Good Bulb/Bad Bulb (XM 15k's)

[nasher8860]

Hey Whats up, I was just wondering if any one had these bulbs XM 15k's. Ive got a couple 175w coming.I wanted to hear any good/bad things about them. Did some research after I bought(stupid me) and I think if Im reading correctly are low in PAR rating. Was wondering if anyone likes/dislikes them. Any Info would be great period. Any Pics would be cool too, maybe some after Burn In. Thanks alot everyone.

Nash

 

[Mantis]

Send them back if you can, very low par, color, not that great

 

[mattseattle]

I've been using the XM 15k's for a few months now. I really like the color. Nice white/blue and I'm getting decent coral growth from them. Nothing like I was getting with the XM 10k's though but still overall good growth. I am using the XM 15k 250 watt version.

 

[big t]

I had the 250w versions as well. They were too blue for me and I didn't like them. My corals didn't seme to like them either but my tank was in a bad way when I had them and I think that it was just one more link in the chain of stresses.

 

[tamarindthai]

good color but not enough horse power,accroding from Kevin

 

[jlehigh]

Looking at Sanjay's spectral analysis it appears the Coralvue Reeflux 10K is everything we hoped the XM 15K would be depending on your ballast.

 

[Elmo18]

The XM15k is horrible....horrifyingly bad....for SPS...and anemones for that matter.

- Ilham

 

[mattseattle]

hey Elmo - why are they horrible?

 

[Elmo18]

Low PAR.

- Elmo

 

[mattseattle]

low par = horrible - hmmmmm......ok

 

[Elmo18]

low par = horrible - hmmmmm......ok

I guess we're not on the same page.

As always, IMO. Looks like you love your XM15ks. I just have a different view.

- Elmo

 

[big t]

Well Matt, are you running yours on HQI ballasts? If you are the par is better and the color is really nice. I tried one of my bulbs on a HQI ballast and it was a whole different bulb then on my standard ballast. Much brighter and a very nice blue white color. So that may be the difference in pages

 

[mattseattle]

yeah, that is the difference. i was just about to chime in and say i forgot to put that i'm running them on an pfo hqi ballast.

i'm about to try out the reefmax bulb though to see how they compare.

 

[mattseattle]

Sorry about that Elmo....

 

[Elmo18]

Sorry about that Elmo....

No worries dude.

Let us know how the ReefMax does for ya on the PFO HQI.
I went back to XM10ks on Electronic Ballast. Very white and crisp, even on the weakest ballast.

- Elmo