20k not blue enough

bv_reefer · #1 03-11-2008, 11:38 PM

i'm running a 20k 400-watt XM bulb over my tank, and i'm still not getting the ''deep blue'' i was hoping for at all, everything around the tank is blue

but not the tank so much, i guess you could say it's kind of in between 10k and 14k really. it's about 10'' or so from the water surface and the reflector is kinda crappy, could this be the reason? i was really hoping for a deep reef kind of blue..

midgetwaiter · #2 03-12-2008, 04:45 AM

Try another ballast, electronic ones will give you the most blue colour but it can vary a lot with 2 different magnetics as well.

bv_reefer · #3 03-12-2008, 06:47 AM

think it's the ballast? the ballast is made for that type of bulb and is running it pretty nice, quiet when on, and bright as heck, i'm just wondering how to get all that blueness directed to my tank, real wierd when you walk in the room everything is blue around you from the bulb yet the actual tank has only a blue tint..

wickedfrags · #4 03-12-2008, 11:26 AM

Yup - it's the ballast. The ballast I have runs 20K XM's very white, even with actinic supplements. Most people think my tank has 12-14K lighting when they see it. I also think Starphire glass makes a tank look more white than blue.

Whatigot · #5 03-12-2008, 02:00 PM

I know my Coralife 150 hqi 20ks are really white.
I just bought them used though so maybe thats why they are so white?
in any case, I'm going to grab some pheonix 14k's or the aquamedic 14ks as those seem to be the bluest I've seen with my own eyes on an electronic ballast.

bv_reefer · #6 03-13-2008, 07:36 PM

ok so i changed the reflector to a new polished one and dropped the fixture an inch closer to the surface and it's quite blue now i guess it was the crappy reflector i had, could it be that it takes a few days for the bulb to break in?? reason i'm asking is that the bulb seems much more blue than when i first put it in it was pretty 10k'ish,