hqi vs moguls

[derrell]

i just bought 3-250w icecap electronic ballasts. i've done a lot of reading and found out that hqis can produce way more light than moguls but i see a lot of people with moguls. i just wanted to get people's opinion on the two and see what people prefer. i know hqi need protective glass but isn't the whole point to get the most light with the least amount of energy.

btw: i'm planning on using 14k's and with those's is there any point of using supplemental light (t5, vho, pc) other than moonlights?

 

[racermike27]

I have both setups over different tanks.

I prefer the SE's better. I like the color rendition I get from the SE bulbs I am using over the DE counterpart of the same bulb. The DEs are definitely brighter but I find the growth to be the same.

I am using 10Ks in both. Both are running on ICECAP electronics. I was using a Sunlight Supply HQI for the DE bulb but switched to the icecap because I heard this particular bulb runs better on Electronic Ballasts.

I think the main reason I like the SE over the DE is the fact that I do not have to run a glass shield with the SE. This takes up less space in my canopy and gives me more room to work.

I also like the bulb selection available with the SE bulbs.

Just my 0.02 cents hope it helps.