Favorite MH bulb(s)? - Page 3

Witfull · 07-15-2005, 09:46 AM

updating,,,even though its only been a month now,,,and all the test say the 250 XM 15K are not the best bulb as far as ppfd etc,,,im loving them. the color is a crisp blue white, requires no strong actinics, except to give the glowing effect. one thing i have noticed is that my new E-ballast drives the bulb a bit brighter than the tar ballast. my corals seem to like them too,,,,wonder what the ppfd on them is a4 2.5 inches from water level?

Woodstock · 07-15-2005, 03:34 PM

Get a new capacitor for the TAR ballast and then compare

I really, really like my XM 15k's.

Woodstock · 08-24-2005, 02:17 PM

Update*** I have switched bulbs.. I do love the color of the XM 15k's but the low PAR/PPFD just stinks! I am now burning 2 10k Sun Aquatics. They are SO BRIGHT... I hope they tone down a bit

mattie · 08-24-2005, 03:21 PM

i too have switched.
i was running the 14k hamilltons becouse i loved the color but w/ 4 vho atnics it was a little blue
i switched to xm 10k's becouse on the ice cap ballast they are supposed to burn in at about 12k. they are super bright and i have seen a huge difference in the growth rate of the sps corals
and color is nice with all the actinic i am running

Woodstock · 08-24-2005, 03:29 PM

Nice Mattie... I will probably turn full circle and end up back with an XM 10k

I really wish XM would revamp their weak 15k bulb.

Mad Mike · 08-24-2005, 07:18 PM

If the sun at it's highest is only 6500k, why do we exceed that? I read that someplace and it really made me stop and wonder.

I use a 10k 150. I'm looking for 6500k 150DE. I think XM has them I have to double check tonight.

Woodstock · 08-24-2005, 09:49 PM

The lower the kelvin number the more intensity the bulb has... a 20k bulb is much, much bluer and less intense than a 6500k. A 10k bulb is stronger than a 20k, but less than a 6500k.

6500k = yellow and VERY intense
10000k = not as yellow, less intense
20000k = very blue, very low intensity

HTH

Witfull · 08-24-2005, 10:34 PM

im in such a qaundry about bulbs too,,,par vs color,,,GRR

cheeks69 · 08-25-2005, 01:08 PM

Here's a cool chart !

Woodstock · 08-25-2005, 01:29 PM

Thanks Robert... that's much better than my interpretation!

mt79 · 08-25-2005, 01:53 PM

I'm thinking of ditching my CV 250w SE 14k bulbs for a pair of XM 10k. I love the color of my tank w/ the CV 14k's(I have 2x110w actinic VHO's also) but like everyone else I want more par. What do you guys/girls think the color would be like w/ XM 10k's and the two actinic VHO's over a 55gal? Would it be a lot more yellow than it is now?? Any info/advice is very much appreciated.

Woodstock · 08-25-2005, 02:08 PM

I think with the 2 x 110w vho actinics and the xm 10k would be a nice combination! It will be much, much brighter with little/no yellow. Please make sure you acclimate the corals to the stronger lighting over several weeks! They get sunburned too

mt79 · 08-25-2005, 02:18 PM

XM's will be that much brighter- wow! I know the difference in par between the CV 14k and XM 10k lamps is significant. If I do go that route I'll do a "screen" acclimation, which honestly I'm a bit nervous about. Sounds like I have some planning and research to do... Thanks for the info woodstock.

Witfull · 08-25-2005, 02:33 PM

whats the link to the side by side lamp test?,,,i thought i had it bookmarked,,,

mt79 · 08-25-2005, 04:06 PM

www.cnidarianreef.com The link is on the right.

View Poll Results: Which is your favorite MH bulb? Select all that apply...
SE (single ended)	73	40.78%
DE (double ended)	56	31.28%
HQI	44	24.58%
175 watt	25	13.97%
250 watt	77	43.02%
400 watt	18	10.06%
6500 k	8	4.47%
10000 k	67	37.43%
12000 k	11	6.15%
14000 k	61	34.08%
20000 k	28	15.64%
SPS Corals only	19	10.61%
Soft/LPS Corals only	26	14.53%
SPS/Soft/LPS mixture	80	44.69%
Multiple Choice Poll. Voters: 179. You may not vote on this poll

07-15-2005, 03:34 PM	#32 (permalink)
Woodstock The Wand Geek was here. ;) Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: North Carolina Posts: 23,260 View Gallery Karma Komment Add yours!	Get a new capacitor for the TAR ballast and then compare I really, really like my XM 15k's. __________________ ~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

