Anyone changed from 10k to 20k Bulbs

[cali_reef]

peirce,
what bulb u are using?

mike

Cheap XM 10K with HQI ballast

 

[loismustdie]

Can you mix them? I run 2 20,000K and 2 10,000k. The mix looks great and you get the great PAR from the XM 10,000k.

 

[druluv]

Well I changed my bulbs, I changed from 10k ushios to 14k Coral Vue. The colors from the 14k are sweet. I am using a pulse start ballast though. I need to take some pics. I also inquired that usihio makes a 14k and 20k too! More on that later

 

[mshur]

Cheap XM 10K with HQI ballast

really, i found them to be on the yellow side...i think the bast 10k out there is blv. i would like to try 14k blv,but they not available here,yet.
i know chuck (moonpod) did try them out,but he wasnt so happy about it..

 

[MPISCIOTTI]

i use to run 400 radiums on a pfo pulse ballast. now im running 400 xm on a standard pfo ballast i like the xm much better

 

[Reefer420]

which would you guys pick to run a 20k 250w SE Radium bulb?

IceCap Electronic MH Ballast: 1-250W or

Sunlight supply
Blue Wave III MH Ballast: 1-250W HQI

 

[prattreef]

That depends. Do you want to run at close to bulb specs and have a quite blue 20K look---Icecap, or do you want to overdrive them with the HQI and get the great look people think of when they say Radiums BUT need to replace them every 6 months or so because they degrade quickly when overdriven?

 

[druluv]

Pfo Hqi

 

[Reefer420]

hmmm... man those are some tough choices. So the icecap is a really blue color? I want to have nice coral colors, but I'm not too into a dark blue looking tank...

The colors still pop on the corals w/ the overdriven Radiums (I know I'd like the look of the light better...) ? At least I'd only have one bulb to replace each time...

Do you mean like this PFO HQI ballast?

http://www.marinedepot.com/md_viewItem.asp?idproduct=PF1631

 

[prattreef]

Any HQI ballast overdrives SE MH lamps. The bluer the lamp, the less tolerant of the extra juice they are as the blue gases degrade faster than others. RD

 

[Reefer420]

Thanks! Is one brand of HQI ballast considered the best for this?

 

[prattreef]

Not positive, but I'd bet they are all the same ballast repackaged... I think it is a son agro 460 or something like that... Cali or anybody confirm this ? Randy

 

[cali_reef]

Not positive, but I'd bet they are all the same ballast repackaged... I think it is a son agro 460 or something like that... Cali or anybody confirm this ? Randy

Pretty much all the same spec coil(I am not sure on the son agro number) but different color exterior housing, some put fancy handles and timers on theirs:biggrin: .

 

[cali_reef]

Can you mix them? I run 2 20,000K and 2 10,000k. The mix looks great and you get the great PAR from the XM 10,000k.

A lot of people mix bulbs to achieve the color\looks they want in larger tanks. I know someone that uses same spec bulbs but different ballast to shift the color\looks of his tank.

 

[cali_reef]

really, i found them to be on the yellow side...i think the bast 10k out there is blv. i would like to try 14k blv,but they not available here,yet.
i know chuck (moonpod) did try them out,but he wasn't so happy about it..

Who you calling yellow:knockedou :lol:.. I would try some of the BLV bulbs if they don't break the bank to buy .

I like the XM10K on HQI with some super actinic supplement, they also look OK driven by a icecap without supplement, a little more blue. I use these bulbs because they are cheap and holds the PAR pretty well. I have one bulb that have been driven by IC250 for almost two years with only 10% loss in PAR value.

 

[mshur]

Who you calling yellow:knockedou :lol:.. I would try some of the BLV bulbs if they don't break the bank to buy .

I like the XM10K on HQI with some super actinic supplement, they also look OK driven by a icecap without supplement, a little more blue. I use these bulbs because they are cheap and holds the PAR pretty well. I have one bulb that have been driven by IC250 for almost two years with only 10% loss in PAR value.

lol...))
to my eye ,all 10k bulbs looks yellow to me)... maybe i need to get glasses))
how do u check par loss?

mike

 

[cali_reef]

lol...))
to my eye ,all 10k bulbs looks yellow to me)... maybe i need to get glasses))
how do u check par loss?

mike

You should go spend some money and buy a pair nice glasses

With a nice toy ->> Quantum meter, http://www.apogee-inst.com/bqm_spec.htm

 

[Reefer420]

ouch! Any cheaper way to go about it???

 

[cali_reef]

ouch! Any cheaper way to go about it???

This is the cheapest way I know of.

 

[mshur]

wow,pretty expensive toy)
pierce, wich model do u have?