XM 10k & XM 20k 400 watt

[Jimnorris]

Alot of you have seen my tank which is mostly powered by XM 400 watt 20,000k bulbs (six of them). I don't know if there is anybody else like me out there but I am ALWAYS doing more to the tank!!!!
So I just got one XM 10,000k 400 watt bulb in and WOW, WOW and WOW!.
Now mind you I installed the 10k right in the middle of two 20ks on the right side of the tank.
So looking down at the tank which is 8 feet long.

XM20k----XM20k----XM20k center brace XM20k----XM10k----XM20k

Here are some pictures.
Also the 20k bulbs are now 10 months old and the 10k bulb is 15 minutes old.
What do you think????
Jim
this picture is the left side of the tank with one 20k on.

[Jimnorris]

right side of the tank with one 10k on

[Jimnorris]

the tank with one 20k and one 10k on

[Jimnorris]

10k bulb

[Jimnorris]

20k bulb

[Jimnorris]

Now the left side of the tank with three 20k lights on

[Jimnorris]

Right side of the tank with one 20k the one 10k and then one 20k on

[Jimnorris]

whole tank

[shellback]

Sorry Jim but the 10k looks to white with this spectrum might hurt my eyes after a while but then again each to his own. Still love your tank though. :-D

[Jimnorris]

Last picture of three bulbs can you see the 10k?

I like it!
Jim

[TAXMAN]

Very nice tank Jim. I have no words. But I like it either way. I prefer the whiter light myself in most tanks, but yours is the 1st I have seen with 20k's that I actually like. Thay are usually too blue for my taste. But not yours. You have enough color in the tank to kep your focus on the livestock more than the Water/Lighting color. Very nice.

[robertpower3]

I think it looks much better with the white light instead of it being so blue. It looks a little white right now but when you change your 20k xm I think it will be perfect. Just my 2 cents. :D BTW they are 10 months old right, when do you usually change them.

[SueT]

Jim, WOW, just the kind of info I need to further confuse me about my lighting. LOL.. I have been known to not appreciate the too blue lighting but mixing the 10K's in is great. I can also say I like these 20K's in the XM brand. I do love the way it enhances your reef as if it needed any enhancing. Looks great and I do like the mix of a 10K here and there.

[Yano]

How many gallon is that beast?

[adamRS80]

Do you expect the same growth with the 10K's? I'm about to be changing mine maybe I should jump on the bandwagon. I prefer a whiter look as well but was under the impression that th coral really colored up well with the 20k XM.

[Jimnorris]

240 gallon (Texas nano!)
I think I am currently one of the few who has had the XM bulbs (20k) for along time. IMO I think replacement is one year.
I will be putting one 10k on the left side. I really like the color of the light mixing the two.
So far the only noticable change has been the clams. They seen to have welcome the 10k light with open mantle ;)
Jim

[dan]

jim :i have seen many tanks and yours is the best i have ever seen in my life!!!! the first time i saw your tank i walked around the corner,i looked at my freind and said ''o my god this is unbleivable''if my tank ever looked 1/2 that good i'd be happy. the pics. looks great.lighting looks great also.
DAN

[Jimnorris]

Thank you. I do have fun with it. It is a source of much enjoyment.
Jim

[R.Allard]

I love the mix Jim.
I just got all my lights in for the new 150 (Nano) as you call it
and this is the way i have it set up.

250w 20k XM, 250w 10k ushio, center brace, 250w 10k usio,
250w 20k XM.

i like the color mix between the 20K XM and the ushio 10ks

BTW your tank still looks Awsome ;)
Robert

[Jimnorris]

Robert,
Like your style! Can we get some pictures of the 250 combo?
Jim

[Bigreefer]

I have 2 250 10k usio supplemented with 4 96W antics. It has a really good color. The clams and frags are growing fast! I'm thinking about reversing that next year just to see the SPS color difference.

Jason

[R.Allard]

as soon as i get water in the tank lol!! im still waiting for a pump to get here and a few other things. IM NICKIN TO GET WATER IN THE TANK THOUGH!!!
Robert

[Jimnorris]

Just thought I update everyone. My Hellolights care package just arrived with my second 400 XM 10,000k bulb. It is now install on the left side of the tank.

20kXM---10kXM---20kXM---center brace---20kXM---10kXM---20kXM

This will now fire up tomorrow!!!!

Pictures tomorrow!
Jim

[SueT]

I'm in line to see these pics, Jim!!!!!

[Jimnorris]

picture with just 20,000ks on.

[Jimnorris]

Warning you may need to put dark sunglasses on!

With two 10,000ks in the middle on.

I like it!

[Henry]

Wow Jim looks great. Did you get you fish some of those dark sunglasses!

