XM 15000K MH Lamps

[DougSupreme]

anybody running these? I'm about due for new lamps (currently 250W 10k) and I'm wondering how these look/perform(PAR). I'm happy with the XM 10k but I have no ability to add actinic supplementation so I think I'd like to try the 15k version. I'm also only currently looking at the XM lamps because of price and track record, although I would be open to suggestions for other manufacturers.

 

[BreadmanMike]

Go with the XM 20k. They look better then the 15k IMO and have a little better par.

 

[DougSupreme]

not too blue are they? I like the white look of the 10k but want the ability to have some flourescence

 

[BreadmanMike]

Depends on your ballast. They run a bit bluer on my ARO magnetic ballast then they do on my Sunlight Supply magnetic ballast.

How will you be running them?

 

[DougSupreme]

it will be run on a Sola Basic magnetic ballast.

 

[BreadmanMike]

See if someone local has a 20k you could pop in

 

[DougSupreme]

I live in 'Bear'bonnais. not many RCers local to me.

 

[DougSupreme]

BTW why do you feel the 20k look better than the 15k? just wondering why the preference

edit: misspelled word

 

[BreadmanMike]

My wife is from Bradley... My buddy is married to one of the Jaenieckie's(sp?) Good grub there!

If you had 400's I would let you try one of mine. If blue is not your thing, then go with the 15k to be safe.

 

[BreadmanMike]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8070268#post8070268 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by DougSupreme
BTW why do you feel the 20k look better than the 15k? just wondering why the preference

edit: misspelled word

I like the blue bulb with purple actinic or a purple bulb like the radium with blue actinic. I hate the 10k look everything is so colorless... The 15k just wasn't blue enough for me.

 

[DougSupreme]

how in your opinion does the color of the 15k bulb look in comparison to the 20k? Not blue enough, too purple, etc?

 

[BreadmanMike]

It just didn't have enough blue for me. Without any actinic I would go 20k for sure, because I like that look. But like I said, if you don't go with the 15k. If par isn't a big issue with what you're keeping the 12k reeflux look great as well.

 

[RobTop]

Now I like the 15 over the 20. Felt the 20 was too blue for me. So it realyy comes down to what you like. I had 2 400w 20K and I wanted to put Led Zepplin on and "veg-out" with the 20K. Where's the lava lamp. The 15K gave a good color and wasn't an over powering blue IMO. I have 15K 175's on a prop tank if you want to see how they look and I still have the 20K's for the 400 you could check out too.
'Bear'bonnais where is that? Same as Invernais? If so in a week my commute will take me down 68 each day to work.

 

[DougSupreme]

Bourbonnais. Half hour south of I-80. Training camp home of the Bears: hence 'Bear'bonnais

 

[cw150]

I've used all of the 250 w XMs. The 15k have extremely low par. If you keep SPS I think they might suffer under anything less than the 10K moguls, which are intense compared the 15 and 20ks. If you don't have SPS and are just concerned with appearance, the 15s are slightly brighter than the 20s, but I think overall the 20s are nicer bulbs.

 

[Ramble On Rose]

I have the 400W XM 20K's over my 30 tall tank right now and I am happy to an extent with them. I bought the 15k's and they were a joke. They look like they put out about 1/3 what a new 20K puts out. Granted it is only to the human eye, but the 15K looks so dim, I took it out right away and never even used it. I know the par numbers on the 15k backed up what I saw so I do not think it is a good bulb at all.

 

[DougSupreme]

what about the 12k Reeflux bulbs? I've heard some nice things about them in the CIMA forum