XM 10k's are yellow?

Theo A · 08/09/2008, 01:00 AM

I bought 3 bulbs, 2 out of the 3 are yellow.

I'm running M58 ballasts. XM said they would swap out 2 of the bulbs, so I bought another one. This one isn't quite as yellow as the other 2, but still yellow none the less.

I've swapped ballasts, the white bulb stays white, the other 3 now are still yellow.

One person suggested that I switch the e-ballasts and they would all burn white like the one in the picture.

I've made sure the nipple on the glass is horizontal, not vertical. Doesn't seem to help. Bulbs all have about 3 weeks on them, except the white one which has 6.

I could add actinics, but thats just masking the problem. Besides, I don't have room as I'm running lumenarc reflectors in the canopy.

Is this how XM 10k's burn.....like a 6500k iwaski?

woodycb · 08/09/2008, 04:33 AM

I had the XM 10K's for awhile and did not like them either. I was running 250W with a magnetic ballast. I switched to 14K Hamiltons and what a big difference. You dont even have to supplement actinics with them.

Creetin · 08/09/2008, 05:50 AM

Whoa!!! I have been runnin XM 1ok's for years and never seen a yellow one. What brand ballasts, and specs? I ran mine off pfo mag ballasts.

GSMguy · 08/09/2008, 07:52 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Creetin
Whoa!!! I have been runnin XM 1ok's for years and never seen a yellow one. What brand ballasts, and specs? I ran mine off pfo mag ballasts.

I have never seen one that was not yellow, unless they used 600watts of VHO actinic

anemoneguy · 08/09/2008, 08:09 AM

i am running 2 on icecap ballasts. no yellow at all. sanjays testing is what i went off of when deciding. the xm 10k 250 showed up as almost a 12k with great par on the icecap. im going to switch to ushio next time. i was running de bulbs, and theirs is nice, so im hoping the se will follow. i just dont seem to get enough white for my liking on the xms. all my corals are doing great with them though, and have very good color. i just installed a reto t5 for some atinic, but cant really see it when halides are on. just the dusk, and dawn before and after halides. they are at same level as my pendants(lumenmaxII) , and center bulb is an xm 400 watt 20k. so id say xm is a good bulb, but its real funny how the different ballasts will make the look.

mm949 · 08/09/2008, 08:58 AM

are your nipples pointing up....???

45commando · 08/09/2008, 10:02 AM

I did have the same issue with some XM 10K's a couple of years back(I still run XM's now).First off,have you tried switching the yellow bulbs to the ballast that is firing the white bulb & vice versa?In my situation(I use different brands of standard magnetic ballasts)I found that the new bulbs were frying the capacitor in one of the ballasts.This still allowed the bulb to light,but it was very yellow & more dull,than the bulb on the other ballast.Whenever I replace my XM's now,I have to break in each bulb on just one of the ballasts,then after a few weeks it can be moved to the other ballast.
I have always heard & from my own experience,found that the glass nipple should be vertical for the best color/output.I have found that adjusting the bulb slightly can cause it to give off a different color.
Lastly,it is possible you've just be given bulbs from a bad batch.HTH.

Theo A · 08/09/2008, 10:33 AM

I've swapped all the bulbs around to different ballasts....the white bulb remains white, the others remain yellow.

Nipples are horizontal, I searched and found that was the right spot. I can try them vertical as well. You would think XM might provide this info for their bulbs.

45commando · 08/09/2008, 08:29 PM

Hi,not sure where you got the info about the nipples being horizontal to the water surface-I'm not saying you're wrong,but everything I've been told is to have the nipple pointing up.(like I said in earlier post,I found that just rotating the bulb a few degrees,made a big difference)If you've tried this & still not happy,then I would say return the bulbs,as it appears you have received bad bulbs.HTH

REEFY1 · 08/09/2008, 10:17 PM

mine are perfect 250's SE on a Icecap E Ballast- LOVE THEM !!!

Theo A · 08/10/2008, 04:23 PM

I'll swap them around tonight and see what happens tomorrow. (the nipples)

aquadog11 · 08/11/2008, 12:49 AM

I ran them on PFO magnetic for 2 years.
Crisp white and great growth.
I had that happen with ushio lights 3 times that were 10K
Bought from hello lights.
Called them about it.
My loss

08/09/2008, 01:00 AM	#1
Theo A Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: USA Posts: 337	XM 10k's are yellow? I bought 3 bulbs, 2 out of the 3 are yellow. I'm running M58 ballasts. XM said they would swap out 2 of the bulbs, so I bought another one. This one isn't quite as yellow as the other 2, but still yellow none the less. I've swapped ballasts, the white bulb stays white, the other 3 now are still yellow. One person suggested that I switch the e-ballasts and they would all burn white like the one in the picture. I've made sure the nipple on the glass is horizontal, not vertical. Doesn't seem to help. Bulbs all have about 3 weeks on them, except the white one which has 6. I could add actinics, but thats just masking the problem. Besides, I don't have room as I'm running lumenarc reflectors in the canopy. Is this how XM 10k's burn.....like a 6500k iwaski? __________________ If everyone does something the same way, how will anyone ever learn? Current Tank Info: 20L w/sump, 60g cube getting set up

