Hqi Vs Standard
- Thread starter PoriferaBob
- Start date
Kip
New member
i believe sanjay gets around 90 ppfd from the 250wP14k in m80
i have a quantum meter... my same lights over my frag tank (around 8" off the water) in ROIII pendants...and about 9 months old... ~450ppfd (obviously the reflector inreases ppfd)
other readings for fun/comparison
250wDE AB20ks on pfo HQI at 8" off the water in ROIII pendants and about 6 monthds old.... ~325 ppfd
400wSERadiums on pfo HQI at 9" off the water in spider reflectors... 2 months old..... 900pffd
400wSE EVC10ks on magnetic at 9" off the water in spider reflectors .... 3 weeks old... 1100-1200ppfd
these are just hobbyist readings in a non-lab environment
i have a quantum meter... my same lights over my frag tank (around 8" off the water) in ROIII pendants...and about 9 months old... ~450ppfd (obviously the reflector inreases ppfd)
other readings for fun/comparison
250wDE AB20ks on pfo HQI at 8" off the water in ROIII pendants and about 6 monthds old.... ~325 ppfd
400wSERadiums on pfo HQI at 9" off the water in spider reflectors... 2 months old..... 900pffd
400wSE EVC10ks on magnetic at 9" off the water in spider reflectors .... 3 weeks old... 1100-1200ppfd
these are just hobbyist readings in a non-lab environment
HippieSmell
Occupy Reef Central
I think you'll be fine. Many tanks have too much light IMO.<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8140509#post8140509 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by SurfatC3G
Wow. Well, because of this thread im starting to question whether or not my 150w DE Pheonix 14k will be enough to support LPS at the bottom of a 24" deep tank.The light is going over a 37g Perfecto column tank. 20x18x24.
benray4fun
New member
I have to agree that the left side (hqi) is a tad brighter and is higher from the water line than the single ended bulb..."I'm impressed"
Thanks again for the responses. I don't plan on having very much SPS stuff anyway. I would have went with a 250 but I was scared some of my shrooms and rics wouldn't like it. I will probably have a couple Caps about mid level and assorted branching sps near the top along with some lps. I wanted to keep the bottom open for some softies and some lps if I couldn't find a spot up higher for them.
benray4fun
New member
Keep in mind its' 150w hqi left vs 250w mogul se right side, that's a 100w savings per side and if you have two, even more and it's still brighter! SOLD! To Mr. Benray4fun...LMAO, but it's true... "I've been meaning to get a set of HQI's for a while", as soon as I can pony up the cash I'm running to the candy store...lol
HippieSmell
Occupy Reef Central
I have a single 250W pendant on a light mover, and it bleached the ric on the very bottom of my 120 gallon. I have some zoos halfway up, and they turned from mostly brown to bright green with a hint of purple. And they haven't grown for six months. All of my sps and lps are growing like crazy though. Regardless of what anyone says, a 250W DE on a magnetic ballast is enough light for anything, often too much light.
RichConley
New member
It's brighter, but its not more light. Its just light in a more focused area.
benray4fun
New member
Rich, I firmly believe what my eyes process. I'm seeing it for myself in a real picture, don't you see it?...
Kind of like..."are you gonna believe what you're seeing or what I'm telling you?"...LMAO
benray4fun
New member
Yea that's sad, but remember..."you don't need the metal halides on everyday." I just want'm to cycle in on occasion, we don't have bright sunny days all week either. So put'm on timers to come on 3 or 4 days a week, with just the flourescent, vho's, power compacts, T-5's or whatever you're running alone in between days.
This will mimic nature much more accurately and give your inhabitants a break from intense lighting everyday...:mixed:
RichConley
New member
Benray, the problem is, it doesnt matter what you're eyes see. Every bit of light your eyes is seeing, is light thats not getting to the corals.
Its like saying a flashlight is brighter than a 60w lightbulb. No, its not, even though it looks brighter. Its just got a more focused reflector.
SE bulbs put out more PAR per watt, its as simple as that. DEs just generally have more narrow focused reflectors. Yes, it looks brigher. Thats because the SE is covering more area. IE its a case of X area at Y PAR, or 2X area at .5Y PAR.
benray4fun
New member
Hmm, I see your point and it was well made...
Now I believe the SE or moguls need a better reflector that is more focused, so all that light is directed like that flashlight towards it's intended use.
On the other hand, that picture does show a SE pendant that is very well made and also focused with excellent reflectors. Unfortunately, it still doesn't outperform the HQI, even though it's 100 watts less. That just goes to show how well made the HQI's housing is and how far that technology has come.
What I'm saying is that if what you're saying is true, than the SE aren't as efficient...
Now I believe the SE or moguls need a better reflector that is more focused, so all that light is directed like that flashlight towards it's intended use.
On the other hand, that picture does show a SE pendant that is very well made and also focused with excellent reflectors. Unfortunately, it still doesn't outperform the HQI, even though it's 100 watts less. That just goes to show how well made the HQI's housing is and how far that technology has come.
What I'm saying is that if what you're saying is true, than the SE aren't as efficient...
STEELERFAN747
Active member
I agree, the se has a reflector, is closer to the water surface and has a 100 watt advantage and brightness wise would seem to get outdone by the "inferior" hqi.
I personaly have hqi's and my corals grow like crazy. If one is better than the other I dont know, What I do know (Richconnoly) is, and I'm sorry to say is the hqi smaller, less wattage is brighter. Now I realize you defend the se because thats the technology you are using, but we need to be honest with ourselves.
By the way, dont worry, be happy and reef on. :fish1: :fish2:
antonsemrad
New member
What about bulb longevity? Are SE bulbs supposed to be mounted vertically? Is this a myth? What about the 400 watt HQI's? Won't the "HQI's" have better reflectors in the future? Isn't the iwaski 65k still the best bulb out there in many ways? Why isn't there one TOTM that uses the 65k iwaski?
benray4fun
New member
Most SE bulbs last roughly a year, same as DE. SE's can be mounted in a variety of ways, but are usually installed horizontally along the length of the aquarium....
antonsemrad
New member
Well my good friend, who is into plants, told me that MH bulbs (SE) last longer in the vertical position. Frankly I don't understand why this wouldn't be true over the top of an aquarium also, that is if it is not a myth. And for another thing, the advice to change after one year, I find misleading. How many hours are we talking about? Is there a fan blowing on this bulb or not? What are we lighting? (The o so delicate shade of blue sps coral, or the chaeto?)
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