More lighting opinions needed - DE XM vs AB?

[Calciumbuf]

I run the six bulbs over a 6' tank in a 10k20k10k20k10k20k seqence and color spread is nice and even, keeping in mind each pendant covers a 2x2 area. They are all in reef optix III pendants with sunlight supply blue wave ballasts, all are 250DE. If you run a 250DE BLV next a 250DE AB you will notice the AB is slightly yellow compared to the BLV. I run a maristar fixture over a 140 with dual 250DE BlV's on a sunlight supply ballast and T5 supplements. Your welcome to see for yourself if you wish. I also believe that there is no magic in lighting, By this I mean there is a trade off at some point, less efficiency = more output more efficiency = less output , Once again a fine line between results and saving money. I also believe that the analasis of the data on bulbs while useful to some extent has a lot of evolving to do.

 

[Greg Hiller]

Looks like the XM 250 DE bulbs will not light on the Icecap ballast consistantly. Also, according to Icecap, the AB 250 W DE's are fine on their ballast.