Ontime is usually around 400usec or so, BPS I'd keep under 10 or so. It can go higher, but higher than that and the transformer starts running out of time to recharge the caps before the next burst, so your streamers start diminishing. Alternatively you can bring the ontime right down and increase the BPS rate for higher frequency, but smaller streamers.
I like the design because it's a lot safer than having "unlimited" mains potential behind it. If you accidentally leave the IGBT's on too long, you just overload the transformer and pop a fuse, everything else is fine, and if you somehow come into contact with the tank, you'll take the initial brunt of the caps, but after that it'll pretty much be a strong tingle
The original coil didn't have any way of external control, I ended up just tapping into the gate drivers inputs which allowed me to use an Arduino to control it - apart from that it just had 2 modes, one was just a single shot, 2BPS mode, and the other would fire a few shots in succession with a longer break.
My design I'm planning to use a uC for the main control instead of discrete timers, and I'm probably going to build in an IR receiver so you can have a truly isolated remote control
