XM MH bulbs = less heat output???

[Patrick]

I just replaced my Aqualine AB 10,000K 175W bulbs that were towards
the end of their useful life with two XM bulbs, also 10,000K 175W.

After 4 days of running, I am noticing that my tank is not heating up
as much?!?! I used to get about a 2-3 degree rise from lights-on to
lights-off with the AB bulbs. Now I am seeing a 1-2 degree rise with
the XM bulbs, and I even extended the photo-period by an hour when I
installed the new bulbs!

Will the heat output increase after they are fully burned in??? I
don't recall this happening the last time I replaced my bulbs... (not
that I am complaining - this will be a help in the summer if it keeps
up!!!)


I do like the bulbs better than the AB's they replaced. They seem a
little bit more bluish, and the tank colors seem to "pop" a little bit
more...

[Dragon Slayer]

I've got quite a few XM's over my tanks now and when I swapped to them I
didn't notice a temp drop in the tank at all. nor did I notice a increase
as they burned in.

kc

"Patrick" > wrote in message
om...
> I just replaced my Aqualine AB 10,000K 175W bulbs that were towards
> the end of their useful life with two XM bulbs, also 10,000K 175W.
>
> After 4 days of running, I am noticing that my tank is not heating up
> as much?!?! I used to get about a 2-3 degree rise from lights-on to
> lights-off with the AB bulbs. Now I am seeing a 1-2 degree rise with
> the XM bulbs, and I even extended the photo-period by an hour when I
> installed the new bulbs!
>
> Will the heat output increase after they are fully burned in??? I
> don't recall this happening the last time I replaced my bulbs... (not
> that I am complaining - this will be a help in the summer if it keeps
> up!!!)
>
>
> I do like the bulbs better than the AB's they replaced. They seem a
> little bit more bluish, and the tank colors seem to "pop" a little bit
> more...

[Rod]

>I just swapped out my Ushio 205 10K for
>XM 250 10K and also noticed cooler temps.
>Plus MUCH more PAR. I also agree with the "pop". :-)
>

I guess Im gonna have to give the XMs another shot. I tried them when they
first came out (400 10kk) . I thought they were dim. within 2 months most of
the SPS were brown.. 6 months later when I switched back to ushios it looked
like I upgraded from 175s to 400s and most of my corals bleached ( not lost
tissue, just zooxanthellae). I hated the XMs, but I keep hearing good reviews.
Maybe I had a bad bunch. Has anyone been using XMs for more than 6 months?
Rod Buehler
www.asplashoflife.com

[Dragon Slayer]

I have been using XM 20kk's for about 2 yrs now and I was lucky enough to be
offered a test trial of the 10kk's when they first came out. (it pays to
post good reviews on the XM's when everyone else says they are crap) and
have had them installed sense the end of last July, they are great. the
10kk's are considerably brighter then any other 10kk's I've used and the
color is a nice crisp white.

I've read so many complaints about the XM's but I've never seen a bulb that
produced the dim/green coloration that everyone has claimed so often. I
have requested MANY times for people with the bad bulbs to send them to me
for testing but they always come up with an excuse not to send them.

kc

"Rod" > wrote in message
...
> >I just swapped out my Ushio 205 10K for
> >XM 250 10K and also noticed cooler temps.
> >Plus MUCH more PAR. I also agree with the "pop". :-)
> >
>
> I guess Im gonna have to give the XMs another shot. I tried them when they
> first came out (400 10kk) . I thought they were dim. within 2 months most
of
> the SPS were brown.. 6 months later when I switched back to ushios it
looked
> like I upgraded from 175s to 400s and most of my corals bleached ( not
lost
> tissue, just zooxanthellae). I hated the XMs, but I keep hearing good
reviews.
> Maybe I had a bad bunch. Has anyone been using XMs for more than 6 months?
> Rod Buehler
> www.asplashoflife.com

[Patrick]

I also am using PFO ballasts to drive my XM's...



RicSeyler > wrote in message >...
> Hey Rod,
> It also might have something to do with the particular wattage (I use 250)
> or what ballast is running them (I use PFO standard)
> dunno...
>
> I went by the post that had the test that listed the PAR for various
> bulbs and ballasts
> to try a XM.
>

[Rod]

>I have been using XM 20kk's for about 2 yrs now and I was lucky enough to be
>offered a test trial of the 10kk's when they first came out. (it pays to
>post good reviews on the XM's when everyone else says they are crap)

I thought they released the 10KK first?? (at least I dont remember the 20KK
when I ordered my XMs (over 2 years ago)

>I
>have requested MANY times for people with the bad bulbs to send them to me
>for testing but they always come up with an excuse not to send them.
>

the only excuse that I would have had, is that they went into the garbage can.
and I pretty sure they were there before you ever requested. ;-) Ive been
running MH since 1994-5, and have tried every wattage, and every bulb. ATM I
have 11- 400s running, 7 -250s and 4 175s ( all at one place) plus I have set
up many MH systems for other people. The XMs were truely the only batch that I
hated. It must have been a bad batch. I will give them another try.
Rod Buehler
www.asplashoflife.com

[Dragon Slayer]

> I thought they released the 10KK first?? (at least I dont remember the
20KK
> when I ordered my XMs (over 2 years ago)

if you ordered XM's over 2 yrs ago you got 20KK and you did not get 10KK's.
the 10's only became available in mid july 2003.

>
> The XMs were truely the only batch that I
> hated. It must have been a bad batch. I will give them another try.


as I said if you had bad 10KK XM's before July 2003 then someone sold you
some off the wall brand and just called it an XM.

kc

[Rod]

>as I said if you had bad 10KK XM's before July 2003 then someone sold you
>some off the wall brand and just called it an XM.
>

Id have to go back and dig up old invoicesto see exactly when it was, but I
would say that it was before july of 03, It was my only dealings with
Hellolights, maybe they sent me some 20kk, but I wouldnt have ordered any 20kk
lamps, and Im sure that I order from one of their SPAMs. Hmm,, ya got me
thinking now..
Rod Buehler
www.asplashoflife.com