From radium to xm10k

[biecacka]

Hey everyone quick question. I haveran the radium 400watt for years and enjoyed it. Well a guy local to me had a brand new XM 10k that he offered me and I jumped on it. With the increase in brightness I can imagine that I need to allow for some increase in par etc. should I shorten the photo period as well as put eggcrate down to help diffuse some of the light?

Corey

 

[saltyfilmfolks]

Quick answer. Yes. You got it.

 

[DSC reef]

That's gonna be a major change in look.

 

[jda]

I did a few 14K to 10K switches. I cut the time in half, then up an hour every 2-3 days. After 2 weeks, was back to 10 hours again.

XM 10K is a great light. It should still make the corals pop, just with a bit yellower water. That same bulb with a pair of True Actinics is one the best-of-breed combos, IMO.

 

[biecacka]

Yeah I don't know if I'll mind the color change or not. Time will tell.

JDA, I have 2 24in led strips which are probably like 18k in color, they are drowned out with the 10k for now though. I've read this bulb can take 2 weeks to see it's real color: but I don't know. I'm not too worried.

Corey

 

[DSC reef]

As long as you enjoy it that's all that matters. I'm sure you'll get good growth.

 

[Abhishek]

When you have sometime , couldnyou post a comparison photo without actinics and PAR numbers if possible .
It's a legendary bulb and I have one lying around that am planning to hang over my display as it's more of a grow out tank .

Regards,
Abhishek

 

[saltyfilmfolks]

When you have sometime , couldnyou post a comparison photo without actinics and PAR numbers if possible .
It's a legendary bulb and I have one lying around that am planning to hang over my display as it's more of a grow out tank .

Regards,
Abhishek

Just do it!

 

[jda]

It isn't like 10K are yellow. I love the people who think that you will be reefing with the cavemen if you use a 10K bulb. They are nice and white with some serious POP.

 

[DSC reef]

It isn't like 10K are yellow. I love the people who think that you will be reefing with the cavemen if you use a 10K bulb. They are nice and white with some serious POP.

Nobody suggested that and no reason to act like people are dogging it. Your pretty defensive there. All that was said is that it will look different compared to a radium. Yeah JDA, caveman. Good one;Facepalm

 

[biecacka]

The good thing is it's an easy fix if I dont like it. Just put a new bulb in.

I'll look into borrowing a par meter, however, I don't have recorded numbers from my radium. I'll post a picture of the 10k bulb as well.

Corey

 

[Abhishek]

Just do it!

Oh believe me I am tempted !!! I even tried it but it was on M80 ballast and wife hated it like to death ..
so had to take it down and go back to radium .
But this time am trying to find inspiration to fight with wife

Regards,
Abhishek

 

[watchguy123]

I haven't seen a 10 k bulb in years. Maybe I don't understand lighting all that well, but I thought somewhere I read that the growth difference was not all that significant between 10k to 20k, theoretical perhaps but not actually significant???. Plus I would think that the 10k would be less flattering to colors but again I don't really know. As Abhishek wife's response, I thought 10k just was not as pleasant to look at, kind of blah. I have used 20 k radiums for so long, I simply never even considered a 10K

 

[Abhishek]

I haven't seen a 10 k bulb in years. Maybe I don't understand lighting all that well, but I thought somewhere I read that the growth difference was not all that significant between 10k to 20k, theoretical perhaps but not actually significant???. Plus I would think that the 10k would be less flattering to colors but again I don't really know. As Abhishek wife's response, I thought 10k just was not as pleasant to look at, kind of blah. I have used 20 k radiums for so long, I simply never even considered a 10K

I remember 7-8 years back seeing an all acropora dominated tank only under Reeflux 10K and the blues and purples were something unreal that it has always stuck in my mind .
It appears yellow by today's standard of heavy actinic tanks or radium tanks, but mostly its bright white with hardly any blue tint in it .
I cant say about growth but those blues under 10k Reeflux is nothing I have ever seen in my lifetime. Not even radium 400 watt ran on PFO hqi ballast .

Regards,
Abhishek

 

[jda]

I haven't seen a 10 k bulb in years. Maybe I don't understand lighting all that well, but I thought somewhere I read that the growth difference was not all that significant between 10k to 20k, theoretical perhaps but not actually significant???. Plus I would think that the 10k would be less flattering to colors but again I don't really know. As Abhishek wife's response, I thought 10k just was not as pleasant to look at, kind of blah. I have used 20 k radiums for so long, I simply never even considered a 10K

This sentiment is quite common. If only people who have used them would give a description of how they look and then compare that against the typical opinon of people who have not used them - it would be hard to do this since it could be seen as defensive by armchair posters who just like to offer opinions about other peoples posts and offer nothing of substance of their own other than "it will be different" and "if you like it, then that is all that matters."

