i have a 180gl reef, it now has 3- 175 mogul(regular) 10k lights. i'm going to upgrade to 250, the question, is there a big differance between hqi and mogul. i have 2-160 vho also. i might make it 4- 160 vho and 3 250 metal halides. i will be getting some sps and clams in near future. i have assorted plates, cups, leathers, frog spawn, shrooms,goniporia, and some star polyps. any help would be appreciated! getting reflectors tomarrow(sun) also any sites to buy from would be grreeeaat!!!!
hqi metal halide?????
- Thread starter 25gator
- Start date
I just switched from 250 watt PFO regular ballasts to PFO HQI ballasts for running my 10K Ushio mogul based bulbs. The difference is noticeable but not extreme. The bulbs are definitely brighter, but not so that I had to ease any corals onto the new ballast. I just switched them out and none of the corals had any problems. The light is slightly more white, if you look at them side by side you could see the difference. But if you looked at them at two different times you might not notice. If I were buying new ballasts I would definitely get HQI. If you are doing it because you think your lighting will look much better, it depends on what light you are using. The Ushio is supposed to be the smallest difference, AB and radium are said to have a dramatic difference between regular and HQI. I will probably try these bulbs out in the future so I made the switch to HQI when I had the money. I like them.
Mogul german bulbs run on HQI ballast and double ended (DE) HQI bulbs aren't the same thing. DE 250w HQI bulbs are much brighter than 250w mogul bulbs, the difference is very impressive. For my softy/lps I run 150w DE 10k aqualine bulbs.. and they are visually brighter than the 250w iwasaki bulbs on the tank next door.
I upgraded from 2x175 watt 10k mogul base MH to 2x250 watt DE HQI w/10K AB bulbs, obviously there is a difference between the 175's and the new 250 HQI's. I have also seen other tanks with 2x250 mogul base bulbs and my eyes tell me the HQI looks more like 400's, I would recommend going with the HQI's the price difference is small and the benefits are big!! I got an excellent deal on my complete set-up at www.oceanencounter.com
BTW, as far as I know, HQI is not available in 175watt.
HTH
BTW, as far as I know, HQI is not available in 175watt.
HTH
Jeremy is correct, you cannot compare mogul based bulbs running on an HQI ballast to DE bulbs of a similar wattage. I'd say the 150's will give most 400's a run for their money in PAR according to Sanjay's tests to date.
The lumen output of DE bulbs far exceeds just about every mogul based bulb regardless of wattage which I've tested with a lux meter.
In 175, you just want to run a pulse start ballast with the 10K Germans for best performance and reliable starting.
The lumen output of DE bulbs far exceeds just about every mogul based bulb regardless of wattage which I've tested with a lux meter.
In 175, you just want to run a pulse start ballast with the 10K Germans for best performance and reliable starting.
DE HQI bulbs are a killer because of the double advantage you get in the bulbs. For one they are HQI (Hydrogen, quartz, Iodene) which is a new type of bulb, and secondly they are DE (Double ended).
You can get regular MH's that are DE, and you can get HQI's which are mogul. But if you really want to kick ass, DE HQI is the way to go. and Aquamedic or as their lights are known as Aqualine, do make 175 W DE HQI's. 8)
You can get regular MH's that are DE, and you can get HQI's which are mogul. But if you really want to kick ass, DE HQI is the way to go. and Aquamedic or as their lights are known as Aqualine, do make 175 W DE HQI's. 8)
I used to use the 250 HQI Reef Sun bulbs. They were expensive, but awesome white color. They would last 12-18 months and didn't seem to dim as quickly as any other brand I have used.
About the DE bulbs, when I got the mogul type I was told that the DEs put out a lot of UV and that some type of complete enclosure was required. This was a few years ago, is it true?
Derek
About the DE bulbs, when I got the mogul type I was told that the DEs put out a lot of UV and that some type of complete enclosure was required. This was a few years ago, is it true?
Derek
25gator":1gdq7crg said:
I went with the IceCap's, I think everyone needs to know that these are completely different ballasts from the IC's that light mogul base bulbs. I have found these to be excellent ballasts and highly recommend them. I not only have 2 of the 250 HQI's I also have an IceCap 150 watt HQI on my wife's seahorse tank!
