Slightly bluer than XM 10k

[law086]

Hi folks,

It's about time for new bulbs. I'm currently running 175w XM 10k bulbs w/ actinic VHOs. I like the color - it's a nice crisp white and I hear the XM 10k's have a good PAR rating.

I'm looking for a suggestion for a bulb that would be just slightly bluer while maintaining a comparable PAR rating. I don't want anything drastic, but figured it's time I try a slightly bluer bulb to see how I'd like it.

I'm running a Hamilton magantic ballast if that matter for bulb selection.

Thanks!
Ron

[cyberdude47]

Thata a hard one it's hard to compete with the XM's for intensity, and stay bluer. Xm 10k with magnetec ballasts come out at about 11.5 K which is pretty blue. What I suggest is farting around with Sanjays site to find a lamp thats comparible then posting to find opinions from people that are using the chosen lamp. When using sanjays site to comapare intensity use the PPFD results (photosynthetic photon flux density) for true underwater intensity measurement, Par really isn't as an important figure as people make it out to be.

[chriscobb]

I'm running XM 10k's and don't find them blue by any means....I've only been running them 2 months on PFO magnetic ballasts and seriously considering a swap myself for better coloration.....

[TrojanScott]

I was running the Xm 10k's for awhile, (250W) and switched to Hamilton 14k's. The color is a lot nicer, IMO. Yes, I give up a little par, but I'm in no hurry for everything to outgrow my tank!

[aclos3]

I love my hamilton 14k (on an EVC electronic ballast), but I think it is quite a bit bluer than the XM 10k. From what I have seen, the phoenix 14 is even bluer than the hamilton 14k, so that may be your best shot.

[Flyfisherman]

XM 10K's are sunny. I threw a Phoenix 14K 150WDE on my tank and I couldn't believe the difference. Opened up a new world in my reef. I'm very happy.

[RoscoPColtrane]

coralvue reeflux 10Ks...

[MinibowMatt]

I just picked up and burned in a pair of the xm10k's, and I also find them a little too white. I had xm15k and wanted more growth. I dont really like the amount of coloration I lost when switching. I think I will be looking to Hamilton 14k's.
BTW- the xm15 are blue, but crappy par.

[cotter4601]

Are you guys using the xm10k's with actinic supplementation? I'm thinking about getting the xm10k's myself, but will be using 2 vho actinics.

[AZDesertRat]

I have been using 2 x XM 10K 250w with 2 x 140w VHO super actinics for the last couple of years and really like the color and the growth is tremendous. I am going to try the Reeflux 12K for my next bulbs to try a get just a touch more blue color without being too blue. If the bulbs are too much I may switch one of the VHOs to a actinic day or 50/50 to offset the color. Does this sound like a plan???


http://i51.photobucket.com/albums/f369/AJOIII/2006_6_21034.jpg


http://i51.photobucket.com/albums/f369/AJOIII/2006_08_23011.jpg

[cotter4601]

Sounds like a plan to me. I can't wait to see what it is going to look like on my tank. I can only afford one MH ballast and bulb so I will have to move some corals.

[Froggy]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8991934#post8991934 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by law086
Hi folks,

It's about time for new bulbs. I'm currently running 175w XM 10k bulbs w/ actinic VHOs. I like the color - it's a nice crisp white and I hear the XM 10k's have a good PAR rating.

I'm looking for a suggestion for a bulb that would be just slightly bluer while maintaining a comparable PAR rating. I don't want anything drastic, but figured it's time I try a slightly bluer bulb to see how I'd like it.

I'm running a Hamilton magantic ballast if that matter for bulb selection.

Thanks!
Ron

If your needs are 175 watters, I am surprised no one has mentioned the Iwasaki 15 K bulb yet. On a magnetic ballast it runs at 71 PPFD ( PAR) and it's color temp is is at 15215.

The XM 10 k is 62 PPFD (PAR) and has a color temp of 10179. So the Iwasaki is bluer and also more intense than the XM on a magnetic ballast.

On an electronic ballast the Iwasaki is 86 PPFD (PAR) with a slightly whiter 14500 color temp.

If you switched to the Iwasaki, you would get a bluer bulb (although it looks very white to the eye and not bluish) as well as increase your bulb intensity a bit on the magnetic ballast.

[TrojanScott]

I was using two VHO's on my tank (140W ea) but to me, wasn't enough for my 180. For 100 gallons, probably looks great, but it didn't on my 180. Now I use the same VHOs and the Hamiltons. I like the blue tint.

[piscivorous]

Quite some time ago someone had pictures of a tank comparing a bunch of different bulbs...anyone have a link to that post?? It showed the XM 10k, Hamilton 14K etc. etc. I was going to go with the XM10Ks myself with actinic supplementation....if there was something just a TOUCH bluer...it might be nice though.....at the price of bulbs it gets pretty expensive just guessing what might be nicer....

[Ti]

hamilton 14K would be a good change of pace, but less par.
As long as growth isn't much of a concern, the hammy 14k would b a good choice.

[AZDesertRat]

piscivorous,
Check out the very first sticky at the top of this forum, it has the link to the pictures and webiste Sanjay put together.

[Duce]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8995067#post8995067 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Froggy
If your needs are 175 watters, I am surprised no one has mentioned the Iwasaki 15 K bulb yet. On a magnetic ballast it runs at 71 PPFD ( PAR) and it's color temp is is at 15215.

