Lighting question? Opinions welcome

[worcestereefer]

Here's the situation. It's time to get some new halide bulbs and I am contemplating on a couple different scenarios. I currently run 2x250 watt 10k xm bulbs(SE) with 2 pc bulbs for actinics. Im not really happy with my current situation because I am not getting very good color. Now here's where I am confused, I don't know if I should go with 14k bulbs and stick with my pc's or go with a better 10k bulb and switch to vho or t5 for actinic. Any comments,or suggestions would help.

 

[grundig5]

Perhaps switch to T5/VHO now to add a bit of fluorescence, then when its time to change your bulbs move to a different spectrum.

 

[worcestereefer]

Well it's basically time to change my bulbs,and even if it's not quite time, I am going to anyway. If I do switch to vho or t5, then I wouldnt need to switch spektrum form my MH, correct?

 

[JohnK]

not really, PC's arent' the popular choice for actinics, but they do work. I'd say try a different MH bulb to start, you might like the AB 10k's over the XM's. If you go to a 14K bulb, you may no longer need the actinic supplementation to get good color, but you'll lose a ton of intensity.

 

[sixspeed]

xm bulbs are some of the worst on the market, go with pheonix or iwaski

 

[smcnally]

xm bulbs are some of the worst on the market, go with pheonix or iwaski

People have actually been pretty happy with the XM 10k bulbs lately.

 

[sixspeed]

oh really? it just seems to me everyone i have heard doesnt seem to like them. Maybe i am only hearing the bad side of things.

 

[Cheetos]

I use XMs and love the color of their 10Ks....not yellow like some 10Ks!