250W SE XM`s or Aquaconnect Bulbs

[InADream]

I am getting ready to upgrade my lighting to 2x250W and I will be keeping a mixed reef... I am going to buy IceCap ballasts and need to know which is a better bulb for growth... how does each one compare color wise?

Dream

[jay24k]

XM will get better growth. However, they are both fairly close color wise but the AC does look a bit better by itself. If you have actinic supplementation, I'd go XM. If just the metal halide, I'd go AC.

[InADream]

Yeah I have 2 39 Watt actinic plus bulbs that add a ton of color to my present bulbs... Do you think thats enough?

Dream

[midas blenny]

i run 2 actinics 54 watt t5. with 3 250 watt se. very happy . swithing to 400 soon

[jay24k]

If the actinic does a good job of adding blue, then go XM. Your growth will be insane.

[InADream]

Thanks Guys looks like I am going ot the XMs

Dream

[kdblove_99]

Why would XM have better growth than a bulb with double the par?

[jay24k]

AC do not have double the par of a XM. You must be thinking of the the 20K XM. He is referring to the 10K XM vs the 14K AC.