BTW, I have a total of 8 ballasts running right now 7 of them MH and 1 VHO, all IceCaps, I am very happy with their performance!!
HTH
Mouse":2emii2jh said:
No where on Aqualine's website do they list 175w DE bulbs. http://www.ab-aqualine.de/eng/produkte/ ... ne1000.htm
Yes, HQI is Sylvania's special blend of noble gasses and metals used in their bulbs. Their bulbs are used in stadium lighting (and other uses) and have a kelvin rating of around 3000-5000k.
It all comes down to what type of metals manufactures are filling these bulbs with. Certain chemistries used need certain ballasts so they can operate and ignite properly.
Yeah, I just bought 4 150 watt HQI Giesemann light fixtures from Tom(MickAv8r)at www.Inlandreef.com, and are using 2 of them presently.
Let me tell you, the 2x 150's over my 90g setup just replaced a pair of 400 watt HQI 20k Radium bulbs along with 4x32 watt PC's to boot on top of that.
The end result was that the 2 diminutive 150 watt HQI pendants literally bleached my SPS corals that were on top and had to be moved to the BOTTOM of the tank, where they will hopefully recover. If they dont I am sure that Tom will give me a nice deal on a few new frags! :wink:
Anyway, the light output difference was HUGE to say the least. I was mulling over doing the 250 watt HQI's by Giesemann, but after seeing these babies light up I am glad I didnt. And my tank is 2 feet deep too. And the best thing about the whole situation is that I am down 6 amps(from 10 amps to under 4) in continuous draw which will equal up to a large savings for me in electricity every month. I calculate that I will save at least $20-$25 a month, maybe more.
The 150 HQI lights from Giesemann are highly recomended. ANd for $350 for the complete setup, its a complete steal too. You get a nice HQI 10k bulb which lasts about 18 months, a nice compact cool running pulse start ballast,and a great looking nicely finished pendant(in 3 colors)with a hammertone reflector. 2 thumbs up.
Let me tell you, the 2x 150's over my 90g setup just replaced a pair of 400 watt HQI 20k Radium bulbs along with 4x32 watt PC's to boot on top of that.
The end result was that the 2 diminutive 150 watt HQI pendants literally bleached my SPS corals that were on top and had to be moved to the BOTTOM of the tank, where they will hopefully recover. If they dont I am sure that Tom will give me a nice deal on a few new frags! :wink:
Anyway, the light output difference was HUGE to say the least. I was mulling over doing the 250 watt HQI's by Giesemann, but after seeing these babies light up I am glad I didnt. And my tank is 2 feet deep too. And the best thing about the whole situation is that I am down 6 amps(from 10 amps to under 4) in continuous draw which will equal up to a large savings for me in electricity every month. I calculate that I will save at least $20-$25 a month, maybe more.
The 150 HQI lights from Giesemann are highly recomended. ANd for $350 for the complete setup, its a complete steal too. You get a nice HQI 10k bulb which lasts about 18 months, a nice compact cool running pulse start ballast,and a great looking nicely finished pendant(in 3 colors)with a hammertone reflector. 2 thumbs up.
THANKS ! I ALMOST HAD IT FIGURED OUT AND YOU GO THROWING ANOTHER CHOICE AT ME! NOW I'M DEFINETLY GOING TO LOOSE SLEEP. LOOKS LIKE I'M GOING TO NASHUA TOMAROW!
CHOICE ONE ICECAP(VERY HAPPY WITH VHO)(BAD STORYIES ABOUT MH BALAST)
2 THAT GERMAN ONE FROM INLAND REEF.
3 PFO HQI
WHAT TO DO? ALL ABOUT THE SAME $
I'M GONA NEED A SECOND JOB IF THIS KEEPS UP!
LOOKS LIKE I'M GOING TO NASHUA TOMAROW!CHOICE ONE ICECAP(VERY HAPPY WITH VHO)(BAD STORYIES ABOUT MH BALAST)
2 THAT GERMAN ONE FROM INLAND REEF.
3 PFO HQI
WHAT TO DO? ALL ABOUT THE SAME $
I'M GONA NEED A SECOND JOB IF THIS KEEPS UP!
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