Shawnts106
New member
Oh, I will be combining the 10K with VHO actinics...
are reds bright, or burnt?
Vader... where do you search at for that???
are reds bright, or burnt?
Vader... where do you search at for that???
Scared of XM
- Thread starter Shawnts106
- Start date
Anemia
New member
I switched to 10k XMs on my 250w IceCap ballasts back in October. One thing everyone has right: they are bright as %$*#. They're the brightest bulbs I've ever burned and a bargain for the price.
I certianly don't think they're yellow, but I'm not 100% pleased with the color either. I like the Ushio 10k color much better and sometimes I wish I had just paid the extra to get another set of Ushios. My corals had better color under ushio than XM.
All that being said, my tank looked its best under radium, so when these XMs go I'm going back to 20k.
I certianly don't think they're yellow, but I'm not 100% pleased with the color either. I like the Ushio 10k color much better and sometimes I wish I had just paid the extra to get another set of Ushios. My corals had better color under ushio than XM.
All that being said, my tank looked its best under radium, so when these XMs go I'm going back to 20k.
I'm one of the guys who just replaced 3 Hamiltons with 3 XM 10k 175 watt, One of the bulbs was yellow, sent XM an E-mail, said to contact retailer. Forwarded message to TFP, they're sending Fed exp pick-up for bulb. Just hope the know the difference between 5 and 10k. I like the other two.
cwegescheide
YOU have been ignored!
I had SE 250W 10K Ushio's wth PFO ballast over my 90 and initially they were a little yellowish for maybe a week or so until they burnt in. After that they were a crisp white light.
Then I finally got my Giesmann Lights 2X250 DE w/13K megachromes. HOLY CRAP these things were bright.... I finally got the Pheonix 14K's in my fixture and I really like the looks of these bulbs... Nice blue and supposedly the Pheonix has good PAR.
Then I finally got my Giesmann Lights 2X250 DE w/13K megachromes. HOLY CRAP these things were bright.... I finally got the Pheonix 14K's in my fixture and I really like the looks of these bulbs... Nice blue and supposedly the Pheonix has good PAR.
Shawnts106
New member
I really wonder how many people have really actually had problems with XM10K's
and also, what is the burn in time for these XM10K bulbs and what would someone need to do to burn them in before use...??
Anyone using Blueline Eballasts either?
or ESU mag ballast retro?
and also, what is the burn in time for these XM10K bulbs and what would someone need to do to burn them in before use...??
Anyone using Blueline Eballasts either?
or ESU mag ballast retro?
mwood
Premium Member
I'm thinking about using them with eballasts. I know a guy here in Iowa that does and says they are fine. I assume if they are yellow, it's not a matter of burn in time. If I do go xm10k, I'm going to buy extras counting on issues. You get what you pay for. If you have money to burn, go for AC14k's.
jasonstr8up
New member
I had the XM 15,000. The color was nice but not bright. I switched them out for the Hamilton 14,000k's... awsome bulb. They are very bright and hve a perfect amount of blue. I use (2) 250watt SE along with (2) 46 1/2" VHO for atinics. I am very happy with the combo.
Anemia
New member
The burn in time on mine was probably 10-14 days. They didn't shift all that much, but they did seem a bit greener before the burn in.
I know you mentioned further up that you were interested in trying the coralvue's. Even with the minor glitches that XM seems to have, I would highly recommend them over the CVs. I burned the CVs for a month waiting for them to brighten up. They never did. Very poor par.
I know you mentioned further up that you were interested in trying the coralvue's. Even with the minor glitches that XM seems to have, I would highly recommend them over the CVs. I burned the CVs for a month waiting for them to brighten up. They never did. Very poor par.
Shawnts106
New member
Yeah, I dont think I will be changing brands of bulbs... going to stay with XM...
And I have still yet to hear anyone who has ran these bulbs on a Blueline Eballast or a ESU ballast..???
anyone out there???
And I have still yet to hear anyone who has ran these bulbs on a Blueline Eballast or a ESU ballast..???
anyone out there???
Yodeling
Premium Member
It was a thread exactly like this one that convinced me almost a year ago to buy the XM 10ks. What a mistake I made! The bulbs DO have a yellow tint and are definitely not "crisp white with a hint of blue". I run mine on a pulse start magnetic, maybe that makes the difference, I don't know. All I know is mine look like pi$$ and I've hated them ever since I got them. Yeah I tried re-orienting the nipple and all that bull people say makes them different color. Nothing helped. Yellow yellow yellow. Luckily I have VHO super actinics and they made the color bearable.
drtango
New member
I run a 250 XM on a blueline Eballast, no issues, nice and white. The other is on an icecap, visually no difference, both spec at a little over 10k on Sanjays plots.
