Differences in 20k MH bulbs???????

[Adam]

Hi, I am currently running 250w SE XM10k's over my 75 gallon, 2 of them, along with 2 110w atentic VHO lamps.
IMO, it is too yellow for my taste. SO, next year, I am going to switch to 20k XM's and still keep the VHO's atentic. This may be blue indeed, but I like blue, and I like pretty acro's.

Now for something else. I used to have 175w SE 20k's and they sure didnt seem very blue. They were hamiltons. I know that there is always different blue's or whatever by which company makes the bulbs, but is there a difference in how blue a 175w 20k compared to a 250w 20k? What about a 250w 20k compared to a 400w 20k? We are talking about single ended bulbs here.

And, is there a particular 250w SE 20k bulb that some people consider "the bluest".

Thanks

[nyfireman3097]

i have the xm 20k and to me its a nice blue not blue blue i think my coralvie 14k were more blue i think your nuts too i hae 10k xm'x also and think its a perfect white
Nick

[Adam]

Bleh! If I ran my10k's alone without the atentics, my tank would look horrible! So I am boing for 20k's because I read on more than one internet site that 20k's with atentics is best for keeping colors so that is what I am going with.


I wonder....how blue is the Coralvue 20k???

[nyfireman3097]

iits not keeping any color at all all it is doin is falsifying the color because when you have regular light on it that is the true color my corals colors are amazing and i use no actinics just 10k xm's
Nick

[Adam]

Do you use atentic vho's, t5,s or PC's???

[nyfireman3097]

NO just MH i use my 20k as a dusk and dawn simulater
Nick

[SeanCallan]

Adam, you may not have burned your bulbs in it seems. I've seen quite a few XM 10Ks and they are usually pretty white.

Remember, 20K is not going to give you nearly as much growth as a 10K bulb, you're getting color, but losing growth.

Look on RC, under the lighting forum, they have a sticky with all the various bulbs and the colors so you can look around and determine who has the best PAR and color.

[nyfireman3097]

the only color your getting out of 20k is how the blue from the bulb looks on the actual color of the coral
Nick

[SeanCallan]

Yup. I definitely don't like the blue look of a 20K tank with Actinics, it hurts your eyes.

A 10K or a 14K with a nice blend of 20K is perfect. You can still see the true colors of the coral too.

EVC 10Ks are some nice white bulbs, their 20K is supposed to be nice as well.

[nyfireman3097]

i heard the same of the 10k's
Nick

[CosmoKramer]

Adam,10k XM's should have a crisp white color to them.I run mine without atinics.Try this unscrew the bulbs and put them back in with the nipple up or as close to up as you can get.It sounds weird but it works

[nyfireman3097]

yes that is very true nipple up
Nick

[Diesel3443]

omg........

[nyfireman3097]

take it u never knew that lol
Nick