icecap bulb life question

[T575]

is it normal 4 me to be changing my bulbs every 5 to 6 months running of ice cap 660 . it has been 3 years now and I can set my clock to replace the bulbs. usually at 6 months on the dot I start getting a spec of red slime algae and 1 thing will die. is this perfectly normal

 

[T575]

Anyone?? I run ATI bulbs

 

[rtparty]

Totally normal run using that ballast. You are driving the bulbs way harder than they are designed to be.

Are you cooling them with some fans? That might gain you an extra month or so.

By changing to some spec T5 ballasts and properly cooling the bulbs, you can get 12 months out of the bulbs.