10K might not be for you, but they are probably not half as bad as you think that they are - they are not as blue, but they are not all that yellow either. The growth difference is real, but 20K Radium is a very good output bulb unlike most 20K bulbs. 10K XM for example has much more output than 20K XM, but Radium is also better than 20K XM. 20K Radium performs more like a 14K bulb. Dr. Joshi has a lighting guide somewhere that has ppfd outputs of different bulbs and ballasts.

 

[DSC reef]

This sentiment is quite common. If only people who have used them would give a description of how they look and then compare that against the typical opinon of people who have not used them - it would be hard to do this since it could be seen as defensive by armchair posters who just like to offer opinions about other peoples posts and offer nothing of substance of their own other than "it will be different" and "if you like it, then that is all that matters."

10K might not be for you, but they are probably not half as bad as you think that they are - they are not as blue, but they are not all that yellow either. The growth difference is real, but 20K Radium is a very good output bulb unlike most 20K bulbs. 10K XM for example has much more output than 20K XM, but Radium is also better than 20K XM. 20K Radium performs more like a 14K bulb. Dr. Joshi has a lighting guide somewhere that has ppfd outputs of different bulbs and ballasts.

That's funny, how do you know I've never used them. You keep on insulting @jda ,shows who you are. The fact is that yes, it will be quite different compared to a bluer spectrum when comes to the look of the tank. I never said it looked bad or it was an inferior bulb. It's a light, no need to act out. Lol

 

[watchguy123]

I remember 7-8 years back seeing an all acropora dominated tank only under Reeflux 10K and the blues and purples were something unreal that it has always stuck in my mind .
It appears yellow by today's standard of heavy actinic tanks or radium tanks, but mostly its bright white with hardly any blue tint in it .
I cant say about growth but those blues under 10k Reeflux is nothing I have ever seen in my lifetime. Not even radium 400 watt ran on PFO hqi ballast .

Regards,
Abhishek

I am sure that blue and purple acros must be super vivid under 10k. It seems as the blue light increases, the normally vivid blue coral don't look as dramatic

This sentiment is quite common. If only people who have used them would give a description of how they look and then compare that against the typical opinon of people who have not used them - it would be hard to do this since it could be seen as defensive by armchair posters who just like to offer opinions about other peoples posts and offer nothing of substance of their own other than "it will be different" and "if you like it, then that is all that matters."

10K might not be for you, but they are probably not half as bad as you think that they are - they are not as blue, but they are not all that yellow either. The growth difference is real, but 20K Radium is a very good output bulb unlike most 20K bulbs. 10K XM for example has much more output than 20K XM, but Radium is also better than 20K XM. 20K Radium performs more like a 14K bulb. Dr. Joshi has a lighting guide somewhere that has ppfd outputs of different bulbs and ballasts.

I enjoy your input. And although it was not me that got defensive, posts and texts sometimes get misinterpreted to intent. I have been guilty of that as well.

My knowledge gets old, and now I am older so unfortunately I sometimes forget what I knew. Are 10k XM bulbs still available. Somewhere in my foggy memory, I thought they may have been discontinued.

 

[jda]

That's funny, how do you know I've never used them. You keep on insulting @jda ,shows who you are. The fact is that yes, it will be quite different compared to a bluer spectrum when comes to the look of the tank. I never said it looked bad or it was an inferior bulb. It's a light, no need to act out. Lol

I was not talking to you. I have not been this whole thread until just now. I am a guy who does not suffer fools well... this is exactly who I am and I am Ok if that shows off as such. If I wanted to insult you, I could have made fun of your grammer and use of "your" when you should have used "your're," but I did not do that. Disagreeing is not the same thing as insulting. Again, anything to add or help with if indeed you did use them, or are you just going to criticize the work of others who actually trying to help?

 

[saltyfilmfolks]

You need red to reflect red.
Purple is not always violet. Sometimes it's blue and red.
Same for orange and green.

Not everyone likes asparagus.


It's always nice to be be nice.

 

[jda]

Thank your for you experience and advice about 10K bulbs, their acclimation and the specific differences between them and others. Did you actually use them? I am sure that you have knowledge, I have seen it, but you have not shared any on this thread.