quick lighting question

[charliethetuna88]

hey everyone just want an opion on metal halide bulbs,i am running 250 watt hamilton 14k bulbs ,i love them the coler is great ,but im thinking of ordering the xm 250 watt 15k bulb i m not sure how that bulb looks ,im looking for any opions on them both ,please help me make up my mind im going nuts ,oh yeh and im useing them on my 120gal reef tank mostly softys ,clams and lps,the bulbs will be run by icecap ballast.thanks again any opions will be greatly apprecaited.:scratch:

 

[jackson6745]

They suck

 

[charliethetuna88]

which ones jackson the xm right i think u actually told me to get the hamiltons last time

 

[jackson6745]

XM15k are very dim and blue. Your IC ballast will only make them more blue looking.

Do you use actinics with your halides? If so what are you using?

 

[Tonyscoots84]

something u might like and is a great bulb that i personally like alot is the xm 10 k 250 watts but they need to be supplimented with actnics... i use tek t5 super uri bulbs... after the xm's are burnt in they will look super white... im also running them on an electronic ballast from hellolights.com....

what color are u looking for, a really blue look or a white with a touch of blue...

 

[charliethetuna88]

yeh i have 440wattof vho actinic bulbs but i dont run them at the same time i run the actinic 2hours before the halides go on then the halides go on and the actinics go of ,i dont think i need to run both at the same time .i really only have torches frospawn couple of caps a bubble coral and a bunch of softies shroom button polps and stuff like that ,i was origanilly going to run the actinic with 10k but i think just the 2 250 watt mh 14k are more than enofe for the typ of coral i have .running 10k and the actinics would probally be a waste whatta you guys think?

 

[Tonyscoots84]

yea since u got softies and such i wouldnt bother... i would stay with the hammys 14k... i used them when my 75 gallon was up and running and i liked them alot... they are a much better bulb then the xm 15k.... maybe someone else could chime in with a bulb that would be good in that 14 k area...

 

[charliethetuna88]

but im kindda right with not running both right tony