What do you think about the XM bulbs?

[corey lance]

If there better then why are they cheaper then the rest?

What bulbs do you think are the best?

Do you use XM bulbs?

Im thinking of switching to 2 250watt MH XM's.

Thanks Corey

[corey lance]

no one has them?

[Imaexpat2]

I dont know if XM bulbs are really any better, I just kinda took the halide plunge recently, so other than 250 6500k I havent tried any others until recently.

They are less expensive. I got 2 x 400 watt 10K halides. They are backed by 2 x 160 watt VHO 03 blue, and 4 x 32 watt PC 03 blue bulbs. This is enough to take the edge of the "arc welder" like white light. Were I to replace these bulbs I will probably get the 20k XM which I understand are more like 12-14k after burn in. Compared to the 6500K I like the 10K XM's much better as far as light color goes. I have had excellent growth from my SPS corals thus far. For example...my Red Montipora Capicornus which was .25 sized is now larger than a silver dollar after 3 months. Green Hydnopora is growing outta control. Would they grow better under a different bulb? Prehaps, but I aint made it that far yet. Not too many of the reefers on the Island have halides so its hard to check out something new and bulbs are too expensive for "experiments".

Just my thoughts. If there is something thats really better and still cost efficent I would sure like for someone to jump in here and sound off and let me know what the "real deal" is.

[corey lance]

Thanks for the reply.

So in the Xm bulbs a 10k is more like a normal 6.5k bulb?
I have 2 10k ushio I think thats how you spell it with 2 110vho bulbs and I like the way it looks will the 10k XM bulbs make it alot more white?

This ? is for anybody.
Thanks Corey

[dragon_slayer]

i've been using XM 20kk's for about 3 yrs now and the 10kk's sense before they were available to the public and i really like both.

the 10kk's are a very crisp white. the 20kk's are a deep water blue with a much lower par then the 10's.

i think you'll be happy with the 10kk's and your VHO's.

kc

[oncampus1]

I've been using 250W 10k XM's for several months now. While they're not quite as "blue" as I'd really like, they're not nearly as yellow as the 10K Ushios I had before. With 2x110W VHO actinics, they give a look that I'd call "white with a hint of blue".

Cost was a factor in my choice - I figured at that price I may as well give them a shot. They performed well and looked pretty good in the extensive testing that was done and posted on RC. Check out JBNY's thread in the equipment forum.

[Imaexpat2]

I did have one 10 month old or there abouts, 10k Ushio bulb and I think it is whiter than the 10k XM But not buy a whole lot. I personally think the 10K XM falls somewhere in the middle of the 6500K Iwasaki and the 10K Ushio, maybe a bit closer to the Ushio than the Iwasaki. But then again my "calibrated eye" might not be the most accurate and prehaps my water aint the most cyrstal clear either. Light color is a pretty subjective kinda thing too.

JMHO........

[Frick-n-Frags]

judge for yourself:

http://www.cnidarianreef.com/lamps.cfm

[corey lance]

Thanks everyone It is hard to tell from the pics but I would say the 10k XM look more white then the oshio 10k.
Thanks for the pics and reply's.

Im going to try the Xm 10k with my 110vho lights.

Does any one see more coral growth with the XM bulbs I was told the coral growth is great?

Thanks Corey

[don]

I have been using the 10K XM bulbs for about 10 months now and I have to say they are much brighter and whiter than any other bulb I have used. I am getting ready to go with the 20K XM now. I have found that even with the supplemental actinics, the 10k's seem to really wash out the color of my sps corals. I have some sps with really bright green polyps but they look brown with the 10k's. I guess it's just a matter of choice and what you are keeping but if you look at the pictures from the above link, you can clearly see that the colors of green and purple really POP with the 20k's versus the 10k's

JMO

Don

[dragon0196]

I have the XM 20ks and love the color they give off... Greens are extremely bright and seem to glow even when the actinics are off. Awesome waves of light shimmer on the sand bed too.... I just switched from the 10ks so I can't compare growth but it is a big improvement in appearance, IMO.

[CrystalAZ]

I currently use 10K XM with 2 actinic VHOs and it is bright white but I agree that the colors aren't what they could be. I am interested in trying 20Ks but don't want a dim blue look. If I changed my actinic VHOs to daylights with the 20Ks, how would that look?

Has anyone tried that?

Crystal

[Scott Pray]

I have been using 250W 20K XM's for six months now and I am very happy with the color and growth. I find that these bulbs are blue enough without actinic. Just my 2 cents worth.

