HQI Double Ended / Mogule base MH

[liquidreamer]

Just wondering what are the pros and cons of each. I noticed that the retro kits or stand alone sockets and ballasts that support Double Ended HQI are a good bit higher than Mogule.. what is the reason for this? Are the HQI bulbs a little cheaper that make the cost of operating down the road even out or something? Also I have 4x54watt T-5's (2x actinic 2x10k) on my normal dimension 75g... should I go with 2 175w or 2x250w MHs? I dont want to overfry my water/inhabitants... and, my rock work goes up really really high

[klam]

I've read that DE bulbs are more intense than mogule based bulbs. DE bulbs does not block the UV light generated by it so you will need to have a glass shield. Mogule base bulbs will filter out the UV but you should still have a splash guard.

The 250W DE has more penetration depth than the 175W SE bulbs. If you got a deep(as in verticle height) tank i would suggest getting the 250W.

I had a 10g tank with 150W DE. The distance from bulb to sand was approximately 16" apart. I had a blue mushroom rock directly under the MH and the population sky rocketed over server months. Mushrooms are supposed to be low light corals but these seem to love intense lighting. I wouldn't worry too much about frying your corals because SPS, Clams, anemones will love it the extra light. And if the corals react badly you can always relocate them to a less intense area.

[liquidreamer]

Well, reason I ask is because I don't know if I want to sell my 4xt5 retro setup and get the coralife pro (it comes with 2x175w mh and not 250w) and powercompact. OR keep my t5's and get a 2x175w or 250w mh kit and keep the t5s

Which would yall pick - #1 or #2

1 Complete Coralife Aqualight Pro and 2x96PC actinic + 2x175mh HQI DE(moonlights included) and sell my T5s.
to
2 Coralvue Retro 4xT5' 2xactinic 2x10k and 2x250 retro MH Mogul from whatever brand

I figure to add 250mh to my already existing setup will cost me 400-500$ and at that cost with my 225.00 t-5s I bought.. I could have just bought the Coralife Aqua Pro or the hamilton 250mh with actinic03 VHOs

[klam]

You might want to double check but i dont think they make 175W DE bulbs, i think they are only SE bulbs for that wattage.

I would go with the 2x250W MH.

[liquidreamer]

hmm... I'll have the check into that. I am assuming that the term "HQI" is a brand of bulb and not an acronym for Single/Double Ended? Because the coralife is "HQI" bulbs...

[klam]

HQI = halogen quartz iodide. i'm not sure if they have any SE HQI on the maket.

[Hara]

HQI is double ended, not a brand.
ie: I have 3 Aquamedic 250 watt HQI bulbs in my light fixture