[StirCrazy]

Originally Posted by Carpentersreef

People usually balk at the initial cost of the DE light, but I suggest you do the math on the long term affordability of them. If The Aqualine or Giesmann's are out of reach, have a look at the Hamilton fixtures. I've got a single 150w over my sump that was 6 or $700. (you can probably find it a bit cheaper than I did, too) I know it's available in 250w, but I don't know that price. One feature about the DE's (double ended) bulbs is that they have to be replaced less frequently. If you get one with an electronic ballast, it will use less electricity than a comparable tar ballast set-up. Also, with identical reflectors, I believe that watt for watt, the DE's will out perform the mogul based versions.
Food for thought.

Mitch

Mitch there has been no evadence to suport that DE's last longer than regular bulbs of the same brand (the reason people thought they were was that they were running the German mogual bulbs onthe wrong ballasts and shortinging the life of thoes), and with ideantical reflectors the DE is actulay the same power "watt per watt" as the mogual of the same brand on the same ballst.

in fact the only advantage the DE has over the comparable Mogual is the size.. this give it the ability to be placed in smaller more efficient reflector designs.

if you take the DE AB 250 watt 10000K and the mogual 250 watt 10000K bulbs.. the only difference is Size.. they should both be run off of a ANSI M80 ballast (which is not a standard ballast) and when they are both runn off that ballast the out put if virtualy ideantical the difference comes into play with the design of reflectors.. also if you have a small take like a 20 gal or something like that.. the DE is better suited for clean looking installs.

Josh23, first decide which bulb you would like to run.. then you can look fo rthe proper ballast for them.. if you want bang for your buck go with a iwasaki 250 watt set up.. if you like 10000K it can get trickey.. the 10000K bulbs will run on a normal ballast but not to thee full ability.. and the proper ballast is not cheep. my self I am setting up AB bulbs with the proper M80 ballast.. not the cheepest way to go but the M80 is the proper ballast for the european bulbs.. it is a lot more expensive.. (about 120.00 more over a PFO regular dual ballast set up, but if you are handy with wiring and such you can do it for about the same price.

Steve