08/09/2008, 04:33 AM	#2
woodycb Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: N.W. Ohio Posts: 785	I had the XM 10K's for awhile and did not like them either. I was running 250W with a magnetic ballast. I switched to 14K Hamiltons and what a big difference. You dont even have to supplement actinics with them. __________________ We have enough youth, how about a fountain of SMART Current Tank Info: 75 gallon

08/09/2008, 05:50 AM	#3
Creetin Limestone Cowboy. Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: In a little place i like to call a little place. Posts: 4,552	Whoa!!! I have been runnin XM 1ok's for years and never seen a yellow one. What brand ballasts, and specs? I ran mine off pfo mag ballasts. __________________ If only common sense was common. Current Tank Info: 300 gal marineland deep

08/09/2008, 08:58 AM	#6
mm949 Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: chicago Posts: 1,843	are your nipples pointing up....??? __________________ 219"x30"x48" - 1350gl reef Current Tank Info: ...18ft of double sided goodness

08/09/2008, 10:02 AM	#7
45commando Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Florida Posts: 1,321	I did have the same issue with some XM 10K's a couple of years back(I still run XM's now).First off,have you tried switching the yellow bulbs to the ballast that is firing the white bulb & vice versa?In my situation(I use different brands of standard magnetic ballasts)I found that the new bulbs were frying the capacitor in one of the ballasts.This still allowed the bulb to light,but it was very yellow & more dull,than the bulb on the other ballast.Whenever I replace my XM's now,I have to break in each bulb on just one of the ballasts,then after a few weeks it can be moved to the other ballast. I have always heard & from my own experience,found that the glass nipple should be vertical for the best color/output.I have found that adjusting the bulb slightly can cause it to give off a different color. Lastly,it is possible you've just be given bulbs from a bad batch.HTH. __________________ "It's not the size of the dog in the fight;It's the size of the fight in the dog!" -Sir Winston Churchill. Current Tank Info: 92G Corner tank, 250 wt 14K MH, 20G sump, 5G fuge, mixed reef

08/09/2008, 08:09 AM	#5
anemoneguy Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: indpls Posts: 364	i am running 2 on icecap ballasts. no yellow at all. sanjays testing is what i went off of when deciding. the xm 10k 250 showed up as almost a 12k with great par on the icecap. im going to switch to ushio next time. i was running de bulbs, and theirs is nice, so im hoping the se will follow. i just dont seem to get enough white for my liking on the xms. all my corals are doing great with them though, and have very good color. i just installed a reto t5 for some atinic, but cant really see it when halides are on. just the dusk, and dawn before and after halides. they are at same level as my pendants(lumenmaxII) , and center bulb is an xm 400 watt 20k. so id say xm is a good bulb, but its real funny how the different ballasts will make the look.

08/09/2008, 10:33 AM	#8
Theo A Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: USA Posts: 337	I've swapped all the bulbs around to different ballasts....the white bulb remains white, the others remain yellow. Nipples are horizontal, I searched and found that was the right spot. I can try them vertical as well. You would think XM might provide this info for their bulbs. __________________ If everyone does something the same way, how will anyone ever learn? Current Tank Info: 20L w/sump, 60g cube getting set up

08/09/2008, 08:29 PM	#9
45commando Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Florida Posts: 1,321	Hi,not sure where you got the info about the nipples being horizontal to the water surface-I'm not saying you're wrong,but everything I've been told is to have the nipple pointing up.(like I said in earlier post,I found that just rotating the bulb a few degrees,made a big difference)If you've tried this & still not happy,then I would say return the bulbs,as it appears you have received bad bulbs.HTH __________________ "It's not the size of the dog in the fight;It's the size of the fight in the dog!" -Sir Winston Churchill. Current Tank Info: 92G Corner tank, 250 wt 14K MH, 20G sump, 5G fuge, mixed reef

08/09/2008, 10:17 PM	#10
REEFY1 Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Vinton,VA Posts: 983	mine are perfect 250's SE on a Icecap E Ballast- LOVE THEM !!! __________________ Chad Current Tank Info: Doing a 180 This Time!!!

08/10/2008, 04:23 PM	#11
Theo A Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: USA Posts: 337	I'll swap them around tonight and see what happens tomorrow. (the nipples) __________________ If everyone does something the same way, how will anyone ever learn? Current Tank Info: 20L w/sump, 60g cube getting set up

08/11/2008, 12:49 AM	#12
aquadog11 Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: milwaukee Posts: 273	I ran them on PFO magnetic for 2 years. Crisp white and great growth. I had that happen with ushio lights 3 times that were 10K Bought from hello lights. Called them about it. My loss