Thinking about bulb change, need some help please

J4Life · 03/17/2007, 08:36 AM

I am currently running 2 - 250 single end 10K XM's on ARO Electronic Ballast and I supplement with 2 - URI Super Actinic R T5's on an IceCap electronic ballast.

I was thinking of going to 2 - 250 watt 20K XM's and supplementing with 2 - URI Actinic White 50/50 bulbs to help soften the blue.

I would like suggestions though. How is the growth for everyone using 250 watt 20K XM's?

Thanks,
Bill

J4Life · 03/17/2007, 12:37 PM

I am sure someone has an opinion on this. Please and thanks.

USC-fan · 03/17/2007, 02:16 PM

have you looked into maybe a 14-15k bulb? that gives you the good growth and a bluer color.

J4Life · 03/17/2007, 07:25 PM

kb-smoker from everything I read the 14k-15k bulbs are horrible for growth compared to the 20k in the SE 250 watt range. Of course maybe I misunderstood the results.

I am really suprised no one else has offered any comments since there is so many people using Metal Halide bulbs.

Thanks,
Bill

karsco · 03/17/2007, 07:32 PM

J4Life,

I have been running the 250W XM 10K's for a few years and I am also considering the switch to XM 20K's but I am a little concerned it may be to blue for my taste. Anyway have you seen the thread below? It talks about the 250W XM 20K's and has some nice examples of growth rates using this bulb. Good Luck!

http://reefcentral.com/forums/showth...readid=1034018

biddy · 03/17/2007, 08:11 PM

I have been using 250wt 20k XM bulbs for over a year now in my 150 tank with excellent growth. There is more blue noted in the tank, especially when the tank was first set up... now that I have some color in the tank, the blue is less noted than the color in my corals and fish.

J4Life · 03/17/2007, 09:19 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by karsco
J4Life,

I have been running the 250W XM 10K's for a few years and I am also considering the switch to XM 20K's but I am a little concerned it may be to blue for my taste. Anyway have you seen the thread below? It talks about the 250W XM 20K's and has some nice examples of growth rates using this bulb. Good Luck!

http://reefcentral.com/forums/showth...readid=1034018

Thanks karsco. I read through that thread and it seems most are using 400 watt bulbs which is something I plan on never doing. I think the power consumption is just too much for me. I want to stick with 250 watt bulbs.

J4Life · 03/17/2007, 09:20 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by biddy
I have been using 250wt 20k XM bulbs for over a year now in my 150 tank with excellent growth. There is more blue noted in the tank, especially when the tank was first set up... now that I have some color in the tank, the blue is less noted than the color in my corals and fish.

Biddy you got any before and after shots? Thanks.

karsco · 03/17/2007, 09:28 PM

J4life,

I guess in particular I was pointing to JNB's growth pics with 250W 20K's over a 257 day period on page two of the thread.

Thanks,
Scott

J4Life · 03/17/2007, 09:33 PM

Thanks for pointing that out. That was pretty impressive. The picture looked really blue though. I am sure that the XM 20k's aren't that blue but I know they will be more blue than what I have. My T5's supplementations add a lot of blue but not enough to notice when my XM 10k's are running. One of my concerns is whether or not I would experience browning with my corals by switching over to the 20k's. I think adding the Actinic 50//50 (White) T5's would help knock down some of that blue as well and give good growth still but only time will tell.

karsco · 03/17/2007, 09:45 PM

J4life,

Not to change the subject but how do you like your T-5's? I am currently running just actinic PC's with a 250W XM 10K on my 58G. But I am starting to buy lights for my new setup a 120G, and I was debating on VHO's, PC's or T-5's for supplementation.

J4Life · 03/17/2007, 10:04 PM

T5's all the way especially the UVL bulbs. I overdrive mine on an IceCap 660 ballast. So that gives me 85 watts out of a 54 watt bulb. I think it balances out the 10k's but would like to see just a little more pop in color. I don't have room to add another 2 T5's in my canopy so that is why I am thinking of changing to the 20k XM's and supplementing with the T5 50/50 bulb to see if it softens the blue some. Of course my growth with the 10k XM's is awesome so it would be missed. They other thing is that I don't currently use a skimmer and I feed pretty heavy and have a pretty heavy bioload in my 75 gallon tank. 9 fish and lot's of inverts, snails. I also dose Golden Pearls 5-50 micron everytime I feed.

I think that helps all of the corals along with the 10K's.

