XM Metal Halide 10K

[LoneStar]

I'm looking at changing out my generic 250 watt halide 10k bulb I got when I bought my light on ebay to a better one. I've heard this is a good buld to use. What do ya'll think?? The tank is going to have zoos, clams, softies, and what not... There is also going to be 2 54 watt T5 actinic bulbs in there as well.

[::pete::]

That is my choice!

[NaCl_H2O]

I recently started using Hamilton 10Ks, and I really like them. I read somewhere that XMs maybe slighty less crisp than Hamilton. But, you can't beat the price on the XMs! Lots of folks use the XMs and I think are very happy with them ... maybe some others will chime in here.

[GaryP]

I wouldn't recommend T5 actinics. Most people that I know have been disappointed in their output and have gone back to VHO actinics.

[scuba_steveo]

what is you ballast?
plug your ballast into the web site below and check the ratings of the bulbs for your specific ballast.
http://www.reeflightinginfo.arvixe.com/selectperformancedata.php

[MikeyBoy]

do VHOs and not t5s...........you wont regret it..........hated the t5's........love my VHOs actinics.

[::pete::]

I have VHO's also with my 10K's

[scuba_steveo]

wait till you see don-n-sa's T5 tank. It is awesome. I think it depends on the type of T5 you get.
Anyway, he did not ask us how we feel about T5 but rather what bulb we like for a 250

[GaryP]

We give full service...

[NaCl_H2O]

We give full service...

Even if you don't want it :P

[hobogato]

I have a coralvue 10K and 2 XM 14K (all 250W) supplimented with PC Actinic. I am very happy with that combo. Someone I talked to who had an XM 10K said that he didn't like it because it was too yellow. My coralvue 10K is very white, with a little blue, but nowhere near as blue as the XM 14K's.

[ReefOne]

Here is a shot of the lighting. It's more white than the yellowish look in the picture. Also has a nice tint of blue thanks to the four VHO's. I had to fix some plumbing which is why the water level and canopy is off. Lighting consist of the following:
Icecap 250 MH E-ballast XM 10k
Coralvue 250 MH E-ballast XM10k
Icecap660 48" URI Super-R's(x4)


http://img260.imageshack.us/img260/9365/img58837yu.jpg

[jaded]

I like my T5's. They are the true blues* from wolfreef. From the other tanks I've seen I think Im getting plenty out of them and they were really the only bulb that would ahve fit in my canopy design

*true blues is my term... I cant remember the maker of the bulb but apparently there is a big difference between these and other T5 actincs

[LoneStar]

Yeah Jaded I got the the same T5's from WolfReef. When I bought my retro fit halide from Ebay it came with a Plus brand 10k bulb. At the time I didn't care but it's awfully yellow in color. I have 2 of the 36" Current actinic lights on the 37 now. When I get the light hood done for the 55 it will be the T5's from WR.

Wel anyway I borrowed a 250w 20k XM bulb from a friend to see how it will work and the color is nice just a lot of blue. I think I will have my mind made up this weekend once I install the T5's and halide in the canopy.

As for the T5's not performing well, I think its all in how you set them up and on what size tank you will be running. The 55 is not that wide and the bulbs run the whole length of the tank. I have metal reflectors for the bulbs and I have also painted the inside of the hood a brillant gloss white to help reflect any stray light down to the tank. So with all of that I think they will perform well with that setup. Add the halide and it should be a pretty nice combo. ;)

[bigdscobra]

Cant wait to see your 55g set up its going to be nice!! Hope you like the 20k ;) Should make a big difference over that POS bulb that you had. :lol

[GaryP]

Check out the spectrum on the XM-10K Mogul bulbs. A nice big spike at 420 nm, just where you want it. Its actually is better at 420 then the 20K bulb.

http://www.xmlighting.com/images/250w10kspectrumMogul.jpg

[LoneStar]

well that looks like the color i'd like to see gary :)

it might look good with the actinic t5's ^_^

[TexasTodd]

My only gripe on XM 10kk is the 400w SE's are VERY inconsistent. Some are nice blue white, others are very yellow. Many on RC have seen this too.

Steve has good advice as the all run differently on different ballasts. Study the chart.

