lighting suggestions

[adam 13]

I'm trying to set up a new tank and need some help.

Has anyone ever used a cool touch lighting MH ballast before?

They have great prices on ebay.

What does HQI mean?

Any recommendations on lighting?

 

[Fatal Morgana]

No familiar with cool touch... do you have a link to the ebay page, or link of the manufacture with specs?

HQI is a term that not many people know about, but many use it. Supposed to be a German term from Osram or somebody, and often used in relationship with metal halide (MH) bulb. :?

 

[ChrisRD]

Sorry, no first hand experience with that company either.

If I remember correctly the term HQI refers to Halogen Quartz Iodide lamps and is incorrectly used in the hobby.

In the hobby it's a term that's used to refer to double-ended (DE) metal halide lamps and ballasts capable of driving the DE lamps.

What gets confusing is that the "HQI" ballasts can also drive regular Mogul halide lamps (aka single-ended or SE).

As for a lighting recommendation, I think if you specify the tank size/dimensions and what you'd like to keep for livestock folks here can help you.

 

[Fatal Morgana]

I try to be as vague as possible in my above reply about HQI, but glad to know I was able to bait Chris to reply

To appreciate how comfusing this term is:

Ninong said in

http://www.reefland.com/forum/showthrea ... nextoldest

Yes, PFO is the name of a manufacturer, but Scott and I disagree on the definition of HQI.

Perry Jones says that HQI means High Quartz Iodide in the U.S. lighting industry but it means Mercury (Hg) Quartz Iodide every place else in the world. (P.S. -- I just located an American source that calls it Mercury Quartz Iodide, too. See the first sentence at the top of page 194, The Reef Aquarium, Vol. 1, by J. Charles Delbeek and Julian Sprung: "In the Osram HQI (mercury quartz iodide) Powerstar, a glass lens must be incorporated in the fixture to protect the bulb from water splash, and to prevent the passage of too much ultraviolet light. These bulbs come in double or single end formats.") -- Hmmm... I guess that counts as an American and a Canadian reference.

If you will look in Fossa & Nilsen's Modern Coral Reef Aquarium series, you will see that they call every metal halide lamp HQI, including 5500K and 6500K lamps.

The European manufacturers use pulse start and the American manufacturers use probe start and all of the European DE (double end) lamps require pulse start (so-called HQI) ballasts. The new 250w 20,000K HQI mogul base lamp also requires an HQI ballast. The 400w 20,000K HQI mogul base lamp can be run on either ballast but it does better on an HQI ballast. An electronic ballast can be substituted for an HQI ballast, AFAIK.

I think the confusion over here lies in the fact that most hobbyists think that HQI refers to double-end lamps only.

and in http://www.californiareefs.com/tanktechlighting.htm

The Term "HQI"- ARRRGGGHHH!!!

DE bulbs have gotten the common name HQI. HQI is a trademark or brand name of Osram/Sylvania. They were the first to put out the DE, non-UV inhibiting glass. Naturally everyone just followed suit and called all double ended lamps HQI. This term really needs to be disassociated with DE bulbs. HQI, in the lighting industry, refers to High Quartz Iodide metal halide bulbs. This can be in the form of a DE bulb, fiber optic reflector, or SE bulbs. The DE bulb is the most common form of an HQI seen. The difference is in the construction of the bulb. Standard metal halide, like domestic SE bulbs, have 1 starter electrode with 2 main electrodes while most European bulbs just have the 2 main electrodes. The two filament design is available in both European DE and SE forms. In addition, gas composition has nothing to do with the term HQI. The name or trademark HQI can be related to metal halide bulbs that utilize 2 main electrodes requiring a pulse type or HQI ballast to ignite the bulb. The term HQI should be dismissed and we should just pay attention to the proper bulb and ballast combinations. The term HQI has lead to much confusion in the hobby.

I think that is enough for now. For those really interested in the issue, I would try to go to the Osram's site and get the word straight from the horse, so to speak.

 

[adam 13]

Thanks for your help guys!

The website listed in their ebay store is

www.aquariumlights.com

check them out and see what you think.

You can browse through and check a MH hood kit and that is where they have the ballasts.

So to make a short answer unless I am buying an Osram/Sylvania blub the term is hogwash right?

Does anyone have a suggestion or favorite as far as DE or Se bulbs go? I know that De have no UV sheild so that would be a must. I also read that DE bulbs put out a stronger light per wattage and run cooler.. Is that a myth?

I plan to set up a standard 48 inch 75 gallon show tank. I was thinking about 2 250 W MH (10,000K)
and 3 55W or 96W PC actinics 03, 1 in between and 1 on each side of the MH.

I would like to keep SPS, LPS, Zos, Maybe a couple Softies here and there. (I could be vague huh?)

Thanks for everyones help!