03/17/2007, 08:36 AM	#1
J4Life Premium Member Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Winston-Salem, NC Posts: 1,397	Thinking about bulb change, need some help please I am currently running 2 - 250 single end 10K XM's on ARO Electronic Ballast and I supplement with 2 - URI Super Actinic R T5's on an IceCap electronic ballast. I was thinking of going to 2 - 250 watt 20K XM's and supplementing with 2 - URI Actinic White 50/50 bulbs to help soften the blue. I would like suggestions though. How is the growth for everyone using 250 watt 20K XM's? Thanks, Bill __________________ Go Panthers! Got JC? <o)))>< Current Tank Info: 75 gallon, Reef tank

03/17/2007, 12:37 PM	#2
J4Life Premium Member Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Winston-Salem, NC Posts: 1,397	I am sure someone has an opinion on this. Please and thanks. __________________ Go Panthers! Got JC? <o)))>< Current Tank Info: 75 gallon, Reef tank

03/17/2007, 02:16 PM	#3
USC-fan Premium Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Posts: 3,626	have you looked into maybe a 14-15k bulb? that gives you the good growth and a bluer color. Last edited by USC-fan; 03/17/2007 at 02:28 PM.

03/17/2007, 07:25 PM	#4
J4Life Premium Member Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Winston-Salem, NC Posts: 1,397	kb-smoker from everything I read the 14k-15k bulbs are horrible for growth compared to the 20k in the SE 250 watt range. Of course maybe I misunderstood the results. I am really suprised no one else has offered any comments since there is so many people using Metal Halide bulbs. Thanks, Bill __________________ Go Panthers! Got JC? <o)))>< Current Tank Info: 75 gallon, Reef tank

03/17/2007, 07:32 PM	#5
karsco Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Omaha, NE Posts: 645	J4Life, I have been running the 250W XM 10K's for a few years and I am also considering the switch to XM 20K's but I am a little concerned it may be to blue for my taste. Anyway have you seen the thread below? It talks about the 250W XM 20K's and has some nice examples of growth rates using this bulb. Good Luck! http://reefcentral.com/forums/showth...readid=1034018 Last edited by karsco; 03/17/2007 at 07:49 PM.

03/17/2007, 08:11 PM	#6
biddy Awaiting Email Confirmation Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Virginia Beach, VA Posts: 8	I have been using 250wt 20k XM bulbs for over a year now in my 150 tank with excellent growth. There is more blue noted in the tank, especially when the tank was first set up... now that I have some color in the tank, the blue is less noted than the color in my corals and fish.

03/17/2007, 09:28 PM	#9
karsco Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Omaha, NE Posts: 645	J4life, I guess in particular I was pointing to JNB's growth pics with 250W 20K's over a 257 day period on page two of the thread. Thanks, Scott

03/17/2007, 09:33 PM	#10
J4Life Premium Member Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Winston-Salem, NC Posts: 1,397	Thanks for pointing that out. That was pretty impressive. The picture looked really blue though. I am sure that the XM 20k's aren't that blue but I know they will be more blue than what I have. My T5's supplementations add a lot of blue but not enough to notice when my XM 10k's are running. One of my concerns is whether or not I would experience browning with my corals by switching over to the 20k's. I think adding the Actinic 50//50 (White) T5's would help knock down some of that blue as well and give good growth still but only time will tell. __________________ Go Panthers! Got JC? <o)))>< Current Tank Info: 75 gallon, Reef tank

03/17/2007, 09:45 PM	#11
karsco Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Omaha, NE Posts: 645	J4life, Not to change the subject but how do you like your T-5's? I am currently running just actinic PC's with a 250W XM 10K on my 58G. But I am starting to buy lights for my new setup a 120G, and I was debating on VHO's, PC's or T-5's for supplementation.

03/17/2007, 10:04 PM	#12
J4Life Premium Member Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Winston-Salem, NC Posts: 1,397	T5's all the way especially the UVL bulbs. I overdrive mine on an IceCap 660 ballast. So that gives me 85 watts out of a 54 watt bulb. I think it balances out the 10k's but would like to see just a little more pop in color. I don't have room to add another 2 T5's in my canopy so that is why I am thinking of changing to the 20k XM's and supplementing with the T5 50/50 bulb to see if it softens the blue some. Of course my growth with the 10k XM's is awesome so it would be missed. They other thing is that I don't currently use a skimmer and I feed pretty heavy and have a pretty heavy bioload in my 75 gallon tank. 9 fish and lot's of inverts, snails. I also dose Golden Pearls 5-50 micron everytime I feed. I think that helps all of the corals along with the 10K's. __________________ Go Panthers! Got JC? <o)))>< Current Tank Info: 75 gallon, Reef tank