pc bulb life

[budhorse775]

I have had the same 4 corallife pc on my 55g tank for about a year now. Does anyone know how long they will stay at the same spectrum? The LFS says to change them every 6 months. Are they saying that to increase there wallets or is it true?

 

[swashbuckler]

the actinic if anything should be changed the most frequently- at least every 6 months or so- i feel that they loose so much power and color within the first 3 months, they get so ugly so quickly...

other than the- spectrum will shift towards the warmer colors- the daylight component should be changed every 6-8 months....

so yeah, i think your due for a change.

 

[smleee]

Yes the consensus is every 6-8 months. Though most people end up going 1 year. You can definately see the difference with your eyes between a 1 year old bulb and a new bulb; though I don't see much of a difference to the eye with a 6 mo. and new bulb (but that doesn't mean the spectrum or output hasn't changed). Oh well, I change every 12 months.

eee

 

[unmc2001]

I go 9-12 months on mine. my friend still has his original bulbs on his 2x96W aqualight from 2.5 year ago. I seen his tank the other day and thought that he didn't have his actinics on but I checked and they were on but very dim. his lighting now looks like freshwater lighting (very yellow). He has been able to keep his green star polyps alive with that light though. His xenia are shrinking away.

 

[budhorse775]

Thanks for the info. Anyone know where to find the best prices online 2 65w actinic & 2 65w 10000k square pin?

 

[smleee]

I usually go with Current from drsfostersmith.com or thatfishplace.com; whichever is cheaper at the time.

eee

 

[swashbuckler]

mm...coralife should have the straight pin arrangment, not square unless its 96W...

hellolights.com is a good source for lots of lighting