How long should bulbs last on HQI ballasts?

[Doubledown]

I upgraded lighting on my SPS tank 9/05. I added 2 Phoenix 14K bulds driven by SLS HQI ballasts and a BLV 20K in 2/06. I have read oppinions that HQI driven bulbs have a shorter usable lifespan, how long should this be?

More specifically, I run my MH lights 10 hrs per day - the Phoenix bulbs are 9 months old and the BLV 20k is 4 months - should they be replaced?

Thanks
Chris

 

[Don Berry]

In my opinion they Phoenix bulbs really drop off after 6 months on a hqi ballast. I would say after 9 months they are due to be replaced. The higher quality german bulbs like BLV and Aqualine are said to last 10-12 months.

 

[nemo g]

giesemann megachrome bulbs are rated for no more than 3% deviation within 3800 hours, and still be able to perform for 6000.

i just lit mine for the first time this week, so if you wait (say about a year and a half), ill give you an update



its a pricey bulb, ill admit, but other than color preference (is rated at 14.5k but looks pure white as it delivers bright light across the spectrum), ive never read a bad review of it.

 

[zoazoa]

Around 1 year??

 

[dkle]

12-14 months

I recently changed out a set of phoenix bulbs after one year. I never noticed any change in SPS growth or color, or any visible shift in color spectrum in the last few months of the bulbs.