XM or Ushio

skeeter_ca · 04/24/2006, 10:18 AM

Looking at two different bulbs to replace my 5700K on my reef tank.

It seems to be between the XM 15000K or the Ushio 14000K. I'm looking for a white light with a slight blue but not to much. Is the Ushio worth the extra 15 bucks and is the XM much bluer than the Ushio.

Any opinion would be great.

Ti · 04/24/2006, 10:27 AM

Ushio

northbay-reefer · 04/24/2006, 10:36 AM

what is the wattage ? ... if 175watt, I would go Iwasaki 15k you will get tons more par

skeeter_ca · 04/24/2006, 11:02 AM

I haven't seen any Iwasaki on the websites i've searched. I'm looking for 175s. Where do you get them.

northbay-reefer · 04/24/2006, 02:00 PM

Aquadw, you can get them at coralreefecosystems.com, I think premium aquatic also cary them. Sanjay had the test result on this bulb in this lighitng forum, and it has as much or more par than some of the 250watt halide bulbs.

15nano · 04/24/2006, 02:11 PM

Premium sells the ushio. great bulb from what i have heard.

tom obrecht · 04/24/2006, 03:27 PM

I've had both (not in the kelvin your asking about) but I'd go with Ushio. IMO a much better bulb.

skeeter_ca · 04/25/2006, 05:05 PM

Just ordered 3 ushio's 14000K. Thanks for the advise.

BTW, Northbay - Tried to order the Iwasaki's (good review by Sanjay), But nobody had any in stock. Maybe next year when i order again i'll try them. But of course with the way things develop nowadays we could be looking at fiberoptics or something wierd like that by next year.

drouner · 04/25/2006, 06:23 PM

Wrong thread

drouner · 04/25/2006, 06:40 PM

Okay, I got it. just trying to do too many things at one time.

I put an Iwaski 15K on less than a month ago. It is a nice lamp. My blues look a little washed out.

The down side is that it runs very hot. My tank is at 85.7F as I type this. That is with the AC on, a fan on in the room, the hood is open and an IceCap fan on the hood going.

I am thinking about going back the Reeflux 10K becasue of the heat issue.

DrBDC · 04/25/2006, 06:51 PM

Another vote for the extreme par/ppfd levels of Iwasaki. I run XM10,000K's now and can't wait to get a little higher kelvin. I'm happy with the par for now. Stay away from the XM 15,000K bulbs, you may as well put some flashlights over the tank and shine them through blue cellophane.

skeeter_ca · 04/26/2006, 08:16 AM

Well If i don't like them all being 14's i figure i can always mix in my original bulbs. There 5700K's. I think thier called Ventures but not sure. Pretty old bulbs, bought them about 5 yrs ago as i was collecting stuff for my reeftank.

04/24/2006, 10:18 AM	#1
skeeter_ca Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Yucaipa, CA Posts: 1,007	XM or Ushio Looking at two different bulbs to replace my 5700K on my reef tank. It seems to be between the XM 15000K or the Ushio 14000K. I'm looking for a white light with a slight blue but not to much. Is the Ushio worth the extra 15 bucks and is the XM much bluer than the Ushio. Any opinion would be great. __________________ skeeter - It is easier to ask for forgiveness than premission. My motto to my wife. Current Tank Info: 75rr,6"dsb,refugium,auto top-off & semi-auto water changer, OM squirt. 4 MJs 1200, Started on 03/03/06

04/24/2006, 10:27 AM	#2
Ti Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Bay Area Posts: 7,927	Ushio __________________ Hair algae is my Macro algae.