[Soltaker]

I have 3, 250W 10K bulbs for my tank. I've had them for a few months now, and I am happy with them. :)

[corey lance]

The 10k and 2 110vho blue will still look white is what people are saying. I dont want corals to look brown but I also dont want my tank to look blue.
Do they make a 50/50 bulb 4 foot 110vho? how would that look with the 20k Xm bulbs?

Or just white vho with 20k xm bulbs?

I was told that the lower the K of the bulb the faster the sps corals will grow is this true?

Thanks Corey

[corey lance]

If you guys with the XM bulbs could post pics that would be great.

[dragon_slayer]

the 10kk's arent going to give you browned out corals. the 20kk's are going to make your tank look blue.

they do make 50/50 VHO's that size and yes you do get better growth at lower K's with better coloration at higher.


ther are pics of my 180 in my gallery and it has 20kk only lighting.
there is a pic of the lighting as well.

kc

[Loudz34]

I have the 400w 20ks and they are nice (not bright enough personally).. Corals color up nice~ probably due to the mix of lighting ( also supp with 2- Aquasun vho's and 2- Atinic o3 vho's.) Next time round I think i am going to go with 3-20k's (400w) and 2- 10k's (250w) in between the 20's..... Pic~ Look in my gallery...

http://reefcentral.com/gallery/data/500/27562tankdown-med.jpg

http://reefcentral.com/gallery/data/500/27562shotgun-med.jpg

[dgasmd]

dragon_slayer:

Given you say you ahve been using the XM for 3 years, what do you consider to be their max longevity? Ushios go 1 year, radiums go 5-6 months, and iwasaki go 2 years. What about XM 10000K? They haven't really been in the market for a year yet, or maybe just that, so how did you get to use them for 2 years before that??

[dragon_slayer]

i have used the 20KK's for 3 yrs (reread the post) and they last about a year before they start to loose allot of the par.

the 10kk's i got in june of 03, they didnt become available to the public till late aug 03. i've had them running for about 9 months now and they are still as doing great.

kc

[thedude]

I use 20k XM's at 175w and I like them. I switched in a 10k XM for a few days and didn't care for the yellow.

One comment to make on the pictures you see is that they look much bluer than they really are. I've taken pictures of my reef, and it looks different in the pic than it does when looking at it.

[corey lance]

Thanks everybody.

So what would you do I need 2 250watt MH AND 2 Vho's?

I have oshio 10K's for the MH and blue Vho's. I like the color
so will it look about the same with 2 XM 10k's and blue vho's as it did before or not?

Thanks

[corey lance]

Hey Thedude you used the 10k's with no VHO lights right?

[corey lance]

One more?

will the XM bulbs make my corals grow faster or not?
I have oshio bulbs what if they are the same k and watt will the XM still make them grow faster?
Thanks

[sean2sean]

if you want coral growth... go with a lower number.... like 6500k....

if you want appearance... then go with higher number... like 20,000k...

[marinerules]

will 20 ks have the effect of the 10ks when people walk in and look at you and go , WOW , those are some bright lights

or are 20ks really dim ?


IM wanting 20 i , or i think im going to go with 20k becaseu ive heard too many complaints about the 10s having just au hint of yellow , I DOTN WANT a hint of yellow

[sean2sean]

well... when ppl see my tank... they will go... damn... thats bright...

but i have 400 watts of mh plus 150 watt of vho actinics on... on a 20 gallon...

my next bulb will be a 20 k still... i like how they make the corals look.

[Aaron1100us]

I have the 400w 20k XM on my 29 gallon tank and dual 250w 10k XM on my 75. The 20k is alot bluer and duller looking but I like it for the 29 gallon. The 10k just look awsome.

[marinerules]

do the 10 ks produce a yellow tint though

this is what im not understanding ,
people are saying they dont like the yellow tint
and then you have one or two people saying they are crisp white with a light hue of blue

IM WANTING soemthing bright , that stands out when you look at it , as well as makes my fish look really pretty

[Aaron1100us]

No hint of blue at all. Crisp bright white light. This pic isn't good because my camera couldn't compensate for the bright light but it gives you an idea of the color. The VHO antinics are also on.
http://reefcentral.com/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=33216&papass=&sort=1&thecat=500

[marinerules]

so it would probably be better off for me to get the 20 k i guess


its just i dotn want such a deep color of blue , that its not bright or gives shimmer lines

[thedude]

Corey,
I have 2 t5 actinics, I forget the wattage, that do sunrise and sunset, but are off the rest of the day.

I only ran the 10k bulb for a few days. I had it next to a 20k and liked the 20k better.

