Metal Halide: HQI versus Mogul, Elcetronic versus Core & Coil

[Phenex]

I have a 120 gallon tank (48 x 24 x24) that I am planning on upgrading the
lighting from PC (4x96) to some type of metal halide. I want to add SPS to
the mix and feel the upgraded lighting is necessary.

That being said, I am looking for some advice on what type of halide
lighting to use for the tank. My wife has one criteria, whatever ballast I
use has to be quiet. This tank is in our family room in the basement.

I've asked around some online shops, and I am getting good, though mixed
advice. One shop recommends mogul based bulbs and electronic ballasts(Blue
Line pendant with e-ballast), another PFO with core and coil and a third
Reef Optix 3 with its ballast.

I am asking the group what they would recommend and why they would use the
equipment recommended. Does the group see any difference between Mogul and
HQI (double ended) bulbs? Does the answer change if an electronic ballast
is used versus core and coil? Which type of ballast is "better" and why?

I am a new to halide lighting and am looking for a little advice and
education.

Thanks in advance for any and all help!

John

[kim gross]

On the surface this seems like a very simple question, but it is one of
the hardest questions to answer. Lets start with DE/SE, the amount of
light per bulb is very similar, but good reflectors are easier to come
by with DE bulbs verses SE bulbs, so you can get more usable light out
of DE setup than a SE setup unless your SE setup has very good
reflectors like Diamond Lumunarc III reflectors, the normal reflectors
are not as good as the DE one.

Now the downside is that DE setups are made as pendents so they are more
expense than SE setups, but you do get more light for the same amount of
electricity.

Ballast. Personally I like cap and coil ballasts, the only thing is
that you can only get one that is either probe start (for most SE bulbs)
or pulse start (could be for DE bulbs or for different SE bulbs
depending on the ballast), so with a cap and coil ballast you get one
that is for the type of bulb you are going to run and it will run that
type of bulb very well, normally much better than an electronic ballast.
Now electronic ballasts will normally drive all types of bulbs in that
wattage, ie SE or DE with no change. Electronic ballasts normally drive
the bulb at a lower light output and wattage than cap and coil ballasts.

Noise level, electronic ballasts other than the fans that many of them
have, are completely quite, cap and coil can hum, but to me it is pretty
quite.

Cap and coil ballasts put out more heat than electronic ballasts also.


My best lighting system would be DE pendents being driven with cap and
coil ballasts for the most light output..... If I'm not sure what I am
going to do in the future ie switch to DE from SE, I would suggest
electronic ballasts since they will drive most types of bulbs. If I
need to save money, I would go with cap and coil ballasts and SE bulbs
with the normal reflectors.

Kim


Phenex wrote:
> I have a 120 gallon tank (48 x 24 x24) that I am planning on upgrading the
> lighting from PC (4x96) to some type of metal halide. I want to add SPS to
> the mix and feel the upgraded lighting is necessary.
>
> That being said, I am looking for some advice on what type of halide
> lighting to use for the tank. My wife has one criteria, whatever ballast I
> use has to be quiet. This tank is in our family room in the basement.
>
> I've asked around some online shops, and I am getting good, though mixed
> advice. One shop recommends mogul based bulbs and electronic ballasts(Blue
> Line pendant with e-ballast), another PFO with core and coil and a third
> Reef Optix 3 with its ballast.
>
> I am asking the group what they would recommend and why they would use the
> equipment recommended. Does the group see any difference between Mogul and
> HQI (double ended) bulbs? Does the answer change if an electronic ballast
> is used versus core and coil? Which type of ballast is "better" and why?
>
> I am a new to halide lighting and am looking for a little advice and
> education.
>
> Thanks in advance for any and all help!
>
> John
>
>