Hqi Vs Standard

[pufferpoison]

I would have to say the left "looks" brighter.
I've heard that single ended bulbs put out more of a wider light and double ended where more of a focused light?

 

[leeweber85]

The 150w HQI looks a tad bit brighter, but then again the 250w is the XM 15k which is known to have even lower par than the 20k... Who knows what the difference to the corals are though.

 

[RichConley]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8091663#post8091663 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Waxxiemann
I've seen some dealer websites that compare 250 HQI's to 400 watt standard.

Here is an example.
http://www.jlaquatics.com/phpstore/store_pages/details/corals-hard.php?product_ID=c-facroa

I'm going with 250 HQI. Plus with HQI you don't have to worry about your reflectors getting pitted and stained from salt splash because of the glass cover.

That's my lame brain thoughts.

Thats pure marketing nonsense.

I've got HQIs, and will switch to SEs when I upgrade tanks.


Lumenarcs are the roxor.

 

[boxfishpooalot]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8094006#post8094006 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by leeweber85
as requested:

Left side is 150w 14k-current bulb, right side is a 250w SE XM-15K bulb

Nice! thanks for taking the time.

HQI seems to always put out more par. Is that always the case? Why is this? WHERE ARE THE LIGHT EXPERTS!!

 

[Waxxiemann]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8098428#post8098428 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by RichConley
Thats pure marketing nonsense.

I've got HQIs, and will switch to SEs when I upgrade tanks.


Lumenarcs are the roxor.

Chill man. It's an EXAMPLE. I didn't mean to ruffle any feathers. I certainly did not write it. It is also not the reason I (made the personal choice) went with HQI.

To each his own. This debate has been ongoing forever.

 

[STEELERFAN747]

Hands down. You cannot beat what a graph will tell you.

I even gave it an M80 ballast for best perfomance and put the single end on a cheap M57.



Now you do realize the gragh shows a 150 hqi against a 175 se, and the second graph mentions both 250w's being hqi's.

 

[STEELERFAN747]

as requested:




Left side is 150w 14k-current bulb, right side is a 250w SE XM-15K bulb


__________________

The left side definently looks brighter & nice tank by the way.

 

[leeweber85]

thanks

 

[PatrickJ]

As what RichC said,

Marketing nonsense. The DE's look differnt and special and people took them for being better.

Steelerfan,

I put the second graph running both on an HQI to show the fact that running a 250 DE and SE on the same ballast, the SE will out perform the DE.

Even on differnt ballast, a ballast that is the cheapest on the market, M59, running a SE still out performs the DE running on the more expensive ballast, M80, which was design to run DE bulbs.

DE in most cases falls short to a SE. Expecially if a SE is on a DE ballast, like the M80.

 

[scaryperson27]

leeweber85,

Thats a Odyssea unit with the "150" HQI's right? From what i have heard Odyssea overdrives there units to 175 watts.

 

[leeweber85]

correct, it is an odyssea. From what I've read, the ballast will actually underdrive the bulb. I don't know whether it's true or not.

 

[RichConley]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8098816#post8098816 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Waxxiemann
Chill man. It's an EXAMPLE. I didn't mean to ruffle any feathers. I certainly did not write it. It is also not the reason I (made the personal choice) went with HQI.

To each his own. This debate has been ongoing forever.

My feathers werent ruffled.


Its just nothing but marketing nonsense when companies say that a 250w HQI puts out as much as a 400w bulb.

 

[RichConley]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8104787#post8104787 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by STEELERFAN747
as requested:




Left side is 150w 14k-current bulb, right side is a 250w SE XM-15K bulb


__________________

The left side definently looks brighter & nice tank by the way.

Thats a tough example to judge anything on, becuase of how collosally poor the XM 15Ks are (in a par respect)

 

[PatrickJ]

Millions of people around the world are consumed by marketing hype.


Yes it is a sad fact.

I mean really just look at the graphs. http://www.reeflightinginfo.arvixe.com/select2lamp.php
The data says other wise. IMO DE's are almost worthless. Good in some applications like small tanks or in low profile hoods, but other than that...why would you buy a less powerful light, needs a UV shield, needs a powerful ballast just to run it, and expensive for what you get.

Another example, XM 250 SE 10000K vs IceCap DE 10000K Expand the picture to read the numbers clearly.

Though they are differnt bulbs from differnt manuafactors. 250 Watt SE has more PAR than the 400 Watt DE, which is shown in PPFD.

 

[HippieSmell]

I think you're being a little overzealous, Patrick. Overall, it's about a wash as far as the ppfd/consumption ratio is concerned between DE and SE bulbs. That is if you run the proper ballast, and use a shield on the DE, and don't use a shield on the SE. You don't want to run an SE bulb on an M80 (HQI) ballast, and you don't want to run a DE bulb on an electronic. I also like the shield on a DE bulb, because mine gets pretty coated with salt. I'd be afraid to do that with an unshielded SE. Regardless, either bulb will grow coral, and it's pointless to generalize too much because each bulb manufacturer is different.

 

[Kip]

i believe HQI is a ballast term, not a bulb term

ex: you can get a single ended bulb and run it on a hqi ballast

i think the "250wDE on HQI is near equal to 400wSE" came from wattage properties, not ppfd readings. A double ended bulb on magnetic hqi will pull 325-350watts and a 400w SE on electronic will pull right at 400w. Then people became more educated about lighting terms and that 250DE vs 400SE kinda died out.

i will admit that years ago i believed the same... and you can make that statement true SOMETIMES, but not ALL OF THE TIME. It all comes down to whether you are comparing apples to apples.

IE:... i am sure i can come up with a 250w DE bulb/ballast combo that will have more PAR than a 400w SE bulb/ballast combo which will make that statement true SOMETIMES

so... just keep in mind what you are actually comparing.

 

[boxfishpooalot]

After all this talk,

Whats the best bulb for par and output?(ballast and bulb)


Cant use the sun either

 

[Kip]

"best" is very subjective

i am pretty happy with my newest lighting... 400w EVC 10k SE on magnetic ballasts

around 200ppfd and a very natural daylight look.

 

[vegaskid11]

For space saving needs and a cooler running ballast, HQI is the way to go. If you have the room, I would use SE as the larger bulb and reflector will give you better overall distribution.

Personally, I have 2 DE on my tank because I have a ton of equipment packed into my canopy and I needed the extra room.

 

[leeweber85]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8130515#post8130515 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by RichConley
Thats a tough example to judge anything on, becuase of how collosally poor the XM 15Ks are (in a par respect)

I agree, wish i had another bulb to compare with.