Radium vs 10k

[JVJordan]

Ah yes just checked it out. Thanks! But no reeflux from what I see.

Sanjay has Reeflux bulbs in his database. They are under Coralvue, the manufacturer.

 

[Bpb]

I could be crazy, but after only 4 days of the bulb change, my zoas are all about 50% more inflated and expanded. Which is the opposite I what I expected. Acropora polyp extension is better than I've ever seen it, zero bleaching, and noticeable growth. Not tremendous but noticeable. Very very happy with them.

 

[whiteshark]

I could be crazy, but after only 4 days of the bulb change, my zoas are all about 50% more inflated and expanded. Which is the opposite I what I expected. Acropora polyp extension is better than I've ever seen it, zero bleaching, and noticeable growth. Not tremendous but noticeable. Very very happy with them.

Yeah I'm thinking I'm going this direction as well. 10k XM here I come! My heaters will be happy not be having to be on 24/7 as well.

 

[tdb320reef]

Sorry to revive an old post but I am looking to replace my SE 250 Watt Radium Bulbs for a "whiter" bulb. I narrowed it down to 10K Xm or Ushio 10K. I am not up to speed on experimenting with different MH bulbs.

My current light profile is a DIY Light Rack

8 54-Watt T5's Over Driven with Icap 660 about 80 watts each and I am running 4 ATI Blue Plus along with 4 ATI True Actinics brand new bulbs

In addition I am running 96 Cree Royal blues and 24 Cree blues on 90 degree optics approx 400 watts LED Blue

and finally I have 4 250 watt Radiums runnning on M80 ballast 2 Sunlight supply and 2 AquaMedic Cubes with Lumenmax 2 reflectors (needed small form factor)

As you can see I have way too much blue. Of the two above bulbs which one would you select to replace the Radiums(Single Ended) on M80 Ballast?

Also

I run the t5's for 10 hours, MH for 6 hours and LED for 12 to 14 hours. How would you recommend acclimating corals with the new bulbs considering the PAR doubles based on Sanjay's research?

I have several large SPS colonies and the tank is 95% Acropora Species.

Thank you in Advance.

 

[USAFReefer]

Been down this road before, here are some pictures that may help with your decision.

XM10k on Icecap Electronic Ballast

XM10k on M80 Magnetic Ballast

PAR readings of XM 10k

PAR readings of Radium 20k

 

[JB NY]

Luckily I had this exact same question a while back and did all the research for you.

http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2007-04/jb/index.php

There are pictures and PAR data for almost every bulb and ballast combo at the time. I sent all my bulbs to Sanjay after I tested them to be included with his research too.

So having run all those bulbs over my tank, I would pick the XM10k over the Ushio 10K.

 

[tdb320reef]

Luckily I had this exact same question a while back and did all the research for you.

http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2007-04/jb/index.php

There are pictures and PAR data for almost every bulb and ballast combo at the time. I sent all my bulbs to Sanjay after I tested them to be included with his research too.

So having run all those bulbs over my tank, I would pick the XM10k over the Ushio 10K.

Excellent Research! - I just ordered the XM10K's 250W. Did you have any issues running them on HQI? How long do you think they will last considering it is not the correct ballast?

 

[JB NY]

I did not run them long term on an HQI ballast. I ran them on ice caps. But I know a number of people who did. Change them at the one year mark and you should be fine. I measured my XM10k after a year on electronic ballast and the PAR was less than 10% what is was when new! so the bulbs keep well. They are VERY bright on HQI.

 

[Greg 45]

JB NY can you overdrive the 250 watt xm bulbs.
I am running the phoenix 14 k looking 4 a change
tanks are 4 x8 16 inches water depth SPS and anemones
running on a light rail

 

[dadummy]

how do the XM 10k DE bulbs compare to single end?

I have Blue Wave M80 ballasts with Reef Optics pendants that are double ended, looking for a white bulb..

thanks

 

[tdb320reef]

how do the XM 10k DE bulbs compare to single end?