I also have an XM 400 on a PFO HQI, amazing amount of crisp white-blue light.
I'm an XM fan, I run two 6 foot actinic VHO on a 180 and get great colors and growth (see gallery)
John
I also have an XM 400 on a PFO HQI, amazing amount of crisp white-blue light.
I'm an XM fan, I run two 6 foot actinic VHO on a 180 and get great colors and growth (see gallery)
John
snslarison
New member
Every lamp out there has people who love them and people who hate them. The bottom line is you have to look at pictures of tanks using XMs and see if they strike your fancy. I used Hamilton 14K, then XM 10K and then XM 20K. I will be going back to XM 10K again after the 20K's are used up. The crisp white color and growth is amazing. I would reccomend using them with actinic supplementation. That goes for any 10K IMO.
One more thing... I have heard that XM is very good about replaceing defective lamps. I havent had to do it but its nice to know.
Good luck!
One more thing... I have heard that XM is very good about replaceing defective lamps. I havent had to do it but its nice to know.
Good luck!
Shawnts106
New member
THANK GAH!!! I finnally find someone who runs them on this ballast!!!
Good... thats great news that you have then white... are you useing any supplimentation?
what do you mean by "both spec at a little over 10k on Sanjays plots."
sanjays?
Also for all you MH users... this is something I have always wanted to know... can I just plug the ballast up into a wall socket?
is 3 250w mh ballasts (electronic) going to be able to be run on just wall sockets???
let me know... At work we run them juts plugged into the wall... but we are not running 3 250watts on a eballast anywhere ... just 1 here and there... and hey are 400watt...
ALSO, I am really thinking of going with the 10K XMS now!!!
So... I will be running (3) 250watt XM10K's on (3) Blueline E-Ballasts also I will be running (4) 110watt 46.5inch VHO's... 2 actinics and 2 fifty-fifty's.... I also want to put 2 160watt 72inch VHO's on the tank... but I duno if I should get both actinics or both 50/50's... what do you guys think?
I dont want an overpowering blue... just a nice noticable hint, with a primary sunlight bright white/blue look....
I CANT WAIT TO GET THEM!!!!
with (3) 250MH, (4) 110VHO, and (2) 160watt VHO's on there I will be getting exactly 6wpg.... my tank now with only 440watts VHO on a 75 gallon gets 5.8wpg... so this way its not so much of a shock... but I still know that I have to light acclimate my corals...
do you guys think that 6WPG is too much? I will be PRIMARILY keeping LPS... some softies and just a few SPS... birdsnest, some Blue acros, yellow acros and a tricolor... hydno, monticap and montidig, porties and possibly just a few more...
Keep in mind that these SPS are going to be placed at the top...
None of the SPS will be placed on the bottom, except for acclimation, and I might be able to get away with putting a Monti Cap mid ways...
I am NOT an SPS crazy person... but do however like them...
My favorite corals are Euphyllids..... and out of that are the Torch Corals... I love torches... and I want at least 3 to 5 different color forms in my new tank..
So far I have a purple and Yellow tipped large 8 to 10 inch colony, a small 3 polyped (3inch or so) Super green and Pink tipped colony, and I will have a Teal Green and Neon Yellow/green colony by monday or so!... I LOVE TORCH CORALS!!!
I also want to keep Hammers/Anchors.. right now I have a BEAUTIFUL hammer/anchor... purple and green tipped I am looking for a nice sized Green and Purple tipped, and a nice or small sized red and green tipped... I also want Frogspawn.. right now I have a green and purple tipped color form... and am looking for a yellow color form!
As you can see ... Euphyllids are my favorite!
I also, as far as softies go, am going to keep Tonga Yellow leathers, maybe 2 or 3... some shrooms, red, green, blue, purple, etc... some Ricordia, blue, orange, green, and lets see, ZOOS ZOOS ZOOS!! I currently have some AWWWWSOME frags, including Neon orang center and green rim, Green Rim and greensilver center, Orange Rim and blue center, Green rim, green mouth and blue surrounding, neon orange, and my newst DISCOVERY, an AWSOME Orange rim and HUNTER green center!.. also have some lemon yellow rim and lemon yellow mouth with a purple surrounding... anyway!
lets get back to XM!
I see this thread going far!
