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Acan Lord
07/27/2008, 05:04 PM
With a 250w mh with a 20k bulb what color will it show up as? If any one has a pic of what it looks like that would be appreciated alot thanks.

The Saltman
07/27/2008, 05:06 PM
A few variables here. What type of bulb and reflector is it? 20k is mostly a blue looking bulb, but it can vary depending on the type.

Acan Lord
07/27/2008, 05:11 PM
Im ordering of hellolights.com
It is a magnetic ballast, bulb is 250 watt 20,000K XM, and idk if this the type of reflector but it says Parabolic Reflector W/ Mogul. Hope this helps. There will also be T5 6,500K aquamedic planta and another T5 with TRU actinic.

Acan Lord
07/27/2008, 05:16 PM
O its probe start also dont Know if that changes anything

OliverM3
07/27/2008, 06:59 PM
The 20k XM was way to blue for my tastes.
The first day I came home from work I ran to the tank thinking my moon lights were still on.
Some people love them but you really need to like a dim blue tank.
With that bulb you wouldn't need any actinic lighting.

I went with the phoenix 14k after running the xm 20's for two weeks.
I think there are some pics in my gallery of the 14's and some 10's I was running.

Acan Lord
07/27/2008, 07:33 PM
That is what i was affraid of i thinki want a picture. What color would a 15K XM be?

OliverM3
07/27/2008, 07:45 PM
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13034512#post13034512 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by nanocube14
That is what i was affraid of i thinki want a picture. What color would a 15K XM be?

I only have a pic of my 10k's and here are my Phoenix 14s without actinics:

http://reefcentral.com/gallery/data/500/162483small76.jpg

Never did the XM 15's but the 10's were pretty white/yellow that's why I went right for the 20's.

Acan Lord
07/27/2008, 07:47 PM
Do you know anyone with a 15XM that i could look at? The 14K looks nice but it wasnt a choose on hellolights.

OliverM3
07/27/2008, 07:57 PM
I don't know anyone off hand with the 15 but I'm sure someone has a pic.

And I wouldn't worry if it's not a choice hellolights is a great online store I'm sure if you called them up they would put any bulbs they carry in your light.
I buy all my bulbs and fixtures from them.

Acan Lord
07/27/2008, 08:03 PM
Ok. They were the cheapest compared to everyone I saw. Do you know if the Phoenix 14s is magnetic ballast compatible?

OliverM3
07/27/2008, 08:12 PM
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13034744#post13034744 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by nanocube14
Ok. They were the cheapest compared to everyone I saw. Do you know if the Phoenix 14s is magnetic ballast compatible?

Yes the are I run them on a magnetic ballast.

Acan Lord
07/27/2008, 08:13 PM
The Phoenix 14s only come in DE. Do the the other 14K in SE look the same as the DE?

OliverM3
07/27/2008, 08:21 PM
No problem glad to help.
They are great bulbs and cheap too compared to some of the others out.

OliverM3
07/27/2008, 08:27 PM
oh I didnt realize you needed SE.
Ive never used SE maybe some one else knows a good one.

Toddrtrex
07/27/2008, 09:23 PM
I am running 2*250 20K XMs ( on a Galaxy ballast ) over my 58, and I love the color of them. Not too blue at all -- at least to me.

Pictures of bulbs isn't the best way to judge, camera settings can have a huge effect on how it looks. The best way is to look in person. But, with that said, here is a picture of mine.

FTS, with flash

http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y189/toddrtrex/FTS6_2_08flash.jpg

FTS withOUT flash

http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y189/toddrtrex/FTS6_2_08.jpg

Some close ups. (( darker then they are in real life. ))

http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y189/toddrtrex/sideshotfromright-1.jpg

http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y189/toddrtrex/sideshotfromright.jpg

This one is pretty close to real life,

http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y189/toddrtrex/Haddoniclam.jpg

Acan Lord
07/27/2008, 09:44 PM
Decisions decisions. Any one ever used corallife 14K se?

Toddrtrex
07/27/2008, 09:46 PM
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13035499#post13035499 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by nanocube14
Decisions decisions. Any one ever used corallife 14K se?

I haven't, and to be honest, I am not a fan of corallife products.

Acan Lord
07/27/2008, 09:53 PM
coralvue my bad. Dont know if it makes a diffrence

Acan Lord
07/27/2008, 10:15 PM
I just ordered and i went with the 20K 250 suplemented with 6500k and TRU 10K T5's hope i like how it looks.

OliverM3
07/28/2008, 05:51 AM
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13035705#post13035705 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by nanocube14
I just ordered and i went with the 20K 250 suplemented with 6500k and TRU 10K T5's hope i like how it looks.

It should be easier for you to get the look that you like.
I'm stuck using only MH's so I needed the bulb color to be perfect.
You can always adjust your suplemental lighting to get the perfect color.
I wish the K rating was standard across all brands but the vary so much you can't even use that as a deciding factor for bulb choice.
Good luck bulb color drove me nuts for months :)

Acan Lord
07/28/2008, 10:18 AM
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13036569#post13036569 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by OliverM3
It should be easier for you to get the look that you like.
I'm stuck using only MH's so I needed the bulb color to be perfect.
You can always adjust your suplemental lighting to get the perfect color.
I wish the K rating was standard across all brands but the vary so much you can't even use that as a deciding factor for bulb choice.
Good luck bulb color drove me nuts for months :)
Well the bulbs arent cheap so thats why it was driving me nuts trying to get the color i like so i geuss we can only wait.

OliverM3
07/28/2008, 10:53 AM
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13037803#post13037803 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by nanocube14
Well the bulbs arent cheap so thats why it was driving me nuts trying to get the color i like so i geuss we can only wait.

Yeah I hear that I went through 3 sets of $100+ a piece bulbs in a couple months before I found the ones I really liked.
On the plus side I was able to e-bay my week or two old ones for close to the purchase price.

GSMguy
07/28/2008, 10:58 AM
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13034812#post13034812 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by nanocube14
The Phoenix 14s only come in DE. Do the the other 14K in SE look the same as the DE?

the Pheonix is a 20k dont believe the label the pheonix is bluer than the ushio 20k

also they need to be run on an M-80 mag ballast not m-57

OliverM3
07/28/2008, 11:13 AM
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13038041#post13038041 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by GSMguy
the Pheonix is a 20k dont believe the label the pheonix is bluer than the ushio 20k

also they need to be run on an M-80 mag ballast not m-57

Man then the XM 20k has to be a 30k :)
it was twice as blue as the Phoenix on my M-80 ballast.

They do look nice though in Toddrtrex's pics