400 watt 20k

[sshunter]

whats up, i have a 180 and i want to put 3 400 watt 20k above my tank what is the best bulb i could use for growth and color? i herd that the coralvue 20k were the best is that true?

 

[snslarison]

I use 150W XM 20K. My buddy uses the 3 400W XM 20K and they are really nice too.

 

[Stoney Mahony]

I have 2 400w 20K xm and I love them. Over a year on one bulb and its still about 15k. Cheap too.

 

[NuclearReefs]

Id go with the XM's

Good solid spectrum and they dont break the bank on you ...

 

[MSHUR]

XM's are better of regular ballast or Hqi?

mike

 

[Avast Marine]

regular

 

[Kip]

i liked 400wRadiumsSE on PFO hqi... i ran 3 over a 6ft tank

great PAR, good color (i say good instead of great on color, because i now prefer a little more of a natural daylight look... and it is just that, a preference.)

 

[Stoney Mahony]

How long did your radiums last Kip? I know there supposed to be awesome but I have read they have a really short life. Just wondering what you experienced.

 

[REEF-DADDY]

I like the Radiums on hqi as well. 147 ppfd and good color. The XMs on an M59 ballast are not a bad way to go either 136 ppfd and last a full year rather than 6 months and use about 100 watts less.

 

[dgasmd]

I've ran radiums on electronic ballasts (400 watt blueline) and more recently on PFO HQI both on lumenarcs I like them both equally. Growth is decent if other things are in line as well. However, they last 4-5 months at best regardless of the ballast. At 5 months there was a good 40% visual decrease in intensity to my eyes. They are not the cheapest things either, but I must admit I used to get them by the box so much cheaper too. If I was to run any 20K again, I would definately go with the radiums so long as you are knowing how much they will last and you are OK with it.

Kip:
What ballasts are you running the EVC 10K bulbs with? PFO HQI???

 

[gemxsps]

I also have 400W XM 20 plus actinic. I love that bulb.

 

[swannking]

I've been running 2 20K coralvue with the HQI ballasts with a 20K XM in the center with blueline ballast. I bought 2 radiums to try them out. Honestly, I could not tell the difference in color between the coralvue and the radium. So I am selling the radium.

 

[Kip]

"how long do 400w radiums on hqi last"

5-6 months max

"what do i run my evc 10ks on"
pfo pulse start (same as a regular magnetic.. the bulb doesnt need the PS so it doesnt use it)

reason i went with PS... premium was out of regular 400w pfo mag... this also gives me a little room to play with euro bulbs if i ever want.

i am so stoked on the evc's now

 

[VikeBron]

I run 4-400 watt 20k XM's. If you want great colors and don't mind a little slower growth, those are the ones I would recomend. If you want more growth, you have to go down on the K's. I also run my sump with 2-400 watt MH but I use 10K bulbs for growth on the frags. The growth difference is very noticeable.