Anyone here switch from USHIO 10k to XM10k??

SunnyX · 05-07-2004, 08:10 PM

I was wondering if anyone here swithed for USHIO 10k to XM 10k.

I am asking this because I currently have 250 watt XM 20k on my tank. I love them but I want something that will increase my growth. I tried to put my USHIO's back in today but it was too yellow and made everything look like crap.

If anyone has had these two bulbs please tell me if the XM 10k's look better or are less yellow. I love 20k but i wont switch to 400 watts until I move from my 120gl to a 180gl.

DaveK · 05-08-2004, 07:02 AM

"...but I want something that will increase my growth."

I'm going to stick my neck out here a bit. I don't think changinig to a different bulb is going to make too much of a differece in growth. You already have good light from the 20K bulbs, and you are using them on "only" a 120g tank.

Before I spent the money on different MH bulbs, I'd check into other factors that may be limiting growth. Obviously water quality is a key factor. Also consider water flow, feeding the coral, and possible other animals bothering it.

wooddood · 05-08-2004, 07:30 AM

sunny we've talked a little about lighting before and i run 2 250 watt 10k xm's and like mine personally, buy i have comented on your 20k's also and love the color of your tank and have told you so in the past. although i'm running 4 03 actinic pc's and your running vho's as supplemental lighting, so i guess my question is why. your tank looks awesome. please add some more info if you would . thanks sunny.

Woodstock · 05-08-2004, 08:44 AM

Sunny, any lower k bulb will probably look really yellow to you since you have so much blue now. I think your tank looks very pretty and the coral floresce wonderfully! Isn't there a link that compares the different MH bulbs using pictures? I'll try to find it....

I currently have 2 x 250 watt 10 k and 2x 96 actinic pc, but I think I will be purchasing the 6500k iwaskis next time for better growth.

Woodstock · 05-08-2004, 08:49 AM

Here it is! It has the values of many mh bulbs as well as pictures for comparison....

http://reefcentral.com/forums/showth...hreadid=254667

dgasmd · 05-08-2004, 11:39 AM

I have seen the 10K XM and compared to the Ushio 10K, which I run now, it is much more white and less yellow. I liked it and I am going to switch to them when the time comes.

If it is plain growth you want, intensity will help. However, other things should be addressed as well like water flow, good skimming, phosphate removing media, etc. Optimize everything else first because the lighting alone will make a difference, but the others will as well maybe just as much if not more.

Something to consider in your 120g tank, is to just add two 10K XM bulbs right next to your 20K and have them come on for 4-6 hours only in the middle of your photoperiod. That will nearly triple your intensity. Of course, you want to slowly add this and not all of the sudden over night.

BoomerD · 05-08-2004, 11:50 AM

Here'a a link to a site that took the pics from JB's work, pasted them together and gives you the opportunity to compare lighting side by side on the same tank.
Chris's 250 w. MH comparison

wooddood · 05-08-2004, 02:44 PM

thanks boomerD great link much appreciated buddy thanks.

middletonmark · 05-08-2004, 06:42 PM

I'd also make sure you have a good reflector ... harnessing that light to good use.

I'm actually running both a 10k xm and 10k hamilton [ushio?] 175w. Like the xm, but to be honest I think the mix is best as I figure I have more different peaks this way instead of 2 times the same light.

But the XM is less yellow overall, a little whiter - but kind of a weird white IMO.

SunnyX · 05-08-2004, 08:01 PM

Thanks for the info guys.

I added some Phosban today and my Geo Calcium reactor just came in so I should see some improvements. I really dont think I have much phosphate because I have little algae. The reactor should kick start things. As for water flow, I have

4 x Aquaclear 402- 270 gal/hr each
1 x Aquaclear 802- 400 gal/hr
1 x Aquaclear 902- 900 gal/hr
1 x MAG 3 on skimmer- 350gal/hr

Also when I was testing my water i found out the both my ALK and CA very very high.
CA was 580
ALK was 4.80

I have stopped driping kalk for about 4 days now and my reactor should be up on monday.

wooddood · 05-08-2004, 09:35 PM

i love my 10k xm's so far .

