Why aren't EVC bulbs more popular?

[hobbzz]

Some of their bulbs out perform Radium and XM, so why aren't the more popular? Is there some data I'm missing? Do they not last as long?

 

[tkeracer619]

Some of their bulbs out perform Radium and XM, so why aren't the more popular? Is there some data I'm missing? Do they not last as long?

Outperform Radium? Only in marketing. These plots are from http://www.manhattanreefs.com/lighting

20k vs 20k

20k vs evc 14k

 

[r-balljunkie]

EVC's are good bulbs in general. i had one DE go out prematurely, but the 14K gives off a nice color. for the price point, i think they are a good option for bulbs.

i keep EVC's in my back up MH setup, ran them when i had a MH only for a few years.

 

[karsseboom]

Radium are one of the best bulb on the market. I have friends that use Evc but come on there are not better.

 

[hobbzz]

Radium aren't as blue as XM or EVC. And EVC put out more than XM. I thought I remembered a few sizes putting out more than Radiums as well, but I guess I remembered wrong. Still, XM's are pretty popular, put out less light, and cost more. At least the 400w 20k I'm looking at. Personally Radiums are too white for me.

 

[sirreal63]

Radium aren't as blue as XM or EVC. And EVC put out more than XM. I thought I remembered a few sizes putting out more than Radiums as well, but I guess I remembered wrong. Still, XM's are pretty popular, put out less light, and cost more. At least the 400w 20k I'm looking at. Personally Radiums are too white for me.

It would depend on the ballast as far as light output and color. When comparing the two on the same ballast the XM puts out a little more PAR and has a higher blue spike.

The EVC is a good bulb and nothing wrong with running it. I ran several scenarios and the EVC when run on 400 watt PFO HQI it did have higher PAR than the XM but not a higher blue spike.

If you are happy with it, I would continue to run it. Which ballast are you using? It does make a difference.

 

[hobbzz]

PFO 400w hqi. It's bulb change time and I was trying to decide between XM and EVC. Sanjays graph that I looked at had the XM at a little less output than the EVC, but a slightly larger blue spike. However a few people have said that the EVC 20k appears more blue to the eye than the XM. Just trying to narrow it down.

 

[sirreal63]

The XM should be run on an M59, on which it runs the best. The EVC seems to run the best on the PFO HQI. Unless you just want to try a different bulb, I don't think I would change, the drop in PAR with the XM on HQI would not be ideal. I also suspect that life on the XM would be reduced but I have not found anything concrete on that.

 

[hobbzz]

I don't run either bulb right now....

 

[sirreal63]

What are you running right now? FWIW I am not even sure who still stocks EVC bulbs.

 

[hobbzz]

Coralife 20k. Tb supply has them, but I'm leaning towards the XM.

 

[smariner]

Give the EVC lamp a try, you won't be disappointed!

 

[r-balljunkie]

XM 20K is ridiculously blue. i wouldnt run them as primary lights, unless you planned on supplementing them with T5- daylights...they're that blue IMO.

 

[6Speed]

I ran xm 20k on my old tank an loved it. I didn't think it was too blue.