The XM 10 k is 62 PPFD (PAR) and has a color temp of 10179. So the Iwasaki is bluer and also more intense than the XM on a magnetic ballast.

On an electronic ballast the Iwasaki is 86 PPFD (PAR) with a slightly whiter 14500 color temp.

If you switched to the Iwasaki, you would get a bluer bulb (although it looks very white to the eye and not bluish) as well as increase your bulb intensity a bit on the magnetic ballast.

Thanks.
I am a 175er and don't like the new XM 10K I got...was thinking of trying Hamilton 14K but now there is somehting else I can consider.

[Froggy]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8995715#post8995715 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Duce
Thanks.
I am a 175er and don't like the new XM 10K I got...was thinking of trying Hamilton 14K but now there is somehting else I can consider.

Your welcome. I am also a 175 watt user and have finally found a bulb I like as I just switched to the Iwasaki about a month ago. I have used Hamilton 10 K, Hamilton 14 K, and Coralvue 10 K Reeflux prior to trying the Iwasaki's. The Iwasaki's are my favorite and cannot be beat by any other 175 watt bulb as far as intensity. On electronic ballasts, the 175 watt Iwasaki also tops several popular 250 watt halides on the market. If you have not seen this lighting page, it is a great resource to check on possble bulb choices. You can compare different bulbs based on bulb and ballast. Here is the link

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

[piscivorous]

That article looks like it has a lot of in-depth information...however I don't think it was the one I was thinking of...the one I was thinking of actually had side-by-side photographs of a tank with the different lighting setups....you could actually see the different colors from the different bulbs when pictured side by side. Spectral analysis and charts don't help me too much when I am just trying to go with what actually looks good to my eye.(though I am sure it is very helpful if you are trying to find different values of light put out by different bulbs).

[Froggy]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8996118#post8996118 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by piscivorous
That article looks like it has a lot of in-depth information...however I don't think it was the one I was thinking of...the one I was thinking of actually had side-by-side photographs of a tank with the different lighting setups....you could actually see the different colors from the different bulbs when pictured side by side. Spectral analysis and charts don't help me too much when I am just trying to go with what actually looks good to my eye.(though I am sure it is very helpful if you are trying to find different values of light put out by different bulbs).

This might be the one you are thinking of. Just click on the 250 watt metal halide testing link on the homepage and scroll to the bottom to see the comparison pics between bulbs. Keep in mind that pictures you see on a PC may not be what you are getting to the naked eye. Here is the link

http://www.cnidarianreef.com/

[jag1979]

the aquaconnect 14k looks great, who sells them?

[jefathome]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8994626#post8994626 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by cotter4601
Are you guys using the xm10k's with actinic supplementation? I'm thinking about getting the xm10k's myself, but will be using 2 vho actinics.

I have the XM 10K along with:

1 96w 50/50 Comp Fl.
1 96w Actinic
1 40w Actinic T5
1 40w blue T5

Im not sure how these compare to a VHO Actinic, but I still have pretty much a "white" tank. Without the supplementation, I'd say the XM 10K is more vellow than other 10K's.
Personally, I'm goign to keep it for the growth till it wears out(another 5-6mo), and then go to a 14k'ish bulb.

[AZDesertRat]

My first two sets of bulbs were Ushio 10k and they were way yellow compared to the XM 10k. I don't know if you guys have experimented with the nipple position on your SE bulbs but I found a 2 to 3 o'clock position gave the most blue color while the noon to 1 o'clock position was pretty yellow.

[tonym10]

I had xm10k 175 watt with actinic VHO supplement. It was time to change them so i tried Ushio 14k , I liked them but one worked and one didnt so I replaced the one that didnt work with Iwasaki 14k , I love the Iwasaki. I have the ushio and Iwasaki side by side in my 75g now. The Iwasaki is brighter, the colors seem the same, both very nice.

[fisher99]

I think marine depot has some pics under their lighting section.

[law086]

Wow - thanks for all the replies.

Quick question - on sanjay's web site, he has two magentic ballast's listed. M57 and M137. Which ballast do the Hamilton lighting fixtures come with? There's no markings on my ballast case.

Thanks!
Ron

[mg426]

Heres my 125 Running hamilron 14ks

http://i38.photobucket.com/albums/e137/mg426/fishtank001.jpg

http://i38.photobucket.com/albums/e137/mg426/DSCF1048.jpg

[chriscobb]

I'm running 250w XM 10k's with 4 72" URI vho's and still stark white IMO.......AZDesertRat could you explain or show what your referring to about the nipple position of the bulb?

[AZDesertRat]

Inside the single ended bulbs there is a small glass envelope that contains a liquid metal similar to a mercury bubble. On this envelope is a small nipple that protrudes out the side approx 1/8 to 1.4". Turn the bulb in its socket so this nipple is in a different position and the bulb changes colors. Don't aske me why but it works and is well known. I experimented with mine over a couple day periodand found when that nipple is at about 2 o'clock the bulb has the bluest coloration. At some positions its pee yellow. If the bulb seems tight or loose, disconnect the power from you lights and pry the tab down inside the socket up or down so it still makes contact with the end of the bulb.

[chriscobb]

Thanks AZDesertRat....I'll have to check that out in the morning......