05-07-2004, 08:10 PM	#1 (permalink)
SunnyX Scopas Tang Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Dearborn,MI Posts: 429 View Gallery Karma Komment	Anyone here switch from USHIO 10k to XM10k?? I was wondering if anyone here swithed for USHIO 10k to XM 10k. I am asking this because I currently have 250 watt XM 20k on my tank. I love them but I want something that will increase my growth. I tried to put my USHIO's back in today but it was too yellow and made everything look like crap. If anyone has had these two bulbs please tell me if the XM 10k's look better or are less yellow. I love 20k but i wont switch to 400 watts until I move from my 120gl to a 180gl. __________________ 225gl Starphire(60Lx36Wx24H) Reef Deltec AP851 GEO Calcium Reactor Sequence DART TUNZE 6100 Stream SEIO 1500 2xAquaclear 270 Powerheads 3x250w MH ROIII+ Pheonix 14K DE HQI *2x110w VHO URi Super Actinic

05-08-2004, 07:30 AM	#3 (permalink)
wooddood the wood dude Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: CARMEL. INDIANA Posts: 3,450 View Gallery Karma Komment	sunny we've talked a little about lighting before and i run 2 250 watt 10k xm's and like mine personally, buy i have comented on your 20k's also and love the color of your tank and have told you so in the past. although i'm running 4 03 actinic pc's and your running vho's as supplemental lighting, so i guess my question is why. your tank looks awesome. please add some more info if you would . thanks sunny. __________________ 120 gal/in wall tank/starboard substraight/2 250 watt 10k xm metal halides/ 4 55watt 03 actinics/150lbs lr/scwd on return/scwd on a closed loop/aquaclear aquatics 200 pro wetdry w/skimmer. ask all the questions you have if we cant answer it we'll make up some thing. remember patience is the key to a kick ass reef. dave.

05-08-2004, 08:44 AM	#4 (permalink)
Woodstock The Wand Geek was here. ;) Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: North Carolina Posts: 23,260 View Gallery Karma Komment Add yours!	Sunny, any lower k bulb will probably look really yellow to you since you have so much blue now. I think your tank looks very pretty and the coral floresce wonderfully! Isn't there a link that compares the different MH bulbs using pictures? I'll try to find it.... I currently have 2 x 250 watt 10 k and 2x 96 actinic pc, but I think I will be purchasing the 6500k iwaskis next time for better growth. __________________ ~Doni Marie~ *GOT ICH???* *My QT/Hospital Tank* ~120 Reef Chronicle ~ *~Breeding Picasso Clownfish~* "Energy and persistence conquer all things." Benjamin Franklin __________________________________________________ ______________________________________________ 120 mixed reef, dual Reeflux 10k 250 MHs, dual Geiseman Actinic T5s,Neptune AC III, ASM g3, 2x Korallia #3, Mag 9.5 return

05-08-2004, 08:49 AM	#5 (permalink)
Woodstock The Wand Geek was here. ;) Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: North Carolina Posts: 23,260 View Gallery Karma Komment Add yours!	Here it is! It has the values of many mh bulbs as well as pictures for comparison.... http://reefcentral.com/forums/showth...hreadid=254667 __________________ ~Doni Marie~ *GOT ICH???* *My QT/Hospital Tank* ~120 Reef Chronicle ~ *~Breeding Picasso Clownfish~* "Energy and persistence conquer all things." Benjamin Franklin __________________________________________________ ______________________________________________ 120 mixed reef, dual Reeflux 10k 250 MHs, dual Geiseman Actinic T5s,Neptune AC III, ASM g3, 2x Korallia #3, Mag 9.5 return

05-08-2004, 11:39 AM	#6 (permalink)
dgasmd Scopas Tang Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Royal Palm Beach, FL Posts: 466 View Gallery Karma Komment	I have seen the 10K XM and compared to the Ushio 10K, which I run now, it is much more white and less yellow. I liked it and I am going to switch to them when the time comes. If it is plain growth you want, intensity will help. However, other things should be addressed as well like water flow, good skimming, phosphate removing media, etc. Optimize everything else first because the lighting alone will make a difference, but the others will as well maybe just as much if not more. Something to consider in your 120g tank, is to just add two 10K XM bulbs right next to your 20K and have them come on for 4-6 hours only in the middle of your photoperiod. That will nearly triple your intensity. Of course, you want to slowly add this and not all of the sudden over night. __________________ Water is what keeps a ship floating, but it is also what sinks it.

