250 watt SE MH lamps compared

[Bigreefer345]

any updates on the 15kXM?

 

[paulpp187]

any body know the par difference between par on the 400 w xms

 

[JB NY]

XM 15000K MH results.

Sorry for the delay, my work has been brutal so not much free time.

Lamp was burned in for 120 hours before being tested.

Lamp	Ballast	PAR	WATT	MWATT	AMP	MAMP	VOLTS
XM15K	EVC	211	252	256	2.07	2.12	118
XM15K	ARO	171	254	256	2.20	2.27	119		
XM15K	M80	318	312	847	2.79	16.33	117
XM15K	BLU	194	248	249	2.00	2.24	120
XM15K	M58	264	265	267	2.55	7.42	119
XM15K	REF	209	251	253	2.07	2.09	118
XM15K	ICAP	187	252	254	2.17	2.83	119

EVC=EVC Ballast
M80=PFO HQI Ballast
ARO=HelloLights ARO ballast
BLU=Blueline E-ballast
M58=PFO Standard ballast
REF=Reef Fanatic Ballast
ICAP=IceCap Ballast

 

[samsfishnchips]

man, it looks like the 15k has less par than the 20k, that blows

oh well, I guess I will just stick with 10k xm, thx for the hard work JB NY we really apreacited, and have a wonderful day,

sam

 

[NOLACLS]

Wow I thought for sure it would have been at least the same as the 20 hahaha. I just got my 400's on a tank side by side and the 15 is definitely brighter than the 20! O well I am kinda digging the cartoon look with the 20k.

 

[schanz]

Well, screw that idea.

 

[glipper69]

thanks for the info that par kinda blows.

Frank

 

[AUTOCHEK]

Any chance of getting a pic of the tank with them on it. We are talking about a group buy for the club and your info came just in a nick of time.
Tom

 

[JB NY]

I'm hoping to have time to get a tank shot with the XM15K this weekend.

 

[MiddletonMark]

Look forward to seeing the pics, thanks for the results.

 

[KH971]

Is the Ice Cap an elec. ballast?

 

[gatohoser]

Yes

 

[Kenfuzed]

I've had 2 of the XM 15k bulbs up and running for a couple days and I'm very impressed. I've had XM 20k's that I found too blue IMO, almost a gray washout of some colors. The XM 10k's while super bright and whiter than Ushios, still had that touch of yellow. These 15k's are visually more appealing to me and I can hardly wait to see how nicely they burn in. So far they have a nice blend of blue tones while still giving a bright white color. Hardly scientific but I thought I'd share these visual impressions. Once they burn in I'll have some pictures.

Finally, I hope I've found a bulb that is actually between a 10k and 20k. So many 14k bulbs I've seen have been just as blue as 20k bulbs.

 

[glipper69]

try aquaconnects

 

[KH971]

Does anybody have the par on Aquaconnects?

 

[JB NY]

Does anybody have the par on Aquaconnects?

um.. http://www.cnidarianreef.com/lamps.cfm

 

[KH971]

Thanks JB, with PAR being 406 with Aquaconnects, i might switch to those after I burn out these XM 15k's. so far the PAR results are not good.

 

[KH971]

Who has the best buy on Aquaconnects 400MH SE?

Also if you run Aquaconnects how was the rate of growth you experienced?

 

[glipper69]

I love the aquaconnects, though they are expensive, I guess you get what u pay for. I was hoping that the XM15's would have been in the same range as them so I could save a little money, but I guess not.
you can buy them at premium aquatics

Frank

 

[Kenfuzed]

Strange, the Aquaconnect AC14 performs better on electronic ballasts, whereas the XM 15k runs better on the magnetic M58 with a par of 264. For those running M58 ballasts the XM 15k looks like a good buy IMO.

Ken