ordered a new MH

[davejnz]

Got tired of this blue 250w CV10k so i broke down and ordered a 250wXM10k.Hope it works well on my IceCap ballast.Should be here middle of next week.I'm lookig forward to a nice,white light again.My coloration has been awesome with CV's but i feel its time for a change,PAR should be alot higher so i'll have to be careful with acclimating.Any tips?

[dakar]

What would have more impact on the visible coloring of a given K rated bulb, changing the bulb type or ballast? Correct me if I'm wrong, but I have been under the impression that the ballast itself can have as much impact on the coloring and performance of different bulbs as the bulb type itself.

Although I don't yet understand all the fancy electrical/chemical why's and such, one of these days I'll do the real research and figure all that stuff out...maybe.

[jerryc]

Dave i don't see a big difference if it weir me id just cut back on the time pried some
and raze over a couple weeks. that is the way i do it with new bulbs or new
lighting so far no problems.

[jerryc]

What would have more impact on the visible coloring of a given K rated bulb, changing the bulb type or ballast? Correct me if I'm wrong, but I have been under the impression that the ballast itself can have as much impact on the coloring and performance of different bulbs as the bulb type itself.

Although I don't yet understand all the fancy electrical/chemical why's and such, one of these days I'll do the real research and figure all that stuff out...maybe.

a lot depends on ballast electronic or whatever if the ballast don't match you get a deferent output from the same lamp with deferent ballast. If you masher the
volt output of different brands you will find a difference between them and this
can lead to a deferent output from your lamp. Just a 10% deference can have
and effect and can also Change the life time of your lamp.
even thou a electronic ballast will fire up most all lamps their can stile be
a difference in volt output.
But after all is said its not as big a dial as the difference in a new and a year old lamp
as we all no most all lighting will lose its output with time. Just some sooner thin others
Do you no Howe Thea make the so call long life standard light bulb Thea us a 130watt
lamp for a 120watt Thea don't barn as hot and will last longer.

[Reptoreef]

As for me, I just replaced the CV's with the XM's and kept the same time period... so far, not too much of a diff in coral reaction, but the PAR and brightness is so much greater(there's a bit of an yellowish hue, but you're gonna freak at the diff between the CV and the XM. I'm pretty impressed with mine.

Repto

[dakar]

Cool... thanks for the info Jerry, confirms most of my understandings thus far.

[davejnz]

IME with electronic ballasts,they can drive some bulbs a bit bluer but i still love them although slightly less PAR than magnetic ballasts but longer bulb life.I figured i had to get a new MH because CV is replacing my bulb with a new 10k.Seems that some 14k s were sent out by mistake which would explain why my CV is so blue.So looks like i'll be getting a free bulb as well.

[dakar]

Nothing wrong with a freebie anytime.

[davejnz]

Thats one thing i can say about CV,there customer service is second-to-none.They have already replaced this bulb when they re-designed the old 250wCV10k(too much UVB).If I like this new XM bulb I'll sell the new CV10k when it arrives,If not,I got a brand new bulb for the next yr.The CV really brings out alot of color in my SPS but the newly designed bulb they sent me doesn't have the PAR or white/w a hint of blue spectrum like the old one.Growth hasn't been great but alot of that is my laziness in keeping calc/alk stable.I have been getting good growth the past month since i've been monitoring it.