Reeflux or XM Bulbs

[mcox33]

Okay I know some of you have tried the reeflux and or XM bulbs. What are your opinions of them. I am considering the 15K XM or the 12K REEFLUX.

Does anyone know how these compare to the Hamilton 14K bulbs.

Let me know your opinions, as I need to order new bulbs soon.

Thanks

 

[radone]

This is going to depend on what your keeping and what you like.
Personally I'm running 250W XM 10K's on Icecap ballasts and love the look and growth rate

I used to run Ushio 10K's and had good luck with them. As for the Hamiltons, IMO they are crap, I did borrow a 14K Hamilton from afriend and loved the color but on an Icecap they don't give the growth I want.


May want to check out this issue of Reefkeeping Magazine pretty good article about lighting

Good Luck in your decision, if you think you might want a look at the 10K's I can send some pictures or your more than welcome to come and check them out, I'm only 40 minutes from Ironton

 

[mcox33]

Thanks but with 400 watts on a 90 and liking the blue look, I love the color of the hamilton's, had very good growth rate with them, but they seem to last about 6 months then they start fading and growth seems to slow. I had 14k and loved the color, but for the price I thought I might find something that would look good and still give good growth for 9 months to a year.

 

[1package]

I am using and have used both. I currently have a 400w 12k Reeflux in the center and 250w 10k XMs on each side. I had been using 250w Reeflux prior to changing to XM.

I definitely like the 12k look, enough blue but not too much. I do however have 320w of superblue actinics so without those, you may like the 14k.

I had a Reeflux 10k 250w get hit with a water splash and cracked. It was about 8 months old. I was surprised to see that when I replaced it with my spare how yellow the older one (other side) had turned.

In addition, when I went with the XM bulbs I immediately had algae blooms. Seemed as though the XM bulbs had a lot more punch in them as opposed to the Reeflux. The 10k Reeflux were definitely more blue than the XM. The XM have a tint of yellow, in my opinion...........but you are not going 10k, just thought I would throw that in. I would expect 14k XM to be less blue than 14k Reeflux based on what I saw with the 10k bulbs.

Lastly and most importantly - the Reeflux bulbs sometimes will not fire up with a magnetic core/cap. type ballast. If you do not have an electronic ballast - they may not work. My 400w Reeflux bulb would not fire on my ballast or Philips. It was not until I changed ballast that I could use the bulb. I had no issue with 4 250w Reeflux bulbs, just the 400w and I was not the only one.

I have used both and next time will continue to go XM, just an opinion.

I have never used Hamilton so I can not comment on them vs. others.

 

[eckrynock]

It seems from Sanjay's studies that the XM and Hammy are pretty much the same. I would expect the XM to be a LOT bluer though, more like 20k. They both have about the same PPFD rating. Reeflux 12ks have a lot better PPFD rating and will probably be little "whiter" than the Hammys. This is on Icecap electronics. For Mags, the XM is the winner. On HQI, I would get the Reeflux.

I've had XM 10k, Reeflux 10k & 12k, and Hamiton 14k all on 250w magnetics. The 12k is by far my favorite bulb. Growth was best from XM 10ks though.