I have Blue Wave M80 ballasts with Reef Optics pendants that are double ended, looking for a white bulb..

thanks

In my research, That ballast is the correct spec for the XM DE 10K bulbs.


http://xmlighting.com/frequentlyaskedquestions1.aspx#faq2

 

[dadummy]

thanks..

 

[Peter Eichler]

If I had faster growth than I get with my Radiums I'd be pulling my hair out trying to keep things from killing one another, it's bad enough as it is... And they wouldn't look quite as good IME.

 

[Amatuer21]

Got my bulb from eBay for less than 12 bucks, works great but has a slight flicker. Coral growth comparable to when a had my radium running.

 

[USAFReefer]

How long do you think they will last considering it is not the correct ballast?

On my setup the XM10k lasted 90 days on the PFO M80 ballast before it reached 80% intensity. Radium I would get 6 months. That was just the point I chose to replace bulbs, others go down to 70% and can get 6-7 months.

Remember, on the M80 ballast, the 250w XM runs at 330w, really over driving the bulb. On a Radium 250w, it runs at around 270w so it last longer and was designed to run on that ballast.

 

[JB NY]

I don't think you need to run an XM10k on an M80 ballast, if you have no choice I understand but other than that, the bulb puts out so much light you should use a normal ballast if you can.

 

[Bpb]

I'll chime back in on this thread resurrection. My xm10k switch was fairly short lived. My tank seemed to do well initially with it but took a nose dive a couple months ago. I think it may have been a combination of too high of par plus a feeding error (possibly contaminated food). I've lost almost every single acropora in the tank, save a handful of tiny frags which don't grow, just kinda stagnant. Also lost several of my favorite montipora colonies (undata, mind trick namely).

I'm letting my tank go acro fallow for 6 months or so before trying again. I've since then switched back to my old radiums (9 months use on them so far), and loaded up on lps and am going Lps dominant with a handful of my remaining sps that get to stay. Once these radiums hit the 12-16 month mark, I'll debate on buying new radiums, or going led entirely. Sad stuff

 

[tdb320reef]

I am on One week so far with the 10K's and they are pretty yellow. Even running with 400 watts of led blue and 8 T5's it still looks yellow. No changes in the coral color but I am seeing a lot of new growth tips. The Coraline Algae is also getting much more of a Rich color. The Reds and Purples look great.

In another note, I am not sure how they published that the par was double that of the radium. I measured par at the waters surface with the electric setting and the XM10K was about 1800 and the 6 month old radium's was about 1600. I am not buying it.

 

[jackson6745]

14k Aquaconnet was the answer for me. This bulb gives that crazy blue pop like the 10k reeflux, but the overall spectrum is not overly blue. I run a 400w AC 14k with 3 blue+ 1 purple+, and 2 blue led reefbrite. The par and spectrum bring a tear to my eye lol

PAR at the water surface with this halide was 820. I thought that was kind of high. Corals love it though.

 

[Bpb]

14k Aquaconnet was the answer for me. This bulb gives that crazy blue pop like the 10k reeflux, but the overall spectrum is not overly blue. I run a 400w AC 14k with 3 blue+ 1 purple+, and 2 blue led reefbrite. The par and spectrum bring a tear to my eye lol

PAR at the water surface with this halide was 820. I thought that was kind of high. Corals love it though.

Call me a dork but I'm glad you replied to this thread. You've got what I have long believed to be the best looking tank on reef central. I've seen the pics of the new AC bulb you switched to. They look fantastic. Would you think there to be any benefit to growth and color for Lps corals in particular with this switch? New bulb time is soon upon me as these radiums are approaching a year old now. Considering those AC bulbs as they're one of the only other mogul bulbs designed for an m80 ballast which I run. I am not really keeping acropora anymore unfortunately so I don't really need the par. I love the color I get out of the radiums but the tank is still a touch blue.