Just recieved BLV 14K SE

[gqjeff]

Thanks, Chuck... I will be putting this on later tonight and I will get back to everyone as to my liking of the bulb.. I am very hard to please so we will see... I have only heard good things and I am hoping this is the BULB I have been waiting for for 10 yrs with actinic supplimentation... I love the xm20k but if it was just brioghter it would be even better.. I am hoping this bulb with the mix of actinic and blue+ will do just that...

Peace, Jeff

[Aged Salt]

Jeff, what's your back-up plan? Bob

[gqjeff]

Stay with the xm 20 k heheheh.. Well first observation after taking it out of the box is that its the most rattling bulb I have ever heard...

[moonpod]

yeah, the things jiggle like crazy.

[Orion76]

hahaha, who WTB a barely used BLV 14K bulb

[gqjeff]

Ok Bulb fired right up on the blue wave standard probe start M59 ballast. First fire up running along the xm20K is a white light with a hint of yellow.. Rem this is running along side of the 3 xm 20k's also so I know that is making it look more yellow then it is.. I will let it run for 2 weeks or so and see if I like it any better? At 1 day its a good bulb but still not visually as pleasing as my xm 20K heheheh.. Reeflux 12k you are my last bulb to try heheheeh... At this point it looks like the xm20k for me will be hard to match for overall color and visually pleasing to my eyes... Bulb for sale, another bulb maybe for sale hehehehe... If you like the 10k with a little better color this may be the bulb for you.. Its nice and bright too...

Jeff

[moonpod]

white with a hint of yellow??? those XM 20ks have crossed your eyeballs up!

[Orion76]

Jeff, I gave Blueline 1000 watt 20K bulbs a try on my tank. I got rid of them because they were too blue but knowing you this might be just the thing for you. I would compare their look with Phoenix 20K bulbs.

They are like actinics with more PAR than 6400K 400 watters

[gqjeff]

HEHEH gotta stay away from 100 watters.. Yea the Xm 20K have made my eyes delusional... I am thinking after some burn in they may be more pleasing to me...

[Orion76]

They're hot and expensive to run but I think this is the bulb "you have been waiting for for 10 years", I mean they are BLUE

And since blue is your favorite color they'll make your wife even prettier as her face is sure to turn blue when she sees the electricity bill

[gqjeff]

HEHEH thats true... No I REALLY like the xm for color and growth but always looking for something better.. Gotta try everything before you knock it.. Like I said only burned for 5 hrs so far so I know for sure it should change some after 2 weeks... I will report back after another week or so...

Jeff

[gqjeff]

$87 shipped.....

[moonpod]

Jeff you need to get a Helios 20k bulb

[gqjeff]

I might try that one too heheheh.. I have a Reeflux 12k coming already hehehe... I like the xm 20k how does the Helios compare.. I guess I should just stay with what I like but I like trying them all so I can give an honest opinion and try all the hot new bulbs... I am redoing my canopy this winter and I think that will also help make the vho and t5 supplimentation better too... Then I might try the reeflux 10k again as I do think that is an outstanding bulb and really makes some coral colors pop and has a crazy sweet flourecent.. I am not sure how to describe it.. Of the 2 bulbs the 10k reeflux looks VERY similiar with a little more pink then the blv 14K.. I would go with the RF10k over the blv for cost and coral colors under it... I have only had the blv 14k running for 2 days but I have not read about the color changing at all after burn it...

Jeff