Lighting Feedback

[Kensn]

I am currently running 250wt SE Iwasaki 6500k bulbs, and wanting to go to a higher spectrum. Can I get some feedback on XM 10ks. I looked at sanjay's site and saw they had good PPFD with my Icecap ballasts. Looking for all ideas on these or other bulbs.

 

[big t]

Hey ken, I have been running them for a while, since feb 03. I have been pretty happy with them, and have briefly tried 20k radiums and 15k xms. I am back to 10k xm's now and have had pretty good luck. On my first batch I did get a bad bulb, but the second batch has been fine. If you look in my gallery most all the pix are w/ the xm 10k and no supplimentation.

 

[Kensn]

Good to hear, and your pics look great. I don't like the look of too blue of bulbs, and don't want to sacrifice my par too much either. I was looking at the 13s, 14s and 15s, but they seem just a little bluer, but I think the par goes down quite a bit on those. What didn't you like about the 15s.

 

[big t]

Well they were way too blue and dimm w/ my ballast, I did try them on Todd's hqi ballast and they were much whiter and brighter. I also found out that they are one of the lowest par bulbs available after I already had them running. I bought them the day they came out pretty much. I went down to Portland last week and the 2 tanks that impressed me the most were running 10k bulbs. The pinks are so much pinker and everything else looked super hot. I think that I will stick w/ 10k, and maybe get some suplimentation eventually.

 

[Kensn]

What ballasts are you using? I am thinking of running my 2 4' vho attinics still if I get the 10ks, does that sound like a good combo to you?

 

[WaterDogs]

I run 10K XMs 250 watt and like them too, I will be replacing them with the same thing in a few months when the time comes. I keep a lot of clams and 10K is by far the best and most recommended bulb for them. As they say my tank just pops with XMs.

 

[Kensn]

Waterdogs, what ballast are you running them with? Are your gallery shots taken under them as well?

 

[WaterDogs]

ARO electronic - 2 of them. Before these I ran magnetic ballasts which worked very well too until they got hot and would buzz.

 

[WaterDogs]

Yes, the gallery shots are under the 10K XMs.

 

[Kensn]

Thanks, I have icecaps, so I was hoping electronic ballasts would do the job ok.

 

[big t]

I have a pulse start, yes that sounds good. Mattseattle was running that combo and it looked nice.

 

[Kensn]

Thanks Tom, this is all sounding very good. Will order very soon if I don't hear anything really bad, but with this feedback I don't expect anything.

 

[Krish]

Have you forgotten I was around...Those lights suck! I'd rather use a candle or sit by the tank with a flashlight than to use one of those things! (LOL) Just Kidding You guys are speaking greek to me, however Big T's tank does look good so I say, "What's money if not to spend"!

 

[Kensn]

Its all the better when I get the wife to think its her idea!!

Ken

 

[Krish]

I wish I had that luxury...My wife doesn't understand any of the tank stuff, but when her friends and family come over and complement the tank over her decorations, she wants to pretend she had something to do with it LOL.

 

[Kensn]

Ok one more question here. I have ordered my XM 10k lights, and was wondering if I should change them one at a time, or can I do both together. The PPFD acording to Sanjay's site are with 5 points. I would think I could change out both at once, but want to ask first.

Ken

 

[big t]

ya change them both. Add a couple layers of fiberglass screen (the kind for the screen door) over the top of the tank. Remove 1 screen after 1 week and the other the next week, that should do it for acclimation.

 

[Kensn]

Would that be just for the color shift then, since the intensity is about the same?

 

[big t]

Ya it couldn't hurt.

 

[spongebob lover]

sure ken and then you can add a wire under there and then go to the nearest fred meyer, QFC,Saveway whatever store is near by and then you get some nice big chickens or you can just go catch one and then kill it and try inserting it into the wire, make sure you leave space for your hand so you keep rotating it.
that way the juices fall into the fish tank (since we know for sure they like that blood) and you get and a nice tasty roasted chicken hmmm yum