I think I'm going to try the EVC14kk next. Still Chinese bulbs, but I have not heard people complain about variances. It is also right inbetween the AquaConnect 14kk and Radium 20kk on HQI ballasts for par and color. Plus they are in the $50's. www.oceanencounter.com

TT

[GaryP]

I'm using the XM on a tried and true PFO magnetic ballast. I know there are more energy efficient electronic ballast out there, but as far as performance is concerned they are hard, or even impossible, to beat.

[JimD]

Even the 250 watters are inconsistant, you may have to go through two or three to get a good one, so far Ive had to return a couple, but when you get a good one, theyre great! Im running mine off a CoralVue electronic ballast and to me, it looks much beter than on a PFO standard... Still like the Giesemann 13k's on an HQI too.

[dan]

i'm running 3-XM-400's 10k and 2-6foot vho attinic and like the color. is there anybody out there running the 15k XM's? sure would like to see the color rendition. i heard you can run these with no attinic.???????

[CD]

is there anybody out there running the 15k XM's? sure would like to see the color rendition. i heard you can run these with no attinic.???????


We are, and I've never been happier with the coloration of a bulb than I have on these. NO actinic supplimentation whatsoever, and the color is absolutely perfect. Corals and softies that used to have a yellowish-brown color in the 75G (XM 10ks) now POP with coloration. As far as growth - we are getting better growth with these 400W 15ks than we were with the XM 10ks! I love them!! :D

I think Chris posted a few pics when we first installed the 15ks - pics don't do them justice, as they take on a much bluer hue through the pics...to the eye they look to be a nice crisp white with a hint of blue. There have been a few people that have seen the tank in person, and they liked they way they looked.

W. :)

[hobogato]

I acually have a PC 10k supplimenting my XM 15K 250 watt to make those areas of the tank look more continuous with the center which is coralvue 10k 250 watt supplimented with PC actinic.

[hammondegge]

I'll throw in a vote for the XM 15k. I just switched from XM 10k last week so i dont know exactly what the bulb is going to burn into. Right now i am running it with one vho actinic (back) and one vho 10k (front) to give a little punch and i am loving it. the corals seem to agree as do the fish. Bonus, it is easier on my eyes. I can look at the tank longer. sometimes my eyes would get sore with the 10k.

[JimD]

Im suprized youre getting better growth with the 15k's opposed to the 10k's. All the reports Ive read, (Sanjay/JBNY and others) show the XM 15K to be averaging one third the output par of the 10k's of equal wattage. There have been reports of folks loving the color but switched back to 10k's plus actinics because growth was dramaticly reduced. Is it possible the old 10k's were so worn out the new 15k's were actually brighter and bumped up the growth? I just dont see how you can get better growth from a bulb with one third the output par, but thats just me.... :)

[gjuarez]

I agree, although I ahve no experience with them. What about the spectrum though, do you think maybe it caused the corals to grow a little. I do understand that they are supposed to grow faster in the 6.5k - 10k, but what if? Doubt it, but you never know.

[hammondegge]

yeh, dont know about growth yet.

[CD]

Is it possible the old 10k's were so worn out the new 15k's were actually brighter and bumped up the growth?


Nope - the XM 10ks were probably about 3 months old. We may end up supplimenting the two 15ks down the road, as there is a darker spot in the middle of the tank (mainly due to that THICK centerbrace) but I've been keeping lower light corals there anyway, so it's no big deal. Just to give you a "for instance", a green cap in the RH side of the tank has put on about an inch of growth in about a month's time...acros are developing branches, and looked VERY happy (right up until the point the acro mites started ticking them off). We're doing the Interceptor treatment (da "stuff" is in the tank) so I suspect after the bugs are gone, the acros that are left will take off again. I'll keep ya'll posted on growth rate if you're interested. I don't get impressed "that" easily, and I'm VERY happy with these lights so far. :D

W. :)

[gjuarez]

That is very good to hear Wendy. Next time I get a mh bulb it will be a 15k xm. I really like my corals to reflect nice colors so I may sacrifice some growth, if any, to bring out the best colors in corals. WHo knows, maybe they will like it even more and grow faster.