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ryanj 
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 Topic: Dead or dying bulbs?
Posted: July 04 2005 at 11:45am |
How do you know when it is time to change MH bulbs? I'm sure I will get a few different answers, but I have no idea. I've heard every so many months and things like that. My bulb is a 250W Aqualine 20K double ended, if that helps, and its about 7+ months old. Thanks for the help.
Ryan
Edited by ryanj
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coreyk
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Posted: July 04 2005 at 12:54pm |
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I think the general rule is 8 - 12 months.
However, I was curious ... It this only because the bulbs loose PAR or
do they also change spectrum and not give our tanks/corals the light
that they need to grow?
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Chris
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Posted: July 04 2005 at 4:04pm |
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Corey I know that they loose there color spectrum and this is why we change them out. As far as loosing par goes I would think that they would gain par as they get older. I have noticed that the bulbs with the highest par are the 6.5k and 10k bulbs which are yellowish in color. The 20k bulbs have a very low par. As the higher kelvin bulbs loose there color they go more yellow right? So shouldn't this increase the par? This is only a thought of mine and I am sure that someone has a good reason why this is not true. And now that you have a par meter I'm sure you can prove me wrong or right.
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jfinch
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Posted: July 04 2005 at 4:14pm |
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The data that I've seen show both a loss of PAR and spectrum. PAR loss is very rapid in the first month or so but then almost drops in a linear fashion. Spectral loss, I think, depends greatly on the quality of the bulb and is not as easy to see as one might expect. A change in coral coloration could be a sign of spectral shift.
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bugzme
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Posted: July 04 2005 at 4:25pm |
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So what is the answer to the question? 8-12 months? Jon, How often do you change your bulbs?
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Jeff
125 tank
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T-5 lighting
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I KNOW ROCKS THAT ARE YOUNGER THEN ME!! I AM A Realist! I write what I think!!
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ryanj
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Posted: July 04 2005 at 5:11pm |
 bugzme wrote:
So what is the answer to the question? 8-12 months? Jon, How often do you change your bulbs? |
That's what I'm sayin? Anyone know. This is my first MH, and I would think its getting around that time to change.
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jfinch
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Posted: July 04 2005 at 6:29pm |
I change my 10k bulbs every year. If I were running 14-20k bulbs I'd likely change 'em every 9 months or so (I've heard they specral shift quicker then 10k). But, without a PAR meter (hi Corey!) or a spectroradiometer (hi Sanjay) it's just a guess.
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bugzme
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Posted: July 04 2005 at 6:35pm |
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I'm changing bulbs today! they are 9 months old! I am going to try the xm 15k. Wish me luck
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Jeff
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I KNOW ROCKS THAT ARE YOUNGER THEN ME!! I AM A Realist! I write what I think!!
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coreyk
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Posted: July 05 2005 at 1:06am |
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I change mine every 8 - 9 months.
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ryanj
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Posted: July 05 2005 at 1:00pm |
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cool thanks for the help
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SWells
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Posted: July 05 2005 at 11:06pm |
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Will (wsinbad) said the Anthony Calfo says you can wait till they burn out. How long do MH bulbs last?
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Steve & Stephanie Wells
Riverton, UT
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bugzme
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Posted: July 11 2005 at 7:12pm |
I wouldn't wait till the bulbs burn out! the algae would have a hayday.
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Jeff
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I KNOW ROCKS THAT ARE YOUNGER THEN ME!! I AM A Realist! I write what I think!!
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KeoDog
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Posted: July 12 2005 at 7:56am |
I changed my 10k ushios at 12 months. I put them back in when Corey came over and measured the par in my tanks. The 12 month old 10k's actually had a better par measurement than my 7 month old Aqualine 10k's (13k) so I left them in for another 2 months. I didn't notice any algae problems or any other problems. One of my blue acros lost some of its color but I believe that was the spectrum of the light not its age because that was its color before changing to the AB's the first time.
On another note though. I believe Vho's are only good up to a year or less. For the second year in a row at almost exactly 12 months, in my 72g, I have a pavona that starts to turn brown and a tricolor acro that starts dying on the tips. After changing the vho's they both start doing well again.
Edited by KeoDog
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Kevin Kunz (Sandy, UT)
300g reef
"A trade by which one gains and the other loses is a fraud." Ayn Rand
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Shane H
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Posted: July 13 2005 at 6:16am |
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I have had very good luck changing with a yearly change out schedule. I always save the old bulbs in case I ever have a freak accident.
What are everyone's thoughts on VHO bulbs? I've been letting mine run about 18 months between changes. It always surprises me how bright the new bulbs are. Maybe I'm letting them go to long???
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