halide or hqi?

addicted2reefin · 03/08/2009, 02:51 PM

just wondering the differences on both of these other than the pay they go in a socket. i bought 3 x 250 SE halides but can get 3x250 hqis for 100 more a piece. Whats the main differences? any light output differences? is it worth 300 extra dollars to get those

swpassion · 03/08/2009, 02:59 PM

I have been wondering the same so I will follow this thread closely.

Rouselb · 03/08/2009, 03:06 PM

Yes there is a difference depending on what ballast you are using. HQI is a european standard. See the attached link. But to explain this easier, Lets compare two setups that i have used in the past. One is an HQI setup and one is not.
1. Sunlight supply magnetic Blue Wave 250W HQI Ballast uses 330W of power to operate. This means the bulb will see more power, and will produce more light.
2. CoralVue Dimmable 250W electronic ballast uses 250W of power to operate. The bulb will only see this amount.
So in general, if you take a non HQI rated bulb and fire it on an HQI ballast you will decrease the life of the bulb. This can be as much as 6 months for some bulbs.
http://www.advancedaquarist.com/issu...02/feature.htm

swpassion · 03/08/2009, 04:01 PM

Is there a big temp difference between the 2 types?

Rouselb · 03/08/2009, 04:19 PM

No. I run three of them in a canopy. I had both mounted about the same height. If you hang them right heat will never be an issue. I ran the DE Reef Optix 12" from the water to the bottom of the pendant, and i run the LBs 12" from the water to the reflector. Bulb distance is slightly different. I have to use (3) 250W heaters all year round. The canopy is only enclosed on 2 sides. The back, side facing the wall, and top are all open. I use one fan on a controller. Power consumption is the only difference. You can make a non HQI perform the same as an HQI by just using a better reflector.

hyperfocal · 03/08/2009, 07:53 PM

One advantage for HQI is that the bulb and reflector are much smaller giving you a lot more room in the hood. I ran 250W single-ended bulbs over my 55gal and they took up all the room in the canopy. I just switched to double-ended bulbs are have a lot more room up there now.

One downside to DE bulbs is there are fewer bulb choices out there. I'm running Phoenix 14.5K bulbs and am very happy with them so it's no big deal to me but YMMV.

03/08/2009, 02:51 PM	#1
addicted2reefin Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: hell, delaware Posts: 628	halide or hqi? just wondering the differences on both of these other than the pay they go in a socket. i bought 3 x 250 SE halides but can get 3x250 hqis for 100 more a piece. Whats the main differences? any light output differences? is it worth 300 extra dollars to get those

03/08/2009, 02:59 PM	#2
swpassion Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Chicagoland Posts: 229	I have been wondering the same so I will follow this thread closely. __________________ "it is not the days in our lives that matter, but the life in our days" Current Tank Info: 210 RR, 75, 26 bowfront

03/08/2009, 03:06 PM	#3
Rouselb Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Detroit Michigan Posts: 1,238	Yes there is a difference depending on what ballast you are using. HQI is a european standard. See the attached link. But to explain this easier, Lets compare two setups that i have used in the past. One is an HQI setup and one is not. 1. Sunlight supply magnetic Blue Wave 250W HQI Ballast uses 330W of power to operate. This means the bulb will see more power, and will produce more light. 2. CoralVue Dimmable 250W electronic ballast uses 250W of power to operate. The bulb will only see this amount. So in general, if you take a non HQI rated bulb and fire it on an HQI ballast you will decrease the life of the bulb. This can be as much as 6 months for some bulbs. http://www.advancedaquarist.com/issu...02/feature.htm __________________ Larry Current Tank Info: 425g Mixed Reef, (6) Orphek LED mods, (4) MP60s, (2) Bubble King SM250 Skimmer, LMIII for Dose & ATO

03/08/2009, 04:01 PM	#4
swpassion Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Chicagoland Posts: 229	Is there a big temp difference between the 2 types? __________________ "it is not the days in our lives that matter, but the life in our days" Current Tank Info: 210 RR, 75, 26 bowfront

03/08/2009, 04:19 PM	#5
Rouselb Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Detroit Michigan Posts: 1,238	No. I run three of them in a canopy. I had both mounted about the same height. If you hang them right heat will never be an issue. I ran the DE Reef Optix 12" from the water to the bottom of the pendant, and i run the LBs 12" from the water to the reflector. Bulb distance is slightly different. I have to use (3) 250W heaters all year round. The canopy is only enclosed on 2 sides. The back, side facing the wall, and top are all open. I use one fan on a controller. Power consumption is the only difference. You can make a non HQI perform the same as an HQI by just using a better reflector. __________________ Larry Current Tank Info: 425g Mixed Reef, (6) Orphek LED mods, (4) MP60s, (2) Bubble King SM250 Skimmer, LMIII for Dose & ATO

03/08/2009, 07:53 PM	#6
hyperfocal Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Edge of oblivion Posts: 1,708	One advantage for HQI is that the bulb and reflector are much smaller giving you a lot more room in the hood. I ran 250W single-ended bulbs over my 55gal and they took up all the room in the canopy. I just switched to double-ended bulbs are have a lot more room up there now. One downside to DE bulbs is there are fewer bulb choices out there. I'm running Phoenix 14.5K bulbs and am very happy with them so it's no big deal to me but YMMV. __________________ "Froth at the top, dregs at bottom, but the middle excellent." -- Voltaire Current Tank Info: getting back into the hobby