Anyone run xm 10k?

[lastlight]

I was originally going to run twin hqi radiums on my new tank (36x30x20) but I like to stare at my tank a lot. I don't want to run my halides 12 hours a day. So supplementary lighting is the obvious solution but I think that's a bit much.

Another possible idea is a single xm 10k SE centered over the tank with t5s around it for a bit of blue.

Here are numbers from Sanjay's site (PPFD):

2 x 250w Radium 20k SE on M80 = 2 x 85 = 170

OR:

1 x 250w XM 10k SE on M80 = 182
+ some T5s

Seems like the single mh with T5s is the way to go. I'm a fan of a nice crisp white with blue highlighting. I just don't want any yellow. I've read plenty about the XMs on icecaps and people describe then as crisp white. I laready know the M80 will fire the bulb WAY brighter (182 ppfd vs 115 on icecap) but how does the color look on HQI? Almost impossible to search due to limitations with short words like '10k' and 'xm' so I'm asking for opinions.

Thanks!

[ALBERTA REEF]

I use to run 2 250W 15000XM single end bulbs. They Has a nice crisp white and a good cool blue too. I liked them but I think the would of performed better on a Electronic Ballast. Lower the kelvins 10000k more of the yellow color.

[nlreefguy]

I used to run XM 10K bulbs on electronic balasts. I have run them on magnetic ballasts too. They are extrememly bright and start out very white, but tend to lean a little to the yellow over time. They definitely do not lean toward the blue side of white in my experience.

[lastlight]

So long as they gradually lean to yellow and start out white that is ok. I would be running 4 blue t5 bulbs to bring the colour temp up. If they were always pretty yellow I might have troubles achieving the look I'm after.

Did your 10ks look the same but brighter on magnetic? Was it m80?

Thx

[marie]

I have 10k xm moguls with my m80 ballasts and no supplemental actinics and I love the colour.... no trace of yellow at all. They are very, very bright

[marie]

This is pretty accurate pic of the colour and the bulbs are just over a year old

[lastlight]

Oh nice I'm a big fan of your tank so win/win!

Do you think one bulb is enough over my tank? How high should it be?

Thanks!

[Skimmerking]

hey there Brett why not go with a 400 2 over the tank on a lumenarc reflector.

[lastlight]

Won't a 400 10k fry my tank? It's only 20" high?

Based on the numbers I'd guess the 250 would be a lot of light. I'm also thinking it would take even more blue t5s to overcome the 10k to give me an overall subtle blue color.

[Marlin65]

I run a 400SE 14,000k with only 16" no problem.