Changing lighting setup, all Lumenarc users please chime in.

[pk1]

I don't feel that mine are "too" yellow. Keep in mind, I don't run ozone and have an AGA tank, so my water has a hint of yellow to it already, and the tank itself isn't very clear either. I may try the coralvue bulbs next. As far as growth though I am happy! Mine are about 5" above the tank also. Post a pic of how you have your reflectors mounted when you can please!


Patrick

 

[SunnyX]

Ill post some pics when I can this afternoon.
I just used a couple chains and hung them up.
Nice and simple

 

[SunnyX]

Patrick,
Where did you get the brackets from?
Also, how much in should the bulb be in the reflector?

 

[SunnyX]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=6730270#post6730270 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by want2reef
Looks good.

Are you getting more POP out of your corals now, as compared to your "old" setup?

Thanks

Well the corals looked better under the Pheonix 14K's, but i'm more interested in maintaining colors and increasing growth ATM.

 

[Creetin]

My xms are pretty white, I mean its a little yellow at first, But after a couple of weeks i didnt notice the yellow anymore.
I have a pair of ushios in now and they are the same start off little yellow and get whiter in a little time. IMO
As for adjusting the bulbs make sure the center (Element) of the bulb is in the center of the luminarc. Youll get better results.
I have 2 luminarcs off of 400's and a 250 in the center for the little dim area in the upper center of my tank.
If you want a great bulb and not sacrifice that much par try a AB 12k. I love them, Best color i have had. I am switching back because i am running a 5 hr photo period, and still whitening corals.

 

[SunnyX]

Here are before and after pics-

Pheonix 14K's-

XM 10K's-

 

[SunnyX]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=6731925#post6731925 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Creetin
My xms are pretty white, I mean its a little yellow at first, But after a couple of weeks i didnt notice the yellow anymore.
I have a pair of ushios in now and they are the same start off little yellow and get whiter in a little time. IMO
As for adjusting the bulbs make sure the center (Element) of the bulb is in the center of the luminarc. Youll get better results.
I have 2 luminarcs off of 400's and a 250 in the center for the little dim area in the upper center of my tank.
If you want a great bulb and not sacrifice that much par try a AB 12k. I love them, Best color i have had. I am switching back because i am running a 5 hr photo period, and still whitening corals.

Ill try to see where the middle of the bulb is today.
Right now I have the bulbs pushed all the way into the reflectors.
After the Discount I recived for being an RC member the XM's didnt cost me anything so Ill just wait and see.
I have always been a person who prefers a "bluer" reef, but the PAR on these bulbs cant be beat.
If the new Iwasaki 14K 250's come out in jusn than I will switch over, until then Ill stick with the XM's.

 

[causeofhim]

It looks brighter to me! The color difference is very slight and I would guess after a while it will "whiten" up.

 

[ThunderousTalon]

nipple position is big on these bulbs, i've spent hours playing w/ them. they can go from p*ss yellow to crisp white/blue tint with slight adjustments, so far the best position i've noted for these bulbs is around 6 and 9 depending on where you are standing. if you can use a clean oven mitt adjust after about 3-5minutes of being on. also what ballasts are you using? electronic, hqi or mag?

 

[SunnyX]

I sold my E-Ballasts so I am now using ARO Pro Series 250W M58 ballasts.

 

[ThunderousTalon]

great w/ ballast, should just make some small bulb adjustments at this point. I've never had a bad xm bulb, i just think too many people don't have them positioned right. it will make a dramatic difference.


EDIT!!!! my apologies, its either 3 or 9, not sure where my heads at this morning... get the nipple sideways basically and adjust slightly from there.

 

[SunnyX]

Thanks for the positioning help.
I will try some things out as soon as I get home.

 

[ThunderousTalon]

definitely let us know.

 

[SunnyX]

I miss my Pheonix 14k's
The XM's make my tank look as if someone took a pee in it.
The tank also looked brighter when I had the ROIII's up.

I should have stuck with what I had before.

I need to find a bluer bulb, but nothing puts out this much PAR as the XM's.

 

[SunnyX]

The ReefLux 10K looks nice but at half the PAR I couldnt see myself using one.

 

[want2reef]

Thats interesting that the Phoenix bulb was brighter than the XM.

I wonder if it would be brighter if you stuck with the E-Ballasts.

 

[clkwrk]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=6745652#post6745652 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by SunnyX
I miss my Pheonix 14k's
The XM's make my tank look as if someone took a pee in it.
The tank also looked brighter when I had the ROIII's up.

I should have stuck with what I had before.

I need to find a bluer bulb, but nothing puts out this much PAR as the XM's.

Thank you you just made my mind up . I am keeping my roIII's instead of switching to the lumenarcs .

I am bummed for you though

 

[SunnyX]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=6745734#post6745734 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by clkwrk
Thank you you just made my mind up . I am keeping my roIII's instead of switching to the lumenarcs .

I am bummed for you though

Glad I could help

I may go to 400W.

 

[SunnyX]

The Lumenarcs have some great spread, but I think the other ROIII appeared brighter only because they act like a spotlight.

For a 24" wide or less the ROIII is the way to go.
Anything bigger you need the Lumenarcs.

It looks dimmer also because I replaced two VHO daylights with two VHO actinics.

There is no doubt that there is more PAR over my tank now, thus more growth than the old lighting setup, so it wasn't that bad of a decision.

 

[SunnyX]

I just remembered that I switched out 2 daylight VHO's for Actinics.
That is most likely why the tank appears dimmer.
I'm going to put those VHO's back in today and see the difference.