XM Newbie question...

[J4Life]

I can't remember if I asked this when I decided to make the switch or not but I am curious when I should replace my 250 watt, 10k, SE, XM's running on ARO EB's.

They're on for only 8 hours a day. Preceeded and postceeded by 2 URI Super Actinic R's, 110 watt VHO's on an IceCap 660 ballast making my total lighting period 10 hours.

According to XM's website www.xmlighting.com the life is 6,000 hours. Based on their rating that would mean I won't need to replace them for 750 days which is just over 2 years.

Thanks in advance,
Bill

 

[Ti]

IMO that bulb is good for at roughly 1.5-2yr.

 

[J4Life]

Thanks Ti. That is definitely promising. In the long run my new setup will cost just a tad more than what it was when I ran all VHO's.

I am very glad I made the switch. I am looking forward to the future when I get a bigger tank. It will probably be something with the dimensions of 72(L) X 24(H) X 30(W).

Bill

 

[Ti]

I was given a XM 10K that was used for 1yr, it was all crusty white.
Looked like it was a goner, but Corals still grew under it.
I was impressed.

 

[Maldivan]

I had my XM10k's for over 1.5 years ( 175W ) and they were still running strong until I Upgraded to 250W's. God Knows why I went with AB 10K's after the upgrade but I did, and Im very happy w/ them. There is a way to test the bulbs to see if the spectrum has shifted but it escapes me. Probably In one of the stickys in the forum.