05-08-2004, 07:02 AM	#2 (permalink)
DaveK Neon dottyback Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Philadelpahia, PA Posts: 651 View Gallery Karma Komment	"...but I want something that will increase my growth." I'm going to stick my neck out here a bit. I don't think changinig to a different bulb is going to make too much of a differece in growth. You already have good light from the 20K bulbs, and you are using them on "only" a 120g tank. Before I spent the money on different MH bulbs, I'd check into other factors that may be limiting growth. Obviously water quality is a key factor. Also consider water flow, feeding the coral, and possible other animals bothering it.

05-08-2004, 11:50 AM	#7 (permalink)
BoomerD Reef Shark Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Northern California Posts: 5,637 View Gallery Karma Komment	Here'a a link to a site that took the pics from JB's work, pasted them together and gives you the opportunity to compare lighting side by side on the same tank. Chris's 250 w. MH comparison

05-08-2004, 02:44 PM	#8 (permalink)
wooddood the wood dude Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: CARMEL. INDIANA Posts: 3,450 View Gallery Karma Komment	thanks boomerD great link much appreciated buddy thanks. __________________ 120 gal/in wall tank/starboard substraight/2 250 watt 10k xm metal halides/ 4 55watt 03 actinics/150lbs lr/scwd on return/scwd on a closed loop/aquaclear aquatics 200 pro wetdry w/skimmer. ask all the questions you have if we cant answer it we'll make up some thing. remember patience is the key to a kick ass reef. dave.

05-08-2004, 06:42 PM	#9 (permalink)
middletonmark Star Polyps Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Madison, WI Posts: 165 View Gallery Karma Komment	I'd also make sure you have a good reflector ... harnessing that light to good use. I'm actually running both a 10k xm and 10k hamilton [ushio?] 175w. Like the xm, but to be honest I think the mix is best as I figure I have more different peaks this way instead of 2 times the same light. But the XM is less yellow overall, a little whiter - but kind of a weird white IMO. __________________ smile smile smile

05-08-2004, 08:01 PM	#10 (permalink)
SunnyX Scopas Tang Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Dearborn,MI Posts: 429 View Gallery Karma Komment	Thanks for the info guys. I added some Phosban today and my Geo Calcium reactor just came in so I should see some improvements. I really dont think I have much phosphate because I have little algae. The reactor should kick start things. As for water flow, I have 4 x Aquaclear 402- 270 gal/hr each 1 x Aquaclear 802- 400 gal/hr 1 x Aquaclear 902- 900 gal/hr 1 x MAG 3 on skimmer- 350gal/hr Also when I was testing my water i found out the both my ALK and CA very very high. CA was 580 ALK was 4.80 I have stopped driping kalk for about 4 days now and my reactor should be up on monday. __________________ 225gl Starphire(60Lx36Wx24H) Reef Deltec AP851 GEO Calcium Reactor Sequence DART TUNZE 6100 Stream SEIO 1500 2xAquaclear 270 Powerheads 3x250w MH ROIII+ Pheonix 14K DE HQI *2x110w VHO URi Super Actinic

05-08-2004, 09:35 PM	#11 (permalink)
wooddood the wood dude Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: CARMEL. INDIANA Posts: 3,450 View Gallery Karma Komment	i love my 10k xm's so far . __________________ 120 gal/in wall tank/starboard substraight/2 250 watt 10k xm metal halides/ 4 55watt 03 actinics/150lbs lr/scwd on return/scwd on a closed loop/aquaclear aquatics 200 pro wetdry w/skimmer. ask all the questions you have if we cant answer it we'll make up some thing. remember patience is the key to a kick ass reef. dave.

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