View Full Version : XM SE 250W 15k Bulb
spleify
10/07/2008, 09:04 PM
I am looking to change out my current Hamilton 14K for something that is a little bluer and hope to get a little better growth.
Is this a good bulb choice? Is this bulb going to be "dim" looking compared to my 14K Hamilton? The reason I ask this, is I saw a buddys tank that had a XM15k on it and it looked very dim to me, that bulb was also a year old.
Thanks for any and all help.
Spleify
Toddrtrex
10/07/2008, 09:28 PM
If I am not mistaken, the 15 K XM has one of the lowest par ratings for a 250 watt bulb.
I personally like the 20K XM, blue enough without being over powering blue, and I am getting great growth with it.
spleify
10/07/2008, 09:44 PM
Thanks for the reply Todd, so what you are saying is the 20K has more par than the 15K? Interesting, I thought a general rule of thumb was the higher the K the lower the par. Am I wrong in this assumption.
Thanks
Spleify
Toddrtrex
10/07/2008, 09:46 PM
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13504798#post13504798 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by spleify
Thanks for the reply Todd, so what you are saying is the 20K has more par than the 15K? Interesting, I thought a general rule of thumb was the higher the K the lower the par. Am I wrong in this assumption.
Thanks
Spleify
I will try to find it on Sanjay's site, but that is what I am saying (( could be wrong, and if I am, they are very close in PAR )).
Your assumption isn't wrong over all, just wrong in this case. Something about the 15K XM, it has low PAR.
spleify
10/07/2008, 09:47 PM
Wow you're not kidding. I just looked this article up. What a horrible bulb.
http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2007-04/jb/index.php
Toddrtrex
10/07/2008, 09:52 PM
Yea, it is. Looked on Sanjay's site, and the 20K does have a higher value then the 15K.
I have to say that I am very pleased with the growth and color for my 20K XM.
spleify
10/07/2008, 11:07 PM
I will look into the 20K
Thanks Todd!!
Toddrtrex
10/07/2008, 11:33 PM
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13505228#post13505228 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by spleify
I will look into the 20K
Thanks Todd!!
Sure thing.
And while pictures aren't always best ( white balance, monitor settings, etc ), feel free to click on my "red house" most of the pictures are of my 58, which has 2*250 20K XMs.
spleify
10/07/2008, 11:57 PM
WOW Beautiful tank Todd!! That looks really good.
Here is my 60 gal cube (http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?threadid=1343381).
And my In-wall is in my little red house.
Thanks again
Spleify
stumpyid
10/08/2008, 07:29 AM
Another vote for the XM 20k'S
spleify
10/08/2008, 01:43 PM
The color is not "too blue", is it?
Thanks
Spleify
areze
10/08/2008, 01:59 PM
could consider the pheonix 14k. Ive not found a better bulb. great par, perfect mix of color. I was torn between getting a 20k, but IMO the 20k turns the whole tank a bit too blue, when I really just want the corals to pop. so I stuck at phoenix and got some actinic. we'll see how that turns out.
spleify
10/08/2008, 03:44 PM
I have a SE fixture, Phoenix is only DE.
Thanks though.
grigsy
10/09/2008, 10:33 AM
XM 15K bulbs are junk. I have used and liked the XM 20K SE bulb.
They are better.
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