yellow XM

[SueT]

I got my second set of 250w 10k XM's today and within 30min. one has tuned very yellow. I think I've read this happening to some and my question is if anyone has had this happen and if this light will brighten back up. I have already contacted Hellolights and they know the situation.

I'm just kind of wondering as both lamps burned in alike and into a nice bright, light blue and then within 30 min one has turned so very yellow.

 

[karsco]

Hi Sue,

I had brand new 10K 250W XM go out on me after 2 weeks, luckily Hello lights replaced it no cost. I have used the XM bulb's for the last two years without incident until last month. My new XM bulb that HL sent me has been working fine for the last three weeks and has a bright white color it should have.

To answer your question I have never had an XM bulb go yellow on me like you have. The only bad thing I can say about the XM bulbs is that it seems like there is a quality control issue.

 

[SueT]

Hey Thanks for the info. I guess I was just blown away by the frist set as I had no problems at all with them. They lasted a full year with no color shift in my acropora. So I wanted to go with another set and this happens. I thought I'd read some threads about this happening but I had not had that happen to me.

Now I'm majorly concerned about my acropora til a new light could be shipped and will it be another yellow one or a "good" bulb.

 

[Ed Hahn]

Hey Sue,
What type of Ballast are you using to run your XM bulbs? I am planning on trying two 10K XM 250 watt Metal Halides bulbs. I am considering running a HQI ballast and a magnetic ballast side by side. I am concerned If I do have a issue if bulb is guaranteed?
Thanks in Advance
Ed

 

[SueT]

Hi Ed, I'm using a regular PFO ballast. I am also running 2 of these blubs over my 120g. Thats why this yellow is so telling. The other new bulb looks as good as I remember them looking when I got my first set last year. And still funny that when I put them in that both bulbs looked awesome for 30min and then the one turned yellow so fast.

I did contact Hellolights and they said for me to give them time to burn in but from what I have gathered once yellow they don't seem to turn back to good. HL also said they would send me a new bulb but now I'm worried the new may be bad too.

 

[reedman]

I run them on the Icecap ballasts and they are crisp white. Make sure the nipple is pointed up. You will get a color shift if it isn't (my own experience here). Out side of that they seem to be a good value, but like you say Sue, their quality control leaves something to be desired. Hope the new bulb finds you quickly and without any problems.
-Reed

 

[SueT]

Reed, Thanks for that idea. I will definitely check and make sure I got things going the right way. I may have been too excited to get them in and not made sure of that.

Thanks again...

 

[mojoreef]

Oh yea just when I break down and buy one I got to hear this, lol


Mike

 

[NaH2O]

Sue - check out dgasmd's thread. He had yellow issues with his XMs, too. Start with post #69, and several after that. Then onto the next page, post #84:

A 750 g SPS system is born - page 5. (there was confusion on which bulbs are yellow, but alberto corrected himself to say the XMs were yellow)

 

[SueT]

Hi Nikki, Thanks for that link. I must be in the same boat so to speak regarding these yellow XM's. I did check all things to make sure they were in the correct positioning place and still yellow after 3 days. I did contact the supplier and they assured me replacements are on the way. I knew of bad batches with these lights but my first couple were so awesome that when it came time to replace no other brands were considered. I love the coloration and growth I got from these lights.

Mike, just think of it as an adventure. You might get a good light.... :lol:

 

[SueT]

Last update on the yellow XM. I got my replacement light yesterday and put it on for fire up this morning. Fingers crossed, breath held and it fired up to such a nice crisp blue/white.

And it's stayed that way all day. My tank finally looks like a full reef instead of half yellow and half blue/white.

 

[MtnDewMan]

Excellent ...

Hey Sue ... have you ever tried the Hamilton 14000k bulbs? I am currently using those and I am really liking the results.

 

[SueT]

Hi Chuck, long time no speak... No, the only bulbs I have ever tried in my years are the iwasaki's and these XM's. I like the XM's better than the iwasaki's.

Are these Hamilton's SE?? I'm still using SE bulbs and I am not wanting to try to get into redoing everything for DE. [Unless I have to] :lol:

 

[MtnDewMan]

Yes, they are SE's ... I moved away from the DE bulbs long ago ... I have been looking a lot at bulbs over the years and I think I am happy with these the most so far.

 

[nyfireman3097]

hey sue do you have any pics of what the color looks like i just went from 3 400w 20k xm's to 2 10k on the out side and a 20k in the middle on my tank and i dont know if mine are more yellow then they should be ?
Nick

 

[SueT]

Chuck, where is a online supplier that carries the Hamiltons?? I just checked Hellolights, where I got the XM's and they don't have them listed. Never hurts to check things out. :lol:

Nick, I don't have any current pics of this lighting but I can give you a link to a site that has pics of all the lighting setups and the appearance with and without actinics. Hopefully that will help you out. I have noticed that when either of these lights have burned in that this time around I have "not" noticed the pink-ish hue like I did the first time I started with the XM's.

http://www.cnidarianreef.com/lamps.cfm

 

[MtnDewMan]

I got mine from Marine Depot ... Click on their link from our Sponsors Page

 

[nyfireman3097]

I would stick w/ the XM 10k w/ Supp. they are one of the best for par out there which equals growth JMO
Nick

 

[BCT182]

I have to go with chuck, Im running two 175w 14,000k hamiltons and they are SWEEEET!

 

[nyfireman3097]

have you ever used 10k XM before the 14k ? thats the bug question
Nick