04/24/2006, 10:36 AM	#3
northbay-reefer Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Wine country Posts: 4,831	what is the wattage ? ... if 175watt, I would go Iwasaki 15k you will get tons more par __________________ go BIG or go home Current Tank Info: Tankless :D

04/24/2006, 11:02 AM	#4
skeeter_ca Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Yucaipa, CA Posts: 1,007	I haven't seen any Iwasaki on the websites i've searched. I'm looking for 175s. Where do you get them. __________________ skeeter - It is easier to ask for forgiveness than premission. My motto to my wife. Current Tank Info: 75rr,6"dsb,refugium,auto top-off & semi-auto water changer, OM squirt. 4 MJs 1200, Started on 03/03/06

04/24/2006, 02:00 PM	#5
northbay-reefer Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Wine country Posts: 4,831	Aquadw, you can get them at coralreefecosystems.com, I think premium aquatic also cary them. Sanjay had the test result on this bulb in this lighitng forum, and it has as much or more par than some of the 250watt halide bulbs. __________________ go BIG or go home Current Tank Info: Tankless :D

04/24/2006, 02:11 PM	#6
15nano Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Indianapolis, In Posts: 68	Premium sells the ushio. great bulb from what i have heard.

04/24/2006, 03:27 PM	#7
tom obrecht Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: WI Posts: 3,014	I've had both (not in the kelvin your asking about) but I'd go with Ushio. IMO a much better bulb. __________________ Reef keeping is where Murphy's Law and your bank account collide!! TOTM May 2006

04/25/2006, 05:05 PM	#8
skeeter_ca Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Yucaipa, CA Posts: 1,007	Just ordered 3 ushio's 14000K. Thanks for the advise. BTW, Northbay - Tried to order the Iwasaki's (good review by Sanjay), But nobody had any in stock. Maybe next year when i order again i'll try them. But of course with the way things develop nowadays we could be looking at fiberoptics or something wierd like that by next year. __________________ skeeter - It is easier to ask for forgiveness than premission. My motto to my wife. Current Tank Info: 75rr,6"dsb,refugium,auto top-off & semi-auto water changer, OM squirt. 4 MJs 1200, Started on 03/03/06

04/25/2006, 06:23 PM	#9
drouner Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2001 Location: Lawrenceville, GA Posts: 668	Wrong thread __________________ Doug I'm just happy to be here! It all started with a 10 gallon Wal Mart FW combo. Current Tank Info: Old school Oceanic 58 gallon mixed reef

04/25/2006, 06:40 PM	#10
drouner Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2001 Location: Lawrenceville, GA Posts: 668	Okay, I got it. just trying to do too many things at one time. I put an Iwaski 15K on less than a month ago. It is a nice lamp. My blues look a little washed out. The down side is that it runs very hot. My tank is at 85.7F as I type this. That is with the AC on, a fan on in the room, the hood is open and an IceCap fan on the hood going. I am thinking about going back the Reeflux 10K becasue of the heat issue. __________________ Doug I'm just happy to be here! It all started with a 10 gallon Wal Mart FW combo. Current Tank Info: Old school Oceanic 58 gallon mixed reef

04/25/2006, 06:51 PM	#11
DrBDC Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Ballwin, Missouri Posts: 10,358	Another vote for the extreme par/ppfd levels of Iwasaki. I run XM10,000K's now and can't wait to get a little higher kelvin. I'm happy with the par for now. Stay away from the XM 15,000K bulbs, you may as well put some flashlights over the tank and shine them through blue cellophane. __________________ Some drink at the fountain of knowledge, some just gargle, but most are rabid. Current Tank Info: 180g sps+75 softy/lps on one system tunze's, seio's, mjmods, aquacontroller w/add ons, 2X400 XM10000 and 3X160 vho actinic, 110g sump, 110 frag tank, Geo Beckett and other stuff

04/26/2006, 08:16 AM	#12
skeeter_ca Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Yucaipa, CA Posts: 1,007	Well If i don't like them all being 14's i figure i can always mix in my original bulbs. There 5700K's. I think thier called Ventures but not sure. Pretty old bulbs, bought them about 5 yrs ago as i was collecting stuff for my reeftank. __________________ skeeter - It is easier to ask for forgiveness than premission. My motto to my wife. Current Tank Info: 75rr,6"dsb,refugium,auto top-off & semi-auto water changer, OM squirt. 4 MJs 1200, Started on 03/03/06