high? Definitely save yourself 150w, 250w will be fine.

I would use 250W DE on HQI, will be more than enough.

Thanks guys. I was already leaning that direction (already have 250W) but have never used 400W SE before, so I was curious.

You will also save a little on the price of bulbs.

Agreed on both accounts, my 400W was WAY to powerful and it was on a 30" depth tank. It was also a DE which is almost impossible to find, was looking @ almost $200.00 for a new bulb!

250w....but you will need supplemental and be careful of those crappy de pendants.

Ya, it'll be a very high end fixture and has 4xT5 actinics. I'm not sayin' what it is yet in case the deal falls through but if I do, you guys will be the first to know :razz:

Sfiligoi lights are cream of the crop :wink:.

Ya, it's a toss up between Giesemann or Sfiligoi... hence the thread

certainly when it comes to reflectors....

giesemann < maristar < sfiligoi

I would jump on that deal, it's an excellent price just have to make sure it's well packaged for shipping. Just mount it a tad bit higher, reduce your photo period & your rocking. Only problem is finding replacement bulbs for the halide.

From several people I've lined up either 400W-SE Sfigiloi or 250W-DE Giesemann. Sfiligoi definitely has the best reflector but the Giesemann is mucho sexier (and might be the better deal). I'm woried about the 400W because I am NOT dealing with chiller. It's not in the cards. It's a stretch as it is to get one of these lights.

Why is that a problem?

I think he meant the SE bulb. Fewer options, more expensive.

Im running a 400w-DE over a 30x30x18tall with the light about 6" above the water in my frag tank.. And all I can tell you is that my sps are getting some crazy colors!! I would try bd find a DE-400w of you can keep tge heat away.. You would love the colors that your change to!!

I use radiums in my 400w sfiligoi's with icecap ballasts and they rock.. Then I have a 250 w sfiligoi's de that I think has a Phoenix bulb.. It's also nice.

You will find that the sfiligoi's disburse heat pretty well, and are really quiet as they don't use fans. The chimney shape draws the heat up and out the top really well.. Nice fixtures. I've had mine for a couple of years and since they are powder coated they look as good as the day they were delivered.. Not a speck of rust anywhere!

Actually I was referring to DE 400W bulbs, couldn't locate a source for my old fixture so I ended up selling it. Pretty sure there's lots of SE 400W sources out there.

It's been settled. 250W DE Giesemann Infiniti!

250w, you arent trying to light a warehouse :biggrin:

Nice. Those are good fixtures.