Anyone run xm 10k?

[Funky_Fish14]

Brett, I used to run XM's over the old 75. (They were 400W though, but yes SE/Mogul) Had a 10K bulb in a PFO HQI Ballast. That thing runs like a champ, PUMPS the light out like mad, and views as a PERFECT crisp white. No yellow unless on a CRAPPY ballast or very old bulb. Its just white. Initially when I just had the one 10K over a 33g I ran it with a 96W actinic PC and it looked pretty awesome. IMO your selection in the first post is an awesome choice. Until I decided not to go so hardcore with my reef thats what I was going to be running in a lumenarc over my 52.

Hope that helps,

Cheers,

Chris

[danzing]

I'm running a 400 watt 10k mogul lamp(XM) and a 175 watt 20k mogul lamp(XM), have noticed some yellow now that you mentioned it. Also noticed that the coral is not as colorful. it's basic colors like brown, green, and some yellow and that's it. Do other more expensive lamps produce better colors?

[sphelps]

I also use to run a single 400W SE XM 10K with T5 supplement. As stated it is pretty white to start with but over time (IME a couple months) it gets pretty yellow.

I'm into the bluer look now and I keep most of the same corals without a problem. I'd be curious to see a par comparison between bulbs at certain water depths since blue light doesn't get filtered out by water as much.

[i have crabs]

ive always hated 1 mh over a 36" tank i think 2 is a much better way to go unless u get some huge pendant maybe, also a 250w with a electronic ballast can do the same as a 400w on a regular ballast so ive never been sold on 400w lights but ive also never owned one,
cant remember what bulb it is but i think its a 10k xm and even with 4 22k t5's its more yellow than i like, i put it in for the massive par a 10k gives u but since the tank is gonna end up with not much sps i think ill be switching back to a more blue bulb maybe around 14k

depending what u decide i might have 2 250w's i could sell i havnt been shure if im gonna sell them or not but i dont think i need them anymore so 2 lumimax 3's and a galaxy ballast and 20k bulbs

[lastlight]

According to Sanjay's results an electronic ballast almost never performs nearly as well (ppfd) as the M80 HQI ballast running the same lamp. Use more energy true...but I'm not worried about that. By regular ballast you mustn't mean M80.

If you decide to sell your mh setup though fire me a pm and maybe it will work out for me. I'm still concerned about how often I like to view the tank. I don't want my mh on for longer than 8 hours so I already KNOW I'll have a few t5 bulbs over it.

[Dez]

Have you considered 2 x 150 watt halides instead? I was running 150 watts over my 24" tank and got tremendous growth with an acro sitting on my sandbed. Then long term electrical costs would be less than dual 250watts.

I was in the same boat and had end caps for vho's and also T5s with a ballast capable of running either, but I opted with going T5's even after I saw the super actinics on the VHO's. I'm running giessman actinic plus for actinic and it is the BOMB with just the actinics on. Anyway, hope this helps.

Des

[lastlight]

Aw Dez come on =)

You wanna toss 150s into the mix now? Lol. Maybe? I like the selection there is for 250w.

I guess I could always just go 2x250w radium and supplement THOSE. On M80 they have good par and aren't as blue as on e-ballasts. That option just costs me more which was something I was trying to avoid this time around.

At least I'm more sure about t5 > vho. It will cost me less to setup and there are a billion more options. Not to mention those vho bulbs suck a lot of power.

[Marlin65]

I have an M80 hamilton ballast and optics reflector with two 10,000 XM bulbs one has 3 months on it the other 5 months for $200 if you want I did not like the color went to the Phoenix bulb 14,000k You would have to pay for shipping though.

[muck]

Originally Posted by Marlin65

I have an M80 hamilton ballast and optics reflector with two 10,000 XM bulbs one has 3 months on it the other 5 months for $200 if you want I did not like the color went to the Phoenix bulb 14,000k You would have to pay for shipping though.

Shipping... Brett will make the drive to pick it up from you Im sure.

[lastlight]

Oh you bastard. I drove out for the camaraderie first and the tank second.