20K DEXM USERS BEWARE!!!!!

[Troy Valentine]

I've been using a 150watt DEXM bulb on my 60g corner reef aquarium for exactly one year. And for the past 4 months my tank's health has rapidly declined. Nuissance algae was taking over the entire system. I did multiple massive water changes, with no success. I checked the water coming out of my RO/DI and it was reading 6ppm. Tank chemisty was ideal also. so I've been racking my brain trying to figure this one out. At the expense of all of my corals I might add. Well I replace my bulb last week, and I noticed that the element casing had turned an orange/red hugh, and seemed to have changed the spectrum from white/blue to red.....In less than a year. (That explained the incredible algae growth) After I replaced the bulb the problem was corrected in about a week. So word of warning, check your DE XM bulbs for this red/orange hugh that forms on the element inside the bulb.

[TexasState]

Hi Troy,
What type of ballast are you using?

[Troy Valentine]

BlueLine E-ballast

[bumpintj24]

someone said that the blueline is an Icecap ballast inside, if thats the case, XM DE bulb dont work with Icecap ballast. I just got a package, Reef Optix III w/ 20K XM DE Bulb and Brand New Icecap Ballast only to find out that they are not compatible. If it fires, it's not getting full power, and not giving the full spectrum. Change the bulb. I also was given a used Ushio 10K and what a difference. The 20K looked extremely Dim. Just get a new bulb.

[Tim Marvin]

I had nothing but problems with DE/XM I use IceCap and Pulse start hqi/pfo ballast on them. There is one specific ballast made to work right with those XM's. I think if I remember right it was an M91 ballast..

[bumpintj24]

i read that they are meant to run on magnetic only.

[Shark_Bait]

I thought that the normal life span on a MH bulb was a year anyway. Thought all bulbs started to color shift around this time.