Coralife Elite Mh or should i... go with HQI

[jwhiteuwc]

FOund a good price on a 48" 2 x 250 Mh plus 2 x 96 atnic blubs. Is HQI that much better? $300 more?
Thanks!

 

[netimreefer]

new or used? and if used how old is it?

 

[jwhiteuwc]

New 692 watt for $459
New 542 watt for $399
I have a 55 gallon so I think the 542 watt would be fine.
These are brand new.

 

[mr_x]

Originally Posted by jwhiteuwc
http:///forum/post/2767378
FOund a good price on a 48" 2 x 250 Mh plus 2 x 96 atnic blubs. Is HQI that much better? $300 more?
Thanks!
is hqi that much better than what?
make sure the ballasts are quality ballasts. if you are seeing this good price on sleaze-bay, those knock-off halide fixtures are not worth the money. the ballasts and bulbs are junk. you'll need to replace both. figure that in with the initial cost.

 

[jwhiteuwc]

NOpe no sleeze-bay, brand new coralife elite's from a great online retailer.
They have 72" avaialbe too.
Compairing the major differences of plain Mh vs HQI (double ended) is the only real major difference heat?

 

[aquaguy24]

i think the hqi fixture comes with T5 and lunar lights aswell..

 

[aquaguy24]

i think the OP wants to know if theres a big difference performance wise between SE and DE fixtures....

 

[jwhiteuwc]

Yes, you are correct.
Also, should you include Actinic 03 wattage in the total wattage per gallon calculation?
Also, do you think that's a good price on the Coralife Elite 48" 542 watt series?

 

[aquaguy24]

yes u add antinics in the total watts of the fixture...i don't have the corallife fixture so i can't give u a reveiw on it..but i do have a current usa outer orbit with 2x250w and 4x54w t5 and lunar lights..and im lovin it...its also a couple hundred less then the corallife hqi fixture...u can't go wrong with corallife or current usa fixtures but if u really want to get the most out of ur money i suggest a DIY MH setup...im not a DIY kinda guy so i went with a ready made fixture...

 

[stanlalee]

I've had single and double ended and I prefer single ended mogul based halides. I feel (and know) the required glass shielding saps up some PAR. I also feel (but dont really know) that single ended bulbs get better coverage (all things being namely reflector design being the same). thats being picky though, they both work equally well. double ended are much more compact and unobtrusive if you have a smaller aquarium. you have people who swear that either is better than the other. Double ended certaintly arent worth spending any more money on than single ended unless you have other reasons besides thinking one works better than the other.
Dont confuse double ended with HQI. Single ended Radiums are HQI (designed to be run on an HQI ballast). HQI and double ended arent really interchangeable. HQI is a ballast type. there are both single and double ended bulbs designed to run on HQI ballast

 

[mr_x]

i think the only plus about the double ended fixtures is the thickness of the fixture. i like single ended bulbs better.