Been searching the past forms and I am wondering are the XM's worth the savings in costs?  They are a good deal cheaper from what I've seen.  Where are the best places to shop?  I'm looking for a 10K 250W system and would like some input, thanks.

Jaren Glover

I love the ones I got about 5 months ago. i have used radiums and iwasakis but like the look of XMs the best. Mine are 400W 20Ks from hellolights.com

Asad

jglover wrote: Anyone know how often they should be replaced?

Some people say every year, some say when they burn out.  I will be replacing mine when I notice a decrease in the amount of light they put out.  I don't know when that will be since I'm new to them myself.

good thread on RC about life of XM bulbs ...

http://reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=387957 - http://reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid =387957

I have two 150 watt hqi XM 20k bulbs.  I like them.  The only problem I have is that they just aren't bright enough.  They probably kick out a lot of light, but being so blue they don't appear to kick out much light. 
Like I said, I have two of them on my 30 gal tank and I'm wanting to add a third or even fourth bulb. 

However, you can't beat the convenience.  I have one ballast, no extra pc or VHO bulbs and stuff like that.  Also, they are so small you can easily fit a bunch of them in your canopy.  To me, it was a great way to go, and I'm glad I did.

Adam

oh yah, I should mention my corals have much better color now that I've switched to these bulbs from my pc set up

Marine-aquatics down in Sandy may have the hardware if your into DIY.

My 150W hqi 10k XM pendant system just arrived from hellolights.com today.

I didn't really want to get involved here, but here goes...

Which bulb you really want to get depends on what you want to accomplish.

I tried the XM 20K 150 watt HQI on my tank at work (30 g reef)  and it wasn't near bright enough (Notice I agree with Adam, or he agrees with me.)  I switched the bulb to a 10k aqualife bulb, (after comparing the two side by side at the store, Thanks Shawn at Aquatica for letting me do that)  I decided to go with the 10K bulb (It is marketed as a 10 k but I hear it is actually a 13k.)

Things looked ok under just the 150 watt 10k hqi, but I wasn't satisfied, I added a 65 watt actenitic c to it and really liked the way that it looked, I ahd another pc fixture laying around and put a smart bulb in(pink and blue)  I don't think I have ever liked how much my tank looks as I do right now, it is AWESOME!

What it all comes down to is what you like, I don't like the 20k blue look, I prefer more white and bright, others really like the blue look.  AS for the XM bulbs, well that is something you will have to decide, as for me, I think that you get what you pay for.

You are more then welcome to swing by and have a look at my tank.  If you are going with a 10k bulb, I would for sure add some blue in, otherwise the greens get washed out a little.

Good luck with it.

It really is a good idea to look at tanks with several different bulbs.  Marine Aquatics has, or at least had, a setup with a 20K on one side of a tank and a 10K on the other so you could see the difference.  This is very helpful in my opinion.

I'll also agree with Adam on the color of the corals.  I noticed it most on my Green Nephthia.  Under NO's and PC's it looked like it had some green in it.  After being under the 250 watt 20K HQI's for 3 months now it glows green.  Very, Very, cool.

Thank you marine aquatics there prices were actually $5 more than hellolights, but no 10$ shipping cost or waiting.

wsinbad1, one reason I want MH is jfinch gave me some greenstar polyps these.

As you can see they are brown, as brown can be.  whereas the day before they were "glowing" green!  See jfinch's tank to compair.

I have those exact star polyps from Finch as well.  I've had them in my tank under two 150watt 20k halides.  Mine are as brown as brown can be.  Well, I take that back.  Mine are as tan as tan can be. 

Jon told me they were green in his tank as well (not that I believe him ) but with the 7 types of green stars I have in my tank, they are the only colony that doesn't look green.

Adam

Well here is an interesting thing to note then. The frag of galaxia that I got from Jon were brown in his tank, but an awesome green in mine. Wierd.

I am running 2x150 DE 20k ushios with 110w 10k & 110w Actinic

Adam... Glowing green in my tank  (and I think they're actually an encrusting gorgonia)

Shane... Curses!  It's still brown in mine.