What do you do with your used MH bulbs?

[aurora]

What does everyone do with their used bulbs? I change out my 400W MH bulbs every 9-12 months. These bulb still has plenty of life them...just not as bright or the spectrum has shifted for use in reef tank. However, they can still be used for general lighting or even growing plants. Does anyone know if someone has a use for our used MH bulbs? Maybe someone with a greenhouse or a business that use 250W/400W for general lighting purposes.

 

[Scuba_Steve]

sell them on ebay, someone will be interested.

 

[aurora]

Actually, I'm more interested in donating them to someone/somebusiness who can use them as opposed to throwing them away like I usually do when I change out my bulbs.

 

[AquaReeferMan]

I usually sell them or give them to people I know. They have more life to them I just change them early.

 

[PSam]

I recycle mine - they have mercury in them.

 

[tom obrecht]

Mine go to a friend whose wife makes them into Christmas tree bulbs.

 

[AquaReeferMan]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=11121012#post11121012 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by tom obrecht
Mine go to a friend whose wife makes them into Christmas tree bulbs.

Wow, thats gotta be one bright christmas tree. :lol:

 

[xtm]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=11121022#post11121022 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by AquaReeferMan
Wow, thats gotta be one bright christmas tree. :lol:

How's her electric bill? :lol:

 

[jgln]

Hey while on the subject, I set up my new tank (still in process) back in April and purchased 2 hoods with 250 MH 14k bulbs in each. Not set up for 2 lamps yet I got by with using just one. After 3 months my corals began to shrink. Not sure of the problem I swapped it out with the other new one in the box and they came back to life again including a cactus coral I thought had died. Now about 3 months later my corals are shrinking again. I run about 10 hours a day on a 250 tank. I notice this effect the most with my frogspawn. My huge xenia colony has almost disappeared. Does this sound normal? Hate to spend money on new bulbs, not to mention being broke in a few years.
Jim

 

[jgln]

My mistake, a 125 g tank!

 

[PSam]

What bulbs are you using & what's your water like?

 

[MrSpiffy]

This actually gave me a great idea! For anyone with a reef tank AND a planted freshwater tank, you could always use the leftover bulbs to light the planted tank. Granted, it would need to be 10,000K bulbs or lower Kelvin rating, but still. It might just be a good use for these old bulbs.

Worst case, you could find a used MH fixture and use them as shop lights, I suppose. Why not?

 

[jgln]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=11122562#post11122562 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by PSam
What bulbs are you using & what's your water like?

I brought Sea Star hoods and balasts and the bulbs came with them. I'm not home to check and I don't remember the make. As I said they are 250w 14k bulbs just 1 per hood, but would the make matter? Each hood has 2 atinic bulbs as well.
Haven't tested the water lately but like I said, when I put the new hood on last time this happened they all perked back up so I assumed it was a lighting problem. I'll test the water tonight. Last night I rigged it up so that I have both hoods over my tank as I originally intended. If that helps even a little I think that may be my problem, the bulbs losing intensity or spectrum. Problem is they are only about 3 months old. Thanks!

 

[erendon]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=11120953#post11120953 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by PSam
I recycle mine - they have mercury in them.

Cool, how can I do the same.

 

[jgln]

Didn't mean thread to use this to solve my mystery (sorry) but I thought while on the subject of old bulbs I ask.

Anyway to answer PSam the bulbs are Blue Line (made in china). Do you recommend another make?

And for water:

PH=8.4
Ammonia=0
Nitrate=0
Nttrite=0
Calcium=420
Phosphate=0
Temp=82
Iodide=>0.1
Iodate=.03
Salt=1.025 (but I have no auto top off and add water each night as needed, so this reading was before adding last nights top off water.

Thanks!

 

[PSam]

What is your alkalinity at? I don't see it on there...

 

[jgln]

Guess I don't have a test for that.

 

[PSam]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=11135336#post11135336 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by erendon
Cool, how can I do the same.

Since you're from chicago, Old Town recycles bulbs if you're ever that way. Or, take them to Goose Island hazardous household drop off ~ 1150 N. North Branch, it's just by the Kennedy near Division. I live close, so it's easy for me. 1st Saturday of each month.

"The facility accepts the following materials for recycling or safe disposal: antifreeze, used motor oil, old gasoline, oil-based paints, paint thinners, aerosol paints, herbicides, insecticides, pesticides, lawn chemicals, solvents, drain cleaners, cleaning products, pool chemicals, hobby chemicals, mercury, fluorescent lamps and bulbs, computers and cell phones.

These materials are accepted during the facility's regular hours of operation: Tuesdays from 7:00 AM to noon; Thursdays from 2:00 PM to 7:00 PM and the first Saturday of every month from 8:00 AM to 3:00 PM."

 

[PSam]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=11135498#post11135498 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by jgln
Guess I don't have a test for that.

You should, ASAP. More important, imo, than most of those params you're testing for. Get a good kit asap.

 

[somethingphishy]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=11121012#post11121012 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by tom obrecht
Mine go to a friend whose wife makes them into Christmas tree bulbs.

was that what bulbs they had on their tree in National Lampoon's x-mas Vacation?.... can you say tree on fire.....