reef4life07
New member
Is this a good bulb/brand?
150w 20k XM
- Thread starter reef4life07
- Start date
Michigan Mike
Freedom costs a buckofive
Ya its alright. The 10k & 20k are pretty popular. I have the 15k, it looks nice but the PPFD is kinda low.
Radium 20k is hard to bet for a white/blue.
Phoenix 14k is what I run, blue with a little more PPFD compared to the 20k bulbs, plus its cheaper, Japanese made product.
15k XM
2 pics of the same 14k Phoenix over my corner tank & 29g
Radium 20k is hard to bet for a white/blue.
Phoenix 14k is what I run, blue with a little more PPFD compared to the 20k bulbs, plus its cheaper, Japanese made product.
15k XM
2 pics of the same 14k Phoenix over my corner tank & 29g
Michigan Mike
Freedom costs a buckofive
As you can see the 14k Phoenix is much more blue looking than the 15k XM, the Phoenix should be labeled as a 20k bulb really.
The 20k XM will be closer to the Phoenix in color.
What ballast are you going to run the XM with?
The 20k XM will be closer to the Phoenix in color.
What ballast are you going to run the XM with?
Guygettnby
Well-known member
go with a pheonix 14k bulb. awesome par and great color. i have never liked XM bulbs personally.
reef4life07
New member
I have the bulb already, I bought it just to try it out. I've been buying Phoenix 14k forever, the XM is being powered by a reeflux m81 cube.
reef4life07
New member
My fixture also have 2 ATI T5's, over my 30g.
Michigan Mike
Freedom costs a buckofive
With t5 you can get a bluer look with a higher PPFD bulb.
You can customize the look better with multiple T5"
Here's my 15k XM with 4x24 Current T5 420 & 460 bulbs , I really like this combo the best for color
15k XM & 1blue plus & 1Fiji purple T5
This is a 10k halide alone, little yellow tint that takes multiple or powerful lighting to change the look.
This is a 10k & 1blue plus & Fiji purple
I understand you bought the bulb already but this may give you a little more options concerning adding T5 bulbs to supplement your lighting. Adding coral plus bulbs, purple, blue, ge6500 or whatever can add to your PAR & overall color.
I've put a ge6500 & blue plus up to my Phoenix & liked the color it produced.
You can customize the look better with multiple T5"
Here's my 15k XM with 4x24 Current T5 420 & 460 bulbs , I really like this combo the best for color
15k XM & 1blue plus & 1Fiji purple T5
This is a 10k halide alone, little yellow tint that takes multiple or powerful lighting to change the look.
This is a 10k & 1blue plus & Fiji purple
I understand you bought the bulb already but this may give you a little more options concerning adding T5 bulbs to supplement your lighting. Adding coral plus bulbs, purple, blue, ge6500 or whatever can add to your PAR & overall color.
I've put a ge6500 & blue plus up to my Phoenix & liked the color it produced.
