Suggestions on a 20k MH

LBCBJ · #1 01/01/2007, 03:18 PM

Whats up guys,

I'm replacing my 150 14k Phoenix (on an 18 SPS) and am looking for a nice blue 20k bulb...anyone have any suggestions?

BLKTANG · #2 01/01/2007, 03:31 PM

the Coralife 150w de 20k.

LBCBJ · #3 01/01/2007, 04:01 PM

Expedition, I've actually tried the coralife's and they were not quite blue enough for me. I'm leaning toward the XM 20k as I have heard that they are one of the "bluest" bulbs around, but since I have 2 croceas, I'm a little worried about the PAR.

Paulairduck · #4 01/01/2007, 04:02 PM

When I used 20 k XM's the color was awesome, very blue, but the growth was non-existent, so I had to change to 10K ushio's

ejocam · #5 01/01/2007, 04:14 PM

Radiums and Helios are my favorites. I use both of them

Dansin · #6 01/01/2007, 04:51 PM

I use Hamilton 20ks. I like them.

gasman059 · #7 01/01/2007, 05:06 PM

I have 3 400 20k xm's very blue and very nice. As expected growth is slow but who cares less prunning LOL

BLKTANG · #8 01/01/2007, 05:15 PM

i didnt know XM made a 150w de bulb.

Interesting.

LBCBJ · #9 01/01/2007, 06:51 PM

ejocam, you mentioned Radiums...I've read a lot about them but I can't seem to find them anywhere or online, do you have any more info?

As for the XM 20k's, the PAR is questionable (~28). I have 2 croceas about 20" from the light and I was wondering if the XM would be sufficient. Any suggestions are appreciated.

Michael7979 · #10 01/01/2007, 10:57 PM

I have used both Radiums and helios on a 400w system..........had my LFS order them for me. They carry them but they go quickly when they come in.

Animation · #11 01/01/2007, 11:16 PM

Usiho 20k is brighter than XM 20K.

KH971 · #12 01/01/2007, 11:33 PM

Helios 20K has the most PAR of any of the 20K's and a very nice bulb.

ejocam · #13 01/02/2007, 01:18 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by LBCBJ
ejocam, you mentioned Radiums...I've read a lot about them but I can't seem to find them anywhere or online, do you have any more info?

As for the XM 20k's, the PAR is questionable (~28). I have 2 croceas about 20" from the light and I was wondering if the XM would be sufficient. Any suggestions are appreciated.

CHeck here to compare spectrums and par. As far as sales go there are plenty of businesses online who sell them, they're a pretty popular brand. This should help out some

http://www.reeflightinginfo.arvixe.com/select2lamp.php

spankey · #14 01/02/2007, 08:14 AM

I have tested coralife 20k, xm 20k and now own and am sticking with the phoenix 14k- 150w hqi bulbs. I have never had the intense colors and growth like I do under the phoenix bulbs.

I would never go back, just my 2 cents worth....

Good luck.

Ghazanfar Ghori · #15 01/02/2007, 09:40 AM

I've got a 20K XM 400W on dmy display tank and a 250W XM 20K
on my frag tank - color in both is great. Growth on the 400W
is much faster though.

parkavenuereef · #16 01/02/2007, 10:45 AM

I just installed a blueline 400W 10K on my tank, I run dual 400W's, one side is a 20K hamilton, the other is the 10K blue line, the blueline is alot more blue than the 20K hamilton and the water seems to be alot clearer to look at as well, and I get 10K growth according to what they say about these bulbs. we'll see as the weeks go on, but you can clearly see a difference in the bulbs.

stony_corals · #17 01/02/2007, 03:51 PM

I'd be a little concerned with your par, if you have the croceas on the bottom since you've got a 150w ballast. There isn't much par there. People who have 250w who switch to 20k have often made the comment that their tank was much darker.

REEF-DADDY · #18 01/02/2007, 04:53 PM

take a look at the iwasaki 50k Great par, great color and not as blue as you would think. Looks like a 14k to my eye.

E-A-G-L-E-S · #19 01/02/2007, 04:59 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by parkavenuereef
I just installed a blueline 400W 10K on my tank, I run dual 400W's, one side is a 20K hamilton, the other is the 10K blue line, the blueline is alot more blue than the 20K hamilton and the water seems to be alot clearer to look at as well, and I get 10K growth according to what they say about these bulbs. we'll see as the weeks go on, but you can clearly see a difference in the bulbs.

it actually sounds like you got the 10K+ Blueline...those unfortunately have horrible PAR, but my lfs uses them on his store's 400g+ display and it is very nice looking colorwise

Jovreefer · #20 01/02/2007, 05:16 PM

for a 150W I would not go with any 20K bulb, not enough par for me. Add an actinic strip if you want bluer color.

chocolateblnt · #21 01/02/2007, 05:21 PM

20K XM 250 watt ... great color but growth is eternally slow

trueblackpercula · #22 01/02/2007, 07:51 PM

ejocam
how did the move go? By the way did you ever get the aquaconnects in for me?
Michael

60Cubed · #23 01/02/2007, 08:19 PM

i use a 20k xm and a 10k reeflux. i personally like the color better out of the 10k than the 20k. i also have 8 vhos. 6 being blue. so i will probably put another 10k to replace the 20k. for i think i have enogh blue spectrum without the 20k at this point. but the colors under the xm, the oranges will turn pinkish. i think the corals actually have more of the pastel look than the true color. i know a guy who has 2 20k xm's on a 120g and all of his corals turn a lighter color after a while. my orange cap turned powder pink under 2 20k xm's that's why i changed to a 10k. mine are 400 wt as well.

BLKTANG · #24 01/02/2007, 09:08 PM

Here is a pic of my new 29g

under 2 150w 20k coralife de bulbs.

LBCBJ · #25 01/02/2007, 09:54 PM

BLKTANG - man, that's the exactly the blue I was looking for, but...today I made a 2 hour trip to my nearest LFS to get an XM 20k, and well, they only had XM 15k, so I thought, what the heck, I've driven this far, I guess I'll go with it. Got it home and turned it on and it had a horrible yellow hue, I'm talking 6700k yellow hue...anyway, I'm very dissapointed. Has anyone else had an experience with the XM 15k, or do I just have a skewed perception of color?