PDA

View Full Version : Anybody find the XM 10K's to be yellowish?


falconut
02/25/2008, 07:05 PM
About a year ago I switched to Hamilton 14K's (250W) SE MH because all the XM 10K's(250W) SE MH bulbs I tried were all yellowish. They were previously a crisp white. But I tried 2 bulbs and both were yellowish not the crisp white. I use a Advance magnetic ballast. It wasn't the ballast because the old bulbs still burn white, even today.

Was this a problem they were having? I have been considering switching back to the XM 10K's because the corals seamed to grow better under them. I just can't stand the yellowish color. The Actinics wouldn't even help.

My LFS sells them now, so I'm considering buying 1 and trying, but they don't give returns only store credit. Is anybody using them with magnetic ballasts? If so, are they yellowish or white?

Thanks.

cccapt
02/26/2008, 07:16 AM
I run 175 XM 10K and it's a bright white on Advance f-can magnetic ballasts. No hint of yellow.

Mark426
02/26/2008, 08:29 AM
IMO...Every 10K I have seen (maybe 4 or 5 different) seem yellow, but my eye may be diff than yours. As mentioned, the ballast can make a big change in the way it looks. I think electronic ballasts generally give a more yellow look.

Dejavu
02/26/2008, 08:32 AM
When I ran them they seem a little yellowish to me. I was running them on a blueline-e ballast

DOTZ
02/26/2008, 08:37 AM
I bought one a few months ago for my m57 advanced ballast and it is very yellow/green, so I bought a 14k cheapy off of ebay and love it great color and bulb.

mg426
02/26/2008, 09:06 AM
They were to yellow for me too.

Fuzznutz
02/26/2008, 09:21 AM
I tried the DE version (M80 ballast) and it was very yellow to me. I went with the BLV/Ushio 14k and they are crisp white.

luke33
02/26/2008, 09:21 AM
^^^ to yellow for me on a m57 or an IC. I'm waiting for someone to chime in saying our water was yellow, but i assure you for me this was not the case. I hated the bulb, was hideous imo. Used it for a few weeks, then sold it for $10. Complete waste of money for me.

maui-reefer
02/26/2008, 09:57 AM
Has anyone an opinion on the color on an XM 10K 250 watt HQI (DE) on a Ice Cap Ballast?

Thank You,

Tony

hammmerhead
02/26/2008, 10:02 AM
I am having my first round of XM 400 watt 10k bulbs on blue lines. I have run Ushio 10k's and they were a little more white. The hint of yellow is to be expected with such a high par value bulb isn't it? I just figured that was how XM beat the other 10k's in par was being a little less than 10k. I have run the 20k MH's and just went back to 10's because of non existent growth. I think you are better off running 10's for your MH lights and adding actinics for color as opposed to running 20k MH bulbs and daylight bulbs for the additive...but Im oldschool. What is the difference in the par in a 10k when compared to a 14k bulb?

Dejavu
02/26/2008, 10:26 AM
hammmerhead- I have to agree. I never expected a "white" bulb with 10k XM's, but i didn't care for the color. The PAR difference on avg is around 200 between 10k and 14k. I like my 12k, don't have to run actinics. Less lighting less heat and so on.

hammmerhead
02/26/2008, 10:56 AM
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=11946191#post11946191 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Dejavu
hammmerhead- I have to agree. I never expected a "white" bulb with 10k XM's, but i didn't care for the color. The PAR difference on avg is around 200 between 10k and 14k. I like my 12k, don't have to run actinics. Less lighting less heat and so on.

I hear you on the heat issue Dejavu. I will be battling it this again this summer. I am running 2 400w. MH's and 4 160w VHO's in a 150 gal. I have cut back to only two VHO's because my shrooms and a few softies just wont adjust to that much light. Sometimes I wonder If I am still using too much light. I had some interest on the 12-14k bulbs before I went back to a 10k and will probably give them another look this fall when I replace with new. I basically just grabbed the highest par value 10k I could find being frustrated with the 20's.

falconut
02/26/2008, 11:06 AM
So it sounds like this could still be possible with them. The 2 old ones I have back on the tank look nice and white, but I'm affraid of the new ones being too yellow. I guess I'll have to decide if it's worth another try.

TomRep
02/26/2008, 11:17 AM
I just replaced my XM 250w SE 10k's for Refflux 12k's. Too yellow for me as well. As someone mentioned above, I can assure you it wasn't my water.
tom

VaderWS6
02/26/2008, 12:46 PM
When I first started using the XM 10k's, they were yellow. The second set were ULTRA yellow, like mountain dew. I sent them back, and XM sent me replacements that were white. I started using a PFO HQI ballast, and now they're ultra white.

falconut
02/27/2008, 06:17 AM
TomRep - How do you like the Refflux 12k's?

leoskee
02/27/2008, 06:39 AM
I had a problem with two XM 10K bulbs that were yellow after burning in. I contacted XM and they told me that I should make sure to screw the bulb in all the way and then give it a 1/4 turn back out. The guy explained that screwing the bulb all the way in can affect the color it gives off. I was also told by a LFS owner that you should screw the bulb in with the nipple (the extra sodering metal found on the outside of the bulb) facing up.