HQI vs. std. MH

[Anonymous]

Can anyone enlighten me as to the differences between HQI lighting and standard MH? - I've heard they run cooler and give more light but that's about it. What about lifespan, etc...?? I know this is probably in a FAQ somewhere, and if that's the case, can someone point my lazy a$$ to it?

 

[reefsRcool]

the info is out there, i spent two mounths sorting through it all.

i went double ended hqi and have been very very pleased to date. i at one point thought there was some light caused problem in my tank but it ended up being something else entirely. i just love my lights again as i did before the unpleasentness

 

[ChrisRD]

My understanding is that "HQI" is actually a trademark of Osram Sylvania and not a particular lighting technology. From what I've learned here, it's sortof a meaningless term that has caught-on in the reef hobby (and just adds to the confusion surrounding reef lighting! :wink: ). Do some searches on here and you'll find this explained in greater detail. I believe Leonard has explained this on several occasions.

When you say "HQI" vs. Standard are you are referring to ballasts or lamps? Are you trying to get feedback comparing DE halides vs. SE halides, or are you trying to get feedback comparing SE halides using standard ballasts vs. SE halides using "HQI" ballasts?

 

[The Pirate]

HQI ballasts have a higher starting voltage then a standard ballast. You can use a 400 watt HQI ballast on a non HQI bulb and it's fine but if you use a non HQI ballast on a HQI bulb it will have a hard time igniting and will shorten the bulbs life.

 

[Anonymous]

hehehe.. Well, I guess that's a good question Wolfman, but boy that about got my head spinning faster than Hobbes for a few minutes there!

Ok... I guess I'm curious about DE vs. SE in regards to things like overall bulb (and ballast) life and growth rates / animal reaction.

I'm a newbie and I've already been burned a little (bought a seaclown) but now that I've learned to pay attention to the boards, I was hoping for a quick down 'n dirty on what would probably work best for my situation. (Just a tiny little 30.)

Would a DE 150w 20K give me light good enough to finally start out with some GSP? From what I've seen/heard, a single 20K all alone is going to look pretty blue.. is that true? Is the bulb (typically) going to need replacement often?

I'm just looking for basics, hope I'm giving enough info...?

 

[Anonymous]

HQI ballasts have a higher starting voltage then a standard ballast. You can use a 400 watt HQI ballast on a non HQI bulb and it's fine but if you use a non HQI ballast on a HQI bulb it will have a hard time igniting and will shorten the bulbs life.

Ok... Now that helps a little.. So if I start out with an HQI ballast, I essentially have a broader choice of bulbs to run with.. Is that right?

 

[The Pirate]

Yes and no. Not all wettages work the same as the 400 watt example given above. 150 watt bulbs are double ended. 20,000k bulbs are HQI bulbs but by there very nature will loose intencity much faster then a 6700k bulb.

 

[Palmetto]

HQI ballasts have a higher starting voltage then a standard ballast. You can use a 400 watt HQI ballast on a non HQI bulb and it's fine but if you use a non HQI ballast on a HQI bulb it will have a hard time igniting and will shorten the bulbs life.

Actually, the higher starting voltage is called Pulse Start- and is required for most German and other European bulbs. Pulse start ballasts basically include an igniter to boost the starting voltage. (Used to start bulbs which do not have electrodes.)

It is found as a feature on ballasts that are not HQI also- and yes, it does give a greater range of choices in bulbs.

 

[ChrisRD]

Ok... I guess I'm curious about DE vs. SE in regards to things like overall bulb (and ballast) life and growth rates / animal reaction.

IMO it's hard to say one is "better" than the other. Any good halide system with lamps that have proven the test of time (Radiums, Ushio/BLV 10Ks, AB 10Ks, Iwasaki 6.5Ks, etc.) should work very well. IMO it's largely a matter of personal preferences and appearance.

