When To Replace Power Compacts

[jeryl]

I was wondering how long people use their power compacts before replacing them. I am using a 96W Quad 50/50 bulb as the only light on my nano and run it for 12 hours per day. It was put into service at the beginning of September 2006.

 

[ahoyhoy239]

most people give it a year some a little more, i would say after a year and half its way overdue. i changed mine after about a year and there was a noticeable difference

 

[gasman059]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=9730824#post9730824 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by ahoyhoy239
most people give it a year some a little more, i would say after a year and half its way overdue. i changed mine after about a year and there was a noticeable difference

A year maybe less.

 

[bawla47]

i think a year is too long, more liek 6-8 months before the spectrum changes

 

[BFISHMAN]

bawla47 is right power cmpact should be replaced every six months.

 

[ninjamini]

Has there been any real research as to when I PC bulb shifts spectrum or is this a guess?

 

[jessp]

i change mine every ten months, this seems to be stretching it IMO. no i didn't do a science project, just the way the corals color up and algae growth.

 

[ek9vboi]

6 months should be that time to change it out. I went 1 year and boy does it shift and DIM down considerably.

 

[Kogo]

i have 4x96 on my FW 210. due to the large water volume and relative under powered lighting, any change in light intensity is noticable.

i start noticing a shift in the 10k bulbs to a more yellow tint after about 6 months, and a decrease in the actinics' intensity (but not so much color) after 6 months as well. after a year the color is quite crappy.

HTH

 

[jeryl]

Finally got around to replacing the bulb last night and the difference is quite significant. While I have no equipment to actually measure the light level, to my naked eye, the new light was much bluer and the intensity seemed to be at least twice as bright.

The bulb that was replaced was 7 1/2 months old. Based upon the changes I observed in the tank over the past month, and the intensity increase with the new bulb I am going to change the bulb every 6 months.

It is interesting that the responses to my request varied from 6 months to 1 1/2 years. I wonder if that is a function of the bulb spectrum, quality of manufacture, or some other issue. This was a combo 4 tube 96 watt quad 10K/actinic.

 

[SugarFox03]

Brand of bulb may also play a part in how long they last. Better quality, more expensive bulbs I'm sure will outlive the cheaper ones. I change my actinics every 6-8 months.

 

[bawla47]

the problem with powercompacts that make there lifespan so short, is how they are designed. there U shape just lets the light/gas bounce off eachother, deterioted them rapidly which is why youll only get maybe half the lifespan vs a straight tube flouresent.