How often should I change my Halide Bulbs

[leepink23]

I use two 250 watt Phoenix 14k de run off ice cap ballasts. Currently 9 months of use with plans to change at 12 months. This is my first halide setup so I was curious when everyone else changes theirs?

 

[Peepers]

Not sure about with corals, as I use led, but I use mh for my indoor medical garden while the plants are in vegatative phase (16 hours a day). And have always been told to change at 9-12 months. The light will look the same but you will lose lumens. So since corals are quite similar to plants, I think your doing it right. If you can afford it, changing it at 9 months will be better than at 12.

 

[leepink23]

Not sure about with corals, as I use led, but I use mh for my indoor medical garden while the plants are in vegatative phase (16 hours a day). And have always been told to change at 9-12 months. The light will look the same but you will lose lumens. So since corals are quite similar to plants, I think your doing it right. If you can afford it, changing it at 9 months will be better than at 12.

Thanks, forgot to mention I run them 7 hours per day. I could do every 9 months if that’s the best practice.

 

[Peepers]

I use two 250 watt Phoenix 14k de run off ice cap ballasts. Currently 9 months of use with plans to change at 12 months. This is my first halide setup so I was curious when everyone else changes theirs?

Also I seen you're in Mississippi. Used to be stationed in Gulfport, just outside Biloxi. It's beautiful down there!

 

[Peepers]

Thanks, forgot to mention I run them 7 hours per day. I could do every 9 months if that’s the best practice.

I don't know about best practice. I guess you could call it that. I just know the more often I change them the better my plants grow. Like, noticeably. Lol I do know they slowly lose lumens, which I would think would effect par levels.

 

[leepink23]

Also I seen you're in Mississippi. Used to be stationed in Gulfport, just outside Biloxi. It's beautiful down there!

Yeah Gulfport is a short drive for us. It’s definitely beautiful. We usually go a little farther to Gulf Shores.

 

[Peace River]

I use two 250 watt Phoenix 14k de run off ice cap ballasts. Currently 9 months of use with plans to change at 12 months. This is my first halide setup so I was curious when everyone else changes theirs?

Let’s see if we can get some additional feedback...

@Crabs McJones @jda @Bpb

 

[Skynyrd Fish]

I would say 12 months and stagger the change. One bulb now (9 months) and one bulb at twelve months. Also your sps will tell you when. Another tell is if for no real reason you start getting algae or a different algae starting to bloom. I ran halides for years, and still like the look with some t5. Currently only running t5. Hope this old school advice is helpful.

 

[JoshH]

@Fin Anything else to add here?

 

[vetteguy53081]

through PAR readings or when end of bulbs develop a black spot/ring

 

[Crabs McJones]

Yearly is the average

 

[jda]

http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2007-04/ac/index.php

They do not fall off much from 12 to 24.

I do change mine at 12 months.

 

[Dana Riddle]

Best way to determine is through use of a PAR meter, although a less expensive lux meter is better than nothing. It depends upon the lamps you're using as well. 'Bluer' lamps depreciate quicker than warmer ones. Here's a graph of data gathered about 20 years ago.

 

[leepink23]

When I swap them out should I raise the fixture or decrease the time? Or good to leave at 7 hours at 12 inches off water line.

 

[Dana Riddle]

When I swap them out should I raise the fixture or decrease the time? Or good to leave