Mobile Bay Reef Keepers

I'm interested if anyone is running any of the mid bulbs that are out now in the 12, 13, 14, 15k regions? Not as blue as the radiums, but definetly a bluish tint. I'm gonna order some more bulbs this week.. but have not decided what to go with. I have tried the Sunburst 12k , I love the color but they seem kinda dim.

I'm thinking of going with the XM 14K's. I think I can get those for like $45/ea.

Fishfood is running 13k DE bulbs. Here is a link to some bulb tests. The XM 15k looks pretty good.
http://www.cnidarianreef.com/lamps.cfm

I did a search on reefcentral for coralvue... Looks like everyone loves the coralvue 10k. I'm running standard ballast though and not electronic. I would hate to dump these and spend another 375 to switch to electronic.
Per JBNY's comparison... It is showing a par rating of 330 for the CV10K and 612 for the XM10K. That is a lot of difference. I don't suppose I should care too much as I am not mainly sps & clams. I'm just really hating the iwasakis and the browning out of corals.
The SUN10k's have a PAR of 520 and I think they are $40'ish also on ebay.

I'm looking at XM 10k's for my first change-out... the Ushio 10k's are too yellowy... XM 20k's are VERY VERY blue... as far as I know there are no XM 15K's in a 250w SE bulb.

Honestly, my wife and I like our tank best with just the VHO's on (320w white, 320w 50/50 white/actinic).... however I know that won't sustain coral growth by itself, and from what I've read, won't penetrate to the bottom of the tank either.

I have the 13k geisemann DE bulb. I like the color. It is still shifting though. I also have a 20k xm over my 26gal tank. I don't like the look of it and want to change it to a 13k bulb. I like that range of color. I was running a ushio before i got the DE pendants. I thought it was a good color then but now i see that it is just too yellow also, after putting in the geisemann bulbs. I think i'm going to buy a 10-15(whatever they sell)coralvue bulb to replace that 20k xm bulb i have. I've seen the thread that scott was talking about and most people have good things to say about them.

Fishfood , What ballast are you using with the AB?

I don't have an AB. I was using one and it was on an electric ARO ballast. Then I switched to the Ushio when that one died. I'm now using the Geisemann DE bulbs on an ARO ballast.

ShagMan wrote:as far as I know there are no XM 15K's in a 250w SE bulb.

Yep, but that's not a XM bulb is it

I think I was thinking Coralvue and you were saying XM. I have heard that XM bulbs may have some longevity issues.

I've read that also Scott.. Looks like both the Coralvue and the XM's are made in china. I'm buying 2 of the the Sun Aquatics (Also Chinese Manufactured) bulbs the 10k and 14k to see what they look like. They are $40 shipped so that's not too bad of a gamble.

PS: Scott if you will send me your address I will send this 12k bulb to you.. I forgot it for the meeting.