How blue is a 250w XM20k bulb?

evsalty · 04/27/2011, 10:25 PM

I just started using a NEW XM20k 250w de bulb. This is my first time using XM bulbs. It does not seem all that blue like I was expecting it to. I am not sure it even has as much blue as my old Hamilton 14k but it does bring out some very very nice pop in my corals. Pop that neither my 14k Phoenix nor the 14k Hami's can bring out. I have only been using the bulb for about a week now so could it be that it will blue up more as it burns in or will it lighten up and have almost no blue at all?

The ballast is a Hamilton E-ballast and is running in a Cayman Sun fixture.

parrthed · 04/27/2011, 11:51 PM

Ive had both DE and SE, I must admit my SE was much bluer than my DE. On my DE I ended up with Ushio 20k and then a EVC 20k. These bulbs gave me the Blue look I was looking for running a Icecap electronic ballast.

evsalty · 04/28/2011, 01:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by parrthed

On my DE I ended up with Ushio 20k and then a EVC 20k. These bulbs gave me the Blue look I was looking for running a Icecap electronic ballast.

Really? I have ran and run Ushio 10k and 14ks and they are both yellow. Yes even the 14k is a bit yellow. I have heard the 20k has SOME blue but only like that of typical 14k bulbs.

Do the XM's change after a short break-in period?

pendraig · 04/28/2011, 02:14 PM

I ran an XM 250w 20K SE and it was very blue! As mentioned above, it might be that the DE version is not as blue.

seapug · 04/28/2011, 02:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by evsalty

Really? I have ran and run Ushio 10k and 14ks and they are both yellow. Yes even the 14k is a bit yellow. I have heard the 20k has SOME blue but only like that of typical 14k bulbs.

Do the XM's change after a short break-in period?

250W Ushio DE 20Ks are one of my favs-- much more blue than any 14K (other than phoenix, of course). I'm currently running Phoenix 14s but will probably go back to the Ushios. The Phoenix is nice, but when combined with Actinic+ T5 I feel like I'm losing some of the contrast I got with the Ushio 20Ks.

smariner · 05/02/2011, 10:58 AM

Have you tried the EVC metal halide lamps yet? They are really a crisp blue!

04/27/2011, 10:25 PM	#1
evsalty hmmmmmm Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: NW Mesa, AZ Posts: 3,531	How blue is a 250w XM20k bulb? I just started using a NEW XM20k 250w de bulb. This is my first time using XM bulbs. It does not seem all that blue like I was expecting it to. I am not sure it even has as much blue as my old Hamilton 14k but it does bring out some very very nice pop in my corals. Pop that neither my 14k Phoenix nor the 14k Hami's can bring out. I have only been using the bulb for about a week now so could it be that it will blue up more as it burns in or will it lighten up and have almost no blue at all? The ballast is a Hamilton E-ballast and is running in a Cayman Sun fixture.

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
looking for 250w de bulbs to sample.	mofoglenn333	Southern California Reefers	0	11/28/2010 10:10 PM
is this bulb blue ? Hamilton 250W SE 14,000K Metal Halide Bulb	chercm	Lighting, Filtration & Other Equipment	4	02/17/2010 09:13 AM
Better for SPS growth: 250w XM20K -vs- 175w Iwasaki15k	Reeferon	SPS Keepers	18	08/15/2008 12:48 PM
400w XM20k Bulb for sale	rdonchann	Central Oklahoma Marine Aquarium Society	0	03/16/2006 08:19 AM

04/27/2011, 11:51 PM	#2
parrthed Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: USA Posts: 435	Ive had both DE and SE, I must admit my SE was much bluer than my DE. On my DE I ended up with Ushio 20k and then a EVC 20k. These bulbs gave me the Blue look I was looking for running a Icecap electronic ballast.

04/28/2011, 02:14 PM	#4
pendraig Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Livermore California Posts: 62	I ran an XM 250w 20K SE and it was very blue! As mentioned above, it might be that the DE version is not as blue.

05/02/2011, 10:58 AM	#6
smariner Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2001 Location: Raleigh, NC Posts: 900	Have you tried the EVC metal halide lamps yet? They are really a crisp blue!