I'm considering a 6ft 250w HQI and power compact fixture instead of the MH and actinic fixture I have now.
Any feedback about the HQI's would be helpful
If your going to use 3 bulbs and your tank is not wider then 24" then you should be just fine. Your going to need three HQI bulbs. The spread is not that great on double ended HQI's. The 250 watt double ended HQI bulb has been proven to put out more par then all 400 watt bulbs except the Iwasaki. The same test shows the 250 watt Iwasaki is very close if not a match in par to the 250 watt HQI.
BTW,I run 2x250 watt 10K double ended HQI's and I also have a 400 watt Iwasaki (between the HQI's. Going by looks the single 400 watter puts out more light then both the HQI's.
golfish,
Do you have a link to the test that you referred to? I'm running the 3 x 250w double ended HQI's, but for a future tank I was thinking of a MOG base MH. I don't have any experience with those yet.