Post pics: XM 20000K and Radium 20000K

[Chibils]

I'm looking for pictures of tanks under XM 20K and Radium 20K. Since I've yet to see either of these bulbs in person, which do you recommend? From what I've seen, XMs are a bit "flat." A solid blue peak. The Radiums have more depth. Either way, it's cheaper to run XMs (ballast/bulb) and I'd like to see how both look before I buy.

 

[Goodwood]

Yo Vince, My LFS has XM & Radium side by side( 400W). I will try to get a pic next time I go by. The Radium is on HQI & XM is on M59, and to me they look identical.

 

[reefscape15]

I have a 250watt 20k XM on a magnetic M58 ballast with 4 24watt T-5s (12k, 10k reef blue, 460nm, and 420nm

 

[Toddrtrex]

Should note that pictures aren't the best, white balance, monitors will have an effect on how they will look.

With that out of the way, 2*250 20K XMs (( 1 96 dual actinic, 1 96 50/50 ))

Taken withOUT flash,

Taken with flash (( real life is about in the middle of these two ))

 

[Chibils]

I'm looking for something on the heavy blue end (that really makes the corals pop, as I can't fit any supplemental lighting in the canopy) like in Todd's first pic.

 

[Chibils]

How is growth with these bulbs?

 

[Toddrtrex]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14559797#post14559797 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Chibils
How is growth with these bulbs?

For me, almost too good.

This is 9 months of growth.

About 2 inches across,

At least 10 inches across now, and the tips have been broken off a lot-- cleaning the glass.

 

[Chibils]

[edit]. What's color like? Very blue?

 

[sw500]

I had radiums 400w 20k in for a week and took them out,not enough blue,on e ballast, got xms in now and just the right amount blue, and the bulbs last longer.

 

[Toddrtrex]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14559926#post14559926 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Chibils
[edit]. What's color like? Very blue?

I wouldn't say very blue, but blue enough for me. Maybe call it a crisp blue/white.

 

[Chibils]

How about Reeflux 20000Ks? I want something really blue. Not so much that it washes everything out, but my Reeflux 12000K is a crisp white with a hint of blue. Should I just stick with my 175s and run a Helios 20K?

 

[Toddrtrex]

From my understanding, the 20K XMs are one of the bluest bulbs, so I think you might have a hard time finding something that is a lot bluer.

 

[Chibils]

How about the Helios 20K? I've heard it's like a black light.

I'd be happy with my 175s if I can find a bulb I really like. I just wanted to upgrade to 250 so I could get more bulb choices.

 

[Toddrtrex]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14560226#post14560226 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Chibils
How about the Helios 20K? I've heard it's like a black light.

I'd be happy with my 175s if I can find a bulb I really like. I just wanted to upgrade to 250 so I could get more bulb choices.

Sorry, haven't used that one either.

One thing, I used to have 2*175 over this tank, and I tried a 20K XM, and it was too dim, like the color, but... That is why I upgraded to 2*250.

 

[Chibils]

I'm now interested in the Helios 20K and Reeflux 20K since I can stick with my 175.

 

[LunarDDS]

Remember that the diff wattage of the same bulb look different. You should specify that you want to see pics of 175 watt bulbs when you post. I know the 400 watt and 250 watt xm 20k look very different. I don't know about the 175 of any of them. I run 20K radiums 250s.

 

[Chibils]

How do you like your Radiums? How's the blue balance? How do the corals pop?

I wanted to see 250w pics because I was going to upgrade, but now I'm interested in the Reeflux 20K in 175 and 250 as well as the Helios 20K in 175.

 

[tigerarmy40]

Im currently running 250w 20k helios and they are very deep blue to almost a actinic look to them...much to dark for my likeing.

I just bought a dual 400w ballast and have been considering the xm 20k's, reflux 12k's and the ushio 20k's...anyone here have any experience with these two? I dont even know if I could run any of these on my ballast as its a pfo magnetic!

 

[Chibils]

It's half the wattage, but my 175w Reeflux 12Ks I have now are very white.

 

[sw500]

I had the 400w 12k on e-ballast there white with a hint of blue, I put in radiums not enough blue, more then the 12k reeflux. The radiums did make my corals pop more, but not enough blue. So I put in the xm20ks and it's just the right amount of blue,and my tank is bright.and I still have the pop on my corals.I think my corals like the xms better,some of them have better pe.