mogul or DE

[Pico1]

Hey everyone,
Just curious what you guys think the pros and cons are between mogul and DE metal halide lighting for SPS. Does one get hotter than the other? Has one or the other been proven to be better for SPS growth, color, or health? Are they really just the same thing in a different housing? Just curious as I couldn't find much info on the differences between the two. TIA.

[spankey]

The only comment I can offer is the HQI bulbs ran on the right balast are super bright. Put it this way I have a 75g packed with SPS with only two 150 HQI bulbs over it. It thrives. To me unless the mogel type bulb isn't in a superior reflector and being ran by a good balast, an HQI will look far brighter with the right application being present.

I had a 400w mogel pendant over my tank to see how it looked. I was running 2/ 150w hqi over that tank before trying the pendant. The 300w of HQI light doubled if not trippled the 400 in light.

Again this is my opinion. I have seen incredible tanks ran on mogel end lights and the same with DE lights. Its just prefrence....

[chrisd1009]

You have more bulb options with SE. Also, DE bulbs do not burn at the wattage indicated. a 250W DE bulb actually uses 358watts. That is why you hear people say that DE burn brighter. No s***. They use more watts.

[spankey]

Sweet! Are you telling me that my 150w bulbs are pulling over 200 watts. Its Christmas for me today if that can be proven!!!!!

[Pico1]

214.8 W

[chrisd1009]

I've never tested a 150w. Looks like Pico already has.
Here's what I tested and the numbers I got.
Icecap 250W SE ballast :252 watts
Icecap 250W DE ballast:353 watts
PFO 250W HQI: 358 watts
Icecap Dynamic T-5 ballast with 2 54watt bulbs: 118watts
I also did a lot of different pumps. You'd be surprised how far off they can be from what the manufacturers say.

[Marko9]

Jordan-- I think you are thinking of the Dark Side way too much

[Pico1]

the dark side?

[RokleM]

I think you guys are partially confused, although I'm not 100% positive. I believe it has to do with the ballast, not the bulbs. So yes, DE bulbs primarily will use more watts due to the fact they're run on HQI, not because of the bulbs. Someone correct me if I'm wrong.

My 400w SE Radium 20k's on a dual Blue Wave 7 ballast pull 450-470 each.

[spankey]

Well I am running the ones that Coralife sends with the fixtures. They are two ballasts that weigh quite a bit. About 10lbs each? What type might they be????

Thanks

[RichConley]

Originally posted by spankey
The only comment I can offer is the HQI bulbs ran on the right balast are super bright. Put it this way I have a 75g packed with SPS with only two 150 HQI bulbs over it. It thrives. To me unless the mogel type bulb isn't in a superior reflector and being ran by a good balast, an HQI will look far brighter with the right application being present.

It will also use FAR more electricity.

[RichConley]

Originally posted by RokleM
I think you guys are partially confused, although I'm not 100% positive. I believe it has to do with the ballast, not the bulbs. So yes, DE bulbs primarily will use more watts due to the fact they're run on HQI, not because of the bulbs. Someone correct me if I'm wrong.

My 400w SE Radium 20k's on a dual Blue Wave 7 ballast pull 450-470 each.

You're wrong.


HQI spec is higher than SE spec. 250w HQI bulbs want more than 300w. Yes, the ballasts use more juice too, but the bulb is still pulling well over what it is labeled at.

[BraenDead]

Although DE will use more watts than a mogul if run on a magnetic HQI ballast, remember that DE and SE use the same watts if run on the same electronic ballast.

Bob

[Pico1]

So if run on the same ballast, which is better?

[gcarroll]

Originally posted by chrisd1009
You have more bulb options with SE. Also, DE bulbs do not burn at the wattage indicated. a 250W DE bulb actually uses 358watts. That is why you hear people say that DE burn brighter. No s***. They use more watts.

Current draw of a DE on an HQI ballast totally depends on the bulb. Per Sajay's test results HQI ballasts have drawn as low as 269 watts and as high as 371 watts. It totally depends on the bulb. BTW, of all the DE bulbs tested by Sanjay the vast majority of DE bulbs on HQI ballasts draw between 305 and 338 watts. The 358 watts that you listed is definitly outside the norm.

On average, SE bulbs run on HQI ballast consume more wattage than DE bulbs run on that same ballasts. Of course very few SE bulbs are recommended to be run on an HQI ballast.

Originally posted by Pico1
So if run on the same ballast, which is better?

That depends on which ballasts you choose. Most electronic ballasts underdrive DE bulbs.

[250G]

Be mindful that if you ever upgrade to a bigger tank, especially a wide one (say more than 24" wide) you likely not be happy with the coverage many of the existing DE pendants provide. At the same time you would always change the reflector.

[Marko9]

Originally posted by Pico1
the dark side?

The DE Darkside.

[spankey]

So does anyone know what type of ballasts the coralife ones are with the HQI fixtures? I am currious?

Thanks.

[RobTheReefer]

Originally posted by chrisd1009
I've never tested a 150w. Looks like Pico already has.
Here's what I tested and the numbers I got.
Icecap 250W SE ballast :252 watts
Icecap 250W DE ballast:353 watts
PFO 250W HQI: 358 watts
Icecap Dynamic T-5 ballast with 2 54watt bulbs: 118watts
I also did a lot of different pumps. You'd be surprised how far off they can be from what the manufacturers say.

Hang on, Icecap sells a 250w DE and a 250w SE electronic ballast??? I thought they only sold one 250w ballast that would run any 250w bulb, DE or SE?

[spankey]

Rob you are right. I was told directly from Icecap as long as the ballast is electronic it will fire both DE and SE bulbs as long as the bulb rating matches the ballast!

[chrisd1009]

Hang on, Icecap sells a 250w DE and a 250w SE electronic ballast??? I thought they only sold one 250w ballast that would run any 250w bulb, DE or SE?

IceCap Model 250-MH-HQI Electronic Ballast
[LT-IC250MH-H]
Yes they can run any bulb.