[dragon_slayer]

IMO the people with the 'yellow tint' with the 10KK's have yellowed water or a bad ballast.

the 20KK's are plenty bright enough and provide better shimmer lines then the 10KK's IME. my 180g has 1300w of 20KK's and everyone in the neighborhood asks what is the glow coming from my house.

kc

[reefingagain]

aaron - that is bright !!! - for a 250W looks more like 1000W
which ballast are you using

[carter92]

I disagree, certain bulbs give off a yellow tint...I had 250 watt 10k AB's.....but was forced to switch to 250 watt 20k XM's....boy what a difference....I left 2 of the previous 10K on one side of my 225 gallon Reef and the 20K XM's on the other side...2 a piece..total of 4 bulbs and the difference was unmistakable..Yellow on one side...Blu/Wht on the other.....Just my 2 cents...

[fishome25]

what about supplementing the 20k with vho 50/50 or 10k? anyone try this?

[Aaron1100us]

My 400w 20k is running of a Blue Wave ballast. Its bright, just not 400w of bright IMO.
The dual 250w 10k are running of a PFO ballast with PFO reflector. If I open the hood and turn the lights on so they are pointing towards the living room, they light up the whole front of the apartment in the middle of the night like its in 12 noon and the blinds are all open. What a difference. I guess those are also a total of 500w compared to the 400w of the single MH. Hmmm. I've got pics of my 400w along with the other in my gallery.

[marinerules]

ok


by this thread here are the pros and cons to me

10ks ,
good bright light,
good price
shimmer

bads
too many people sayign they have a yellow tint,


20 ks
a little blue, better shimmering,
still as bright

IM GOIGN WITH THE 20 Ks

[thedude]

I though the 10k XM's (and others) had a yellowish tint. And it isn't my water.

[corey lance]

MY ? is will the xm bulbs grow coral faster then the oshio bulbs I was told by some one they change bulb brands and the xm growed the corals faster.
Is this true?

Thanks the dude and everyone else
Corey

[fishome25]

I have 3 175 xm 20k for sale used 1 week. $54 each. Buy all 3 and I'll pay the shipping.

[flyin2jz]

I had the 10k bulbs in 400 watt and personally thought they were still yellowish even with 3 6ft vho actinics on the tank. I bought the 20k ones and love them and still get good growth in my all sps tank. I shoulda went with these years ago.

[Imaexpat2]

My 400 watt 10K XM's are arc welding white even with 320 watts of actinic VHO and 192 watts of PC actinic blue!

The 10Ks are retnia frying white!!!

I am switching to 20K's in the near future and running VHO day Lights instead of actinics becuase while I dont mind a touch of blue I dont care for the washed in blue look of 20Ks only. I have seen several tanks with 20Ks and they look more like the German/European 12-14K bulbs than 20Ks

I would send a digital pick unfortunately the soft ware for my camera is not compatable with MS XP nad I havent found an software patch yet to fix this.

Wanna bright white tank....10K XM's will give you that unless you have a ton of actinc lights backing them up. Wanna a little blue go 20K with daylight VHO's.

[dragon_slayer]

Originally posted by flyin2jz
I had the 10k bulbs in 400 watt and personally thought they were still yellowish even with 3 6ft vho actinic's on the tank.

I'm glad I had not read that posting or any others like it because last week I ordered all 10kk bulbs and VHO actinic to replace the 20kks on my 180g system, they came in yesterday and I installed them last night.

I disagree with the yellow look, two of the bulbs (the 10kks) (the two middle ones) are 10 months old burning off my other tank and the two on the outsides are new. the well burned in ones are a very bright white still and the two new ones have a slight blue tint to them (haven't burn in yet).

below are Before/After pics of the canopy lighting. the tank now has a very Bright Crisp white look with a definite tint of URI super actinic (more pics of the tank to come later), i like it better then i did the 20kks.

kc

Before
http://reefcentral.com/gallery/data/580/29872MH.JPG


After
http://reefcentral.com/gallery/data/580/29872250w_10kk_xm_VHO_actinic-med.JPG

[FishhyRen]

I have dual 175W MH on my 55G tank--
I have the Ushio 10Ks on one side and the XM10Ks on the other....
I really can't see much of a difference at all, and growth on both sides of the tank seems about even...

It was cheaper though so I don't mind if they look the same. :)

[corey lance]

Thanks every body I might just get the xm bulbs 10k with my vho lights.

My ? now is do they look differnt then the oshio bulbs or what. both 10k how do they look because the xm bulbs are cheaper.
Thanks Corey