Growth with 250w XM 10k vs Phoenix 14k

[Horace]

I currently have a set of Phoenix 14ks in ROIII reflectors over my 75g. I am reading alot of folks noticing a major slow down in growth when going from 10k to a 14k (not necessarly the combo of bulbs listed above). Please post your expieriences with these two bulbs if you have it. I am considering going with a set of 10ks on my next bulb swap just to kick up the growth for a while....Although I do think i will not like the color as much.

 

[Ti]

the XM 10K will smoke the phoenix in par.

 

[brad23]

Don't get the XM 10ks if you like color, if want growth go ahead and by the XM 10k.

I couldn't stand the color and sold the XM 10k

 

[Horace]

Well according to Sanjay's site... the XM DE puts down about 95+ while the Phoenix puts down 79. So we are talking about less than 20% more PAR....the question is will that actually make that much difference??? I really am looking for opinions from those of you who have tried the DE XM 10k....There is definitely a difference between the SE and DE.

 

[Mchava]

Kurt i've nevered tried the xm but did try the blv's I did notice a diffrence in growth. I also notice that the par reading was a huge diffrence between the two. I would also be intrested in the xm10 since I realy dont care for the growth of the pheonix.

 

[brad23]

You should have come over and seen the XM 10k next to a 14k while I still had the bulb. One look would have been enough to make up your mind.

 

[clkwrk]

I get very very good growth rates with my PHX14k........but there's more to growth than spectrum

 

[Ti]

20% is pretty considerable.

 

[poknsnok]

use the 10k with lots of geisenmann super actinic... I like the color of the 10k. I did notice when I replaced my 2x250 and My 1x400 that this time around the 10k were a little less yellow. the yellow has been a problem but this new group of bulbs looks great.

 

[Horace]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7726097#post7726097 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by clkwrk
there's more to growth than spectrum

I would agree with you on that....

However, I am just curious how much of a difference the 10k would make. I dont know if I will be able to stand the yellowish look though. Right now I am running the Phoenix 14k with 2x54w T5 UVL Super Actinics and am very happy with the color. I think if I went with the 10k I would definitely need the B+ bulb because it is much brighter than the SA bulb, otherwise the actinic probably wouldnt hardly make any difference.

Either way, my phoenix bulbs are new (only 3 weeks old) so I will be sticking with this setup for atleast the next year. I can live with some what slower growth, so long as my tank looks good

 

[poknsnok]

my new set of xm 10k bulbs have no yellow whatsoever. and even my last set, which had a little yellow, the yellowing disappeared with the actinics on...

 

[SunnyX]

There should be no reason for you to swap out your Pheonix 14K for any other bulb. The Pheonix 14K to this day were the best bulbs I have ever used. I got great coloration and growth out of the Pheonix Bulbs.

 

[Ironman]

I have no yellow in my tank with 2 x 250W 10K XM's
Here's a pic of the XM's in action with 2 x Actinic VHOs and 2 x Super Actinic T-5's. No yellow that I can see?

 

[Horace]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7727741#post7727741 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Ironman
I have no yellow in my tank with 2 x 250W 10K XM's
Here's a pic of the XM's in action with 2 x Actinic VHOs and 2 x Super Actinic T-5's. No yellow that I can see?

Unfortunately I cannot fit that many actinics over my tank...As it is my 2x54w T5 barely fit in with the ROIII pendents.

 

[Ti]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7727741#post7727741 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Ironman
I have no yellow in my tank with 2 x 250W 10K XM's
Here's a pic of the XM's in action with 2 x Actinic VHOs and 2 x Super Actinic T-5's. No yellow that I can see?

That's awesome!

 

[Ironman]

Thanks Ti.

I achieved this colour when I switched brands of Super Actinic T-5's to UV (URI). The difference was very noticeable. Because of the T-5's being overdriven by the 660, my other T-5 lost their blue and became whiter. UV designed their T-5 lamps not to be affected by being overdriven. Not that I'm promoting UV or anything lol

Cheers

 

[TwistedTiger]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7727660#post7727660 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by SunnyX
There should be no reason for you to swap out your Pheonix 14K for any other bulb. The Pheonix 14K to this day were the best bulbs I have ever used. I got great coloration and growth out of the Pheonix Bulbs.

Just curious, but why did you switch to the XM 20k if you liked the Phoenix 14k so much? I currently run Phoenix 14ks DE as supplementation to my Iwasaki 65ks SE but am thinking of switching them to XM 20k because the 65ks drown them out. My 14ks are 150w and 65ks are 250w so I may need the more blue 20k to supplement while the 65ks provide all the par I need.

 

[Fliger]

Looks nice Ironman. I am also running two BLK 14K bulbs (really a 10K) with two 54W T5 URI tubes, and two 54W Giesemann Blue+ tubes, all driven off a 660 (run them ~85W each). I am getting an awesome color and truthfully in just two weeks I've seen a growth spurt. My ca/alk has also dropped.

Obviously people have good growth with Phoenix and I did for quite a while as well, but I am really enjoying this color combo. Plus the tank looks wicked with just the T5 on. ;-)

I'm putting in some Phoenix bulbs this week or next just to see what it looks like. I run HQI though.

 

[Ironman]

Thanks Fliger,

I noticed growth within two weeks of switching to the XM's. The XM 10K on their own are very bright and white, at least for me they were. You can tweak the XM a bit if you are getting some yellow by turning the bulb a little. You definitely need actinic supplementation with them.

Nice avatar by the way

Cheers

 

[Horace]

Unfortunatly my tank is a 75g and only 18" wide so i lack the room to add in 4 additional supplements. I tried to fit 3 T5s but that was a no go. It looks like I am going to have to stick to the Phoenix in that case. I also have quite a bit of light over such a small tank....2x250g over a tank that is 48"x20"x18" is quite a bit. Tank looks great!