400W 20,000k Favorite

UnderwaterExotic · 03/21/2006, 09:53 AM

What is the best all around 400watt, 20,000k bulb for looks and color in the tank! I am using Radiums right now, and am pretty happy. Just wondering if there is anything better out there!

UnderwaterExotic · 03/21/2006, 03:29 PM

Or what is the best all around SE MH bulb? I need new ones and need some opinions! With that too i do not like the yellow look that 10K gives off! I like the look of a 20k what is all the bad talk about the XM bulbs for?

Ceak · 03/21/2006, 07:01 PM

I am shopping around for a 400W SE setup and here's the info I gathered:

The Radium20K, XM 20K and AquaConnect 14K bulbs seem to be the most popular.

The Radium has a bit more PAR than the XM but is said to have a very short lifespan of about 5-6 months where the xm is good for 9-12...both bulbs are similar in appearance (I think the radium is slightly more purple) and cost pretty much the same...

The Aquaconnect has ALOT more PAR than both the others (170 vs 100-120) ans is consequently brighter than the others and supposedly makes your corals POP out more, in the sense the the colors are more intense...

The downside with the Aquaconnect is the cost, which is almost twice as much as the other 2. It supposedly lasts longer though maybe 11-14 months. I think I will try one of these and the XM 20K to compare...

Note that these bulbs will look better on HQI ballasts, as they will be brighter and give out more PAR than on any other type of ballast...

hope this helps...

03/21/2006, 09:53 AM	#1
UnderwaterExotic Moved On Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Mayville, NY Posts: 1,343	400W 20,000k Favorite What is the best all around 400watt, 20,000k bulb for looks and color in the tank! I am using Radiums right now, and am pretty happy. Just wondering if there is anything better out there!

03/21/2006, 03:29 PM	#2
UnderwaterExotic Moved On Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Mayville, NY Posts: 1,343	Or what is the best all around SE MH bulb? I need new ones and need some opinions! With that too i do not like the yellow look that 10K gives off! I like the look of a 20k what is all the bad talk about the XM bulbs for?

03/21/2006, 07:01 PM	#3
Ceak Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Montreal, Canada Posts: 317	I am shopping around for a 400W SE setup and here's the info I gathered: The Radium20K, XM 20K and AquaConnect 14K bulbs seem to be the most popular. The Radium has a bit more PAR than the XM but is said to have a very short lifespan of about 5-6 months where the xm is good for 9-12...both bulbs are similar in appearance (I think the radium is slightly more purple) and cost pretty much the same... The Aquaconnect has ALOT more PAR than both the others (170 vs 100-120) ans is consequently brighter than the others and supposedly makes your corals POP out more, in the sense the the colors are more intense... The downside with the Aquaconnect is the cost, which is almost twice as much as the other 2. It supposedly lasts longer though maybe 11-14 months. I think I will try one of these and the XM 20K to compare... Note that these bulbs will look better on HQI ballasts, as they will be brighter and give out more PAR than on any other type of ballast... hope this helps...