[manny]

Thats pretty sweet Jim. They need to come out with a 50/50 20K/10K bulb :D

[R.Allard]

AWSOME! i love the mix!!! btw i should have water in my tank by this week (crossing fingers)
if all goes well :-D

[PeeJ]

you have an awesome tank. i hear great things about you.

heres a question...i have 520 watts of PC lights on my 75....8 bulbs total

4 are actinic and 4 are 10k.

what if i replace all 8 of the bulbs with 20ks? which setup will give me greater overall output (par value?) i like the look of the 20k.

would have all 20ks lookin similar to having 10k with actinic?

thanks for all the help!.

[brewercm]

Has anyone checked the difference between look of the 20K radiums and the XM20K bulbs.
Just curious.

[technomex]

Incredible tank Jim! IMO, the 10K-20K mix looks great. I was considering adding a 10K bulb between my 400W 20K's. Thanks for helping me make up my mind.

[manny]

Hey brewer, check out this site that Robert posted awhile back: http://www.cnidarianreef.com/lamps.cfm

[Jimnorris]

I ran a 400 watt radium and a 400 watt XM 20,000k bulb side by side for awhile. I notice the XM was way more intense as far as brightness. Also to me it was alittle less blue. And burns whiter as time goes by. The XM also last twice as long!!!!
Jim

[Jimnorris]

PeeJ,
Hello and Thanks!
Are you thinking of replacing all bulbs (PCs) and making them actinic?
Jim

[wkopplin]

Jim,

I know everyone says this to you, but these are the first pics I have seen of your tank and you have done a very nice job on it. That is what I want my tank to eventually look like. I am very impressed. That is one of the nicest setups I have seen.

Have you posted anywhere regarding your setup, filtration, sump size, fuge, equipment, etc? If so, I would love to see it.

Blake

[Jimnorris]

Blake,
Thanks. I need to update my website www.tanku.net on some of my new EQ---sump, SQWDs, and most impressive protien skimmer made by our own member Matt!
I have some good pictures of my corals there and the gallery here.
Jim

[wkopplin]

Nice site! I learn more by looking at people's tanks and setups than I do by reading. I think I did a pretty good job on my 55 and feel like I am ready for the 215. I want to do it right and have gotten lots of good ideas from everybody on this site. The two things I have learned in this hobby is that there is more than one way to do things and if you are trying to decide between a cheap way and an expensive way, take the expensive way because it will end up costing less by the time you have to re-do the cheap way three times.

ps I like the 10K mix you have going there. Looks great.

[PeeJ]

Jim....I was thinkin of replacing all of them with all 20k. Instead of having half 10k and half actinic. what do you think?

[SueT]

Jim, I really like the look you have goin' on the tank now. I know we talked about these lights when you were over. Remind me what ballasts you are running the XM's on. I got the itch to sell my 250w stuff and do the 400w'ers.

[Jimnorris]

Sue,
I am running plain old PFO dual 400 watt ballasts (three of them). I am most happy with the way it looks!
Jim

[Jimnorris]

Peej,
IMO I think would be TOO much blue. But it would be cool to see a tank with that many actinic PCS on them. Sometimes one just has to try.
Jim

[Jimnorris]

Now the real test of the XM 10,000k bulb is about to happen. JimD picked one up from me. His eyes are WAY keener than mine!!!! All kidding aside if JimD likes it there is NOTHING better! He does have a much better eye than I. He has help me numerous times over the years with things.
So lets wait and see what he has to say!!!
JimN

[GaryP]

Jim,

I would be very interested in hearing your long term results on your growth rates of your SPS under the 20K's. I recently changed bulbs from Iwasaki 6.5K to Blueline 10K. I think the Blueline's may actually be closer to 14K. While the color is great my growth rate has ground almost to a halt. My understanding is that Iwasaki's are famous for the growth rate. I'm looking to change bulbs again in the near future. I know you were getting tremendous growth rate with your previous light set-up. Please keep us updated.

Gary

[PeeJ]

thanks a lot for the responses. i guess im going to buy 8 bulbs from somwhere who will take them back if it turns out not as well.

thanks again!!!

[JimD]

Initial observation,
Ive had my eye on this lamp for some time now so,
I replaced a 4 month old 400W Ushio with a new 10K XM yesterday, This morning it really showed its true colors, the lamp is a crisp white on its own, with the addition of 145W of actinics its quite amazing, very nice rich color with a perfect blend of white and blue with absolutly zero yellow. The intensity of this lamp is imo far superior to the Ushio without a doubt. You really have to see it to appreciate it, Ill try to get Jim to post a few pics so you get an idea of how this lamp looks as a main lighting source.... all in all, Id say for the bucks, its probably the best 400W 10K SE lamp available, at least for right now.......
Jim

[witecap4u]

Its good to hear all the great feedback as I've been eyeing this bulb since it was listed on Hellolights, and to top if off, one of my 20K ushio's didnt fire yesterday, so I think its about time to switch.

cs