One thing some of the DE setups do have working in their favor right now is a better reflector design (because of the lamp's consistent shape and small size). According to Richard Harker's product reviews, the DE reflectors are much more efficient than the currently available Mogul lamp reflectors. This means you can potentially get more light into your tank from a lower wattage lamp with a DE setup.

In Harker's tests, a 150 watt DE setup produced about 2.5 times the peak intensity of a 175 watt Mogul setup, and was more intense throughout the test area (IIRC it was like a 20" X 20" grid). DE setups are very popular in Europe (perhaps for these reasons).

 

[Anonymous]

In Harker's tests, a 150 watt DE setup produced about 2.5 times the peak intensity of a 175 watt Mogul setup, and was more intense throughout the test area (IIRC it was like a 20" X 20" grid). DE setups are very popular in Europe (perhaps for these reasons).

Outstanding! I'd heard that as well but without the reference of where it came from. Much appreciated!

 

[Palmetto]

I wonder if that is comparing a DE w/ reflector to a mogul with no reflector- like most of the comparisons I have seen.

It also would depend greatly on the reflector- some of the Reef Optix line do an incredible job with Mogul bulbs, I wonder how they would compare to the DE....

 

[ChrisRD]

I wonder if that is comparing a DE w/ reflector to a mogul with no reflector- like most of the comparisons I have seen.

No, Harker's review was of a DE setup with reflector. He compares the results to a review he did a couple of years ago with a 175 Mogul and a spider reflector. This is the article. There's a link in that article to the 175/Spider test.

Out of curiosity, what do you mean by "like most of the comparisons" you've seen? I'm only aware of the one (infamous) test that Sanjay did comparing lamp data where the DE lamp had to be used in a fixture but Mogul lamps were not. Are there other tests where this has happened?

 

[ChrisRD]

some of the Reef Optix line do an incredible job with Mogul bulbs, I wonder how they would compare to the DE....

I've been wondering about this is as well...

 

[Palmetto]

Out of curiosity, what do you mean by "like most of the comparisons" you've seen? I'm only aware of the one (infamous) test that Sanjay did comparing lamp data where the DE lamp had to be used in a fixture but Mogul lamps were not. Are there other tests where this has happened?

Yes, that is the test I was talking about- and come to think of it, I may be thinking of seeing it posted/ published multiple times instead of multiple tests.

A more accurate statement would have been "like another comparison I have seen"!

I hope to be able to accumulate enough equipment to do some testing of my own, just for my (and my corals') benefit.

I am going to get vertizontal 3' parabolic reflectors to run over the 300 gallon stock tanks I am using. They throw out a 360 circle of light that should illuminate a round tank very nicely! I am setting up two of these big tanks- one with a 400-watt Iwasaki, and one with a 1,000 watt Venture 6500k. I am interested in seeing how they compare.

 

[ChrisRD]

I am setting up two of these big tanks- one with a 400-watt Iwasaki, and one with a 1,000 watt Venture 6500k. I am interested in seeing how they compare.

I'm guessing that nothing is going to compare to the 1000 watter!!

Post some pics when you have them up.

 

[The Pirate]

I am going to get vertizontal 3' parabolic reflectors to run over the 300 gallon stock tanks I am using. They throw out a 360 circle of light that should illuminate a round tank very nicely! I am setting up two of these big tanks- one with a 400-watt Iwasaki, and one with a 1,000 watt Venture 6500k. I am interested in seeing how they compare.

I have seen the 1000 watt Venture in action. Very yellow. Coraline alge grows a light pinkish/gray. It washes out most of the subtle colors in the tank. Like when you shine a flashlight in the tank at night. I have pics if your interested, PM me.

 

[Anonymous]

I have pics if your interested, PM me.

Mind sharing them with everyone?? If they're too big to attach to the board here or whatever, email them to me and I'll make them available. I'm sure a lot of people would like to see what they look like..

 

[The Pirate]

Here ya go.

 

[The Pirate]

anouther.

 

[The Pirate]

Note how the warm colors stand out, orange yellow and red.