MH Nuked my tank...

[Atticus]

Anyone ever had a MH burnout and kill half your tank???? We were gone for a few days last week and a bulb burnt out. There was some die off in my SPS colonies when I got back, but I thought it was due to water parameters. Checked those and alk was a little low as was Ca, but that was to be expected as I had not dosed either for awhile.

The couple corals with slight RTN were white by morning and RTN took the rest 2 by 2 in the next 3 days. I even lost all of my huge LPS colonies that were on that side of the tank and even shrooms. While I was tearing the tank apart today I finally realized I had lost one halide. Nothing strange about the bulb except the center piece was completely blacked out. I believe this was the culprit as the other half of the tank and the items under the center brace survived.

I am wondering now if it possible that it went ultra bright as it burned out and stressed those corals??? Again only half the tank was lost. Weirdest thing I have seen. All ideas welcome.

 

[Danno666]

what kind of beer do you drink? I suggest a light beer for a while. I have never heard of this before but I suppose that it is possible.

 

[Atticus]

Yeah, that is what I thought, but there is a clear line right down the center of the tank.... BTW this is not a new tank nor am I new to the hobby.... This tank is 6 yrs old and I have been in the hobby (saltwater) nearly 10 yrs. Weird as hell. I am also starting to think that the corals heard Bob was moving and just got depressed....

 

[Danno666]

I got some stuff rrom bob as well. It was pouting for a couple of days but they must like the new home. I did ask a guy from Tampa that I got my new MH bulbs from anf they said that the bulbs can uv the crap out of the tank if not working correctly. That meand a faulty bulb if not more that 9 months old (this is the recommended time for looking into replacement so I am told) I duuno for sure but how old was the bulb that blew??

 

[Atticus]

That was the really crappy part, it was the newer bulb... It was still around 7-8 months old though.

 

[DSMpunk]

Are you sure it was the bulb it self that went out? Maybe the ballast was doing something wacky.

It seems strange that a bulb would fry a tank like that unless the casing was cracked. Did you check the bulb for physical damage?

 

[DSMpunk]

Well if I could read, I would have known you said there was nothing strange about the bulbs..hmm that just seems to point more evidence to the ballast IMO.

 

[tibbs2]

I have read about similar instances on these boards. The UV leaks through and fries the coral.

Do your bulbs have covers?

 

[Atticus]

They were single ended bulbs. Thought they would be alright... I have heard of DE bulbs putting out a ton of UV, but never had a problem with SE bulbs. When I redo my tank I will definatly be giving UV protected glass another look. I had it on a previous set-up and had the healthiest and best colored corals in that tank. Those were only 175 watt 10K Ushios. This problem bulb was a 14k 250watt XM.

It just sucks that I bought this bulb to increase growth and coloration of my SPS and it fried every one of them. I had my tank set up with clams and softies on the left and a pilar of sps on the right. Would have looked sweet, but it also put all of my eggs in that one basket, so I have no sps left.

 

[got2lb]

Have you examined the bulb really close? Everytime I've heard of a mh bulb frying a tank is because it gets a hairline crack in it somewhere.

 

[Atticus]

Bulb got trashed after I decided it was at fault... It was not thrown out very gingerly either... Outer glass seemed fine, nothing really stood out besides the internal diode?? (aka glass thingy... much more scientific term) being pitch black. I have never seen one turn black all the way around. An old bulb I had lying around has fired fine since, so I still am not thinking it was the ballast.

 

[got2lb]

I'm sure it was prob. the bulb. I don't know how the ballast could have done it.

 

[glaspie69]

Hey Travis clean out your mail box....i tried writing you back about that house deal the other day and it was full.....sorry i forgot to let you know sooner i kinda space cased it

 

[Atticus]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=10261266#post10261266 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by glaspie69
Hey Travis clean out your mail box....i tried writing you back about that house deal the other day and it was full.....sorry i forgot to let you know sooner i kinda space cased it

It is cleaned. Thanks