Ushio Lamps?

[alton]

Does anybody have any experience with these lamps? Are the 10k similer to XM. All I have heard about XM is great things but they are made for Mag ballast, I am looking for a match for Electronic. I have seen the test, I am just looking for individual use or personel thoughts?

[brewercm]

I used the XMs on electronic ballast without a problem. Matter of fact they put off a nice hint of blue. Can't compare the two though because I've never used the Ushios.

[hobogato]

i run 2 - 15k xm bulbs - two on mag. ballast and one on electric. once they are all warmed up, i cant tell a difference.

[alton]

Thanks for the information. Looks like I will be using XM. hobogato do you like your 15k lamps? Benefits? Negatives?

[hobogato]

yep. they were too blue on the 125gal., but they were only 7 inches above the water. now, in the 240, i have them about 11" above the water, and they are just right. I run them with about 300 watts of actinic PC, 180 watts of 50/50 PC and 70 LED blue moonlights for suppliment. here's a link to the full tank shot in my gallery

http://www.maast.org/modules.php?set_albumName=hobogato&id=fulltankday& op=modload&name=gallery&file=index&include=view_ph oto.php

[alton]

Thanks for the additional info and very nice tank!

[hobogato]

thanks - as always, a work in progress.

[matt]

I switched from the Ushio 10k to XM 10k and the XM definitely seemed more intense, with very similar visible color. But, at that time anyhow, I think the quality control on the ushios was better. I had to go through a couple of XM bulbs until I got two that matched up well.

[Reef69]

I want to switch from coralvue to XM..should i expect a difference?

[JimD]

I have to agree with matt on the XM quality control issue. I had a few that only lasted about three months till they went yellow, fortunately, to their credit, XM replaced them free of charge. It seems their quality cntrol has gotten better within the last year.
What kind of ballast will you be firing them with R69?

[Reef69]

Coralvue 250 watt. electronic ballasts.

[JimD]

Thats probaly the best choice for the xm's, blows the magnetic ballasts away, that along with vho actinics is in my opinion the crispest lighting combination out there. Youre gonna like that settup. Your corals are gonna love it too.

[Reef69]

Thanks for the advice Jim, im hoping it will bring better coloration to my corals. I would be running them with super actinic VHOs..

[Richard]

I want to switch from coralvue to XM..should i expect a difference?


I did and have not seen any change. Probably will go back to cv 14k since I like the way those looked better. But the xm 10K's are nice too.

I've used in this order...
Ushio 10k's
then CV14K's
then 2 xm 20K's and two cv 14k's
then cv 10k's
now xm 10k's

Ushio's were good bulbs but too yellow for me. I liked the xm 20k's but it seemed to me that they did not hold there spectrum very long. The cv 10k's looked pretty good only problem was 2 acros bleached when I switched. One came back one did not. All things considered I think I liked the 14k's the best. Never saw any real change in coloration with any of those. I use VHO actinics with all the halides.

[NaCl_H2O]

I used Ushio 10Ks on mag ballasts and they quit firing after awhile. Premium states thta newer Ushio's really require Pulse start ballasts. I switched to Hamilton 10Ks and like them fine, I believe they are a bit "whiter" than the XMs. Also ran a Hamilton 10K on an electronic ballast and couldn't tell any difference against my standard mag ballasts. I supliment with URI VHO Actinics.

[hammondegge]

hmmm, i just switched from xm 10k to ushio 10k and found the ushios much whiter, go figure. this is 175w mag ballast btw

[hobogato]

posted this in another thread too

i know this is about the reeflux 10k bulb, but i thought id post a comparison pic of my 4 month old XM 15k and my new CV (regular) 14k. just as much if not more color with the CV and considerably brighter. BTW, changed because i have had 2 of the 3 XM bulbs i bought 5 months ago crack or just quit working. just cant afford to replace bulbs that often!