How often do you change your halide bulbs?*POLL*

[nona]

Please vote. Thanx.

 

[rollster]

I change the bulbs 8 - 10 months because my bulbs are on 6 hours a day, unlike most hobbiest that run lights about 10 hours daily. My tank is mostly softies.

 

[nona]

When I started the poll I was thinking an avarage of 7-8 working hours/day.

 

[stanlalee]

I've gone anywhere from one week when I didn't like the look to 9 months or so give or take. I dont change then with clockwork like accuracy, just when I feel like it. I've had four sets of bulbs and this tank has had halides for about a year and a half.

 

[spw4949]

I've only had my fixture for about 6 months & I've changed the bulbs twice because like stanlalee I didn't like the way it looked & will be doing it again soon, I guess to answer your question I plan on doing it every 9 months......

 

[FreakSRT]

Almost 2 years on my 400w Radium at 10-12 hours a day. Still have great color and growth.

 

[NadMan01]

I change mine out every 8-10 just to ensure that par is kept throughout the lifespan of the bulb service. I have also been worried about the change of lighting when you change from a bulb that has diminished to a brand new bulb. I have heard that you can burn things a little when doing that, so that is why i have always avoided keeping them too long. Also after a bulb gets older there may some spectrums that may not be noticed by the naked eye that can help algea growth as well.

 

[deflux]

Between 8-12. I aim for 8, but sometimes it can be up to 12 depending on money/time/forgetfulness

 

[nona]

Between 8-12. I aim for 8, but sometimes it can be up to 12 depending on money/time/forgetfulness

Sounds familiar..

 

[rbnice1]

14-16 months with my phoenix 250watt MH bulbs. 10-12 months on my t-5's. If I was over driving the t5's 7-8 months.

 

[grigsy]

PHX shifts color spectrum about 6 months into it. It will last longer but it always shifts real early. It is a good bulb, but it sure does not hold its spectrum that long.

I generally change my halides every 10 months. I could go longer as the rated life of most halides are longer, but I prefer to be ahead of the curve when it comes to spectrum shift. Once the spectrum shifts, coral growth will be effected. Also, algae tends to become a problem once the spectrum has shifted. To me, its just cheaper insurance to change bulbs more frequently.

 

[RokleM]

No offense, but kind of an open ended question that honestly doesn't matter without further details.

For example, Radium 250's driven properly have been proven to work well in excess of 12 months. Radium 400's overdriven on a HQI ballast have dramatic drops at as little as 4 months.