08-24-2005, 02:17 PM	#33 (permalink)
Woodstock The Wand Geek was here. ;) Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: North Carolina Posts: 23,260 View Gallery Karma Komment Add yours!	Re: Favorite MH bulb(s)? Update* I have switched bulbs.. I do love the color of the XM 15k's but the low PAR/PPFD just stinks! I am now burning 2 10k Sun Aquatics. They are SO BRIGHT... I hope they tone down a bit __________________ ~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

08-24-2005, 03:21 PM	#34 (permalink)
mattie RS Sponsor Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Torrance CA Posts: 522 View Gallery Karma Komment	Re: Favorite MH bulb(s)? i too have switched. i was running the 14k hamilltons becouse i loved the color but w/ 4 vho atnics it was a little blue i switched to xm 10k's becouse on the ice cap ballast they are supposed to burn in at about 12k. they are super bright and i have seen a huge difference in the growth rate of the sps corals and color is nice with all the actinic i am running __________________ www.reef-care.com

08-24-2005, 03:29 PM	#35 (permalink)
Woodstock The Wand Geek was here. ;) Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: North Carolina Posts: 23,260 View Gallery Karma Komment Add yours!	Re: Favorite MH bulb(s)? Nice Mattie... I will probably turn full circle and end up back with an XM 10k I really wish XM would revamp their weak 15k bulb. __________________ ~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

08-24-2005, 07:18 PM	#36 (permalink)
Mad Mike Pistol Shrimp Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: LI, NY Posts: 272 View Gallery Karma Komment	Re: Favorite MH bulb(s)? If the sun at it's highest is only 6500k, why do we exceed that? I read that someplace and it really made me stop and wonder. I use a 10k 150. I'm looking for 6500k 150DE. I think XM has them I have to double check tonight.

08-24-2005, 09:49 PM	#37 (permalink)
Woodstock The Wand Geek was here. ;) Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: North Carolina Posts: 23,260 View Gallery Karma Komment Add yours!	Re: Favorite MH bulb(s)? The lower the kelvin number the more intensity the bulb has... a 20k bulb is much, much bluer and less intense than a 6500k. A 10k bulb is stronger than a 20k, but less than a 6500k. 6500k = yellow and VERY intense 10000k = not as yellow, less intense 20000k = very blue, very low intensity HTH __________________ ~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

08-25-2005, 01:29 PM	#40 (permalink)
Woodstock The Wand Geek was here. ;) Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: North Carolina Posts: 23,260 View Gallery Karma Komment Add yours!	Re: Favorite MH bulb(s)? Thanks Robert... that's much better than my interpretation! __________________ ~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

08-25-2005, 01:53 PM	#41 (permalink)
mt79 Bryozoan Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Phila. Posts: 46 View Gallery Karma Komment	Re: Favorite MH bulb(s)? I'm thinking of ditching my CV 250w SE 14k bulbs for a pair of XM 10k. I love the color of my tank w/ the CV 14k's(I have 2x110w actinic VHO's also) but like everyone else I want more par. What do you guys/girls think the color would be like w/ XM 10k's and the two actinic VHO's over a 55gal? Would it be a lot more yellow than it is now?? Any info/advice is very much appreciated. __________________ 55gal 2x250MH/2x110VHO-SPS, LPS, Crocea clam, Sebae and BTA's.

08-25-2005, 02:08 PM	#42 (permalink)
Woodstock The Wand Geek was here. ;) Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: North Carolina Posts: 23,260 View Gallery Karma Komment Add yours!	Re: Favorite MH bulb(s)? I think with the 2 x 110w vho actinics and the xm 10k would be a nice combination! It will be much, much brighter with little/no yellow. Please make sure you acclimate the corals to the stronger lighting over several weeks! They get sunburned too __________________ ~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

08-25-2005, 02:18 PM	#43 (permalink)
mt79 Bryozoan Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Phila. Posts: 46 View Gallery Karma Komment	Re: Favorite MH bulb(s)? XM's will be that much brighter- wow! I know the difference in par between the CV 14k and XM 10k lamps is significant. If I do go that route I'll do a "screen" acclimation, which honestly I'm a bit nervous about. Sounds like I have some planning and research to do... Thanks for the info woodstock. __________________ 55gal 2x250MH/2x110VHO-SPS, LPS, Crocea clam, Sebae and BTA's.

08-25-2005, 04:06 PM	#45 (permalink)
mt79 Bryozoan Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Phila. Posts: 46 View Gallery Karma Komment	Re: Favorite MH bulb(s)? www.cnidarianreef.com The link is on the right. __________________ 55gal 2x250MH/2x110VHO-SPS, LPS, Crocea clam, Sebae and BTA's.

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