Metal halide burned out question

[crichard6069]

Ok let me preface this by saying this question will sound VERY stupid from someone with a few years of experience in the hobby.. but here goes..

I've never had a metal halide light until my present tank. Tonight when I got home from work the light was off and the ballast was warm. Looks to me like the bulb has burned out. The bulb is around 9 months old (hamilton 14k) and the reviews I've read point to this bulb burning out in 6 - 7 months (it came with the fixture I bought). My question is that when a MH burns out is it simply completely dead? Or is there a flicker of life? My bulb seems has 0 life coming from it so I assume it's just a dead bulb. Is that the norm? The new bulb (phoenix 14k) will be here Friday so my corals will have to survive off my 4 T5's running.

Thanks!

 

[ReeferBill]

Bulb?

Bulb?

I am from New Bedford, MA but I always keep extra bulbs for this reason. Your bulb is completly dead if it does not light up.Happy Reefing and having an extra heater with your extra bulbs is also a good idea.:beer:

 

[mike_cmu04]

sounds like a burned out bulb. Your corals will be fine under the t5's until the new bulb arrives.

 

[crichard6069]

Yeah.. I'm used to running T5s so the extra bulb never crossed my mind until now. lol... oh well. I'll pick up a backup bulb too...

I've got a 3 heaters in my sump tied to my controller so I've got that part down. And I've got a constant mix of saltwater ready to go, etc.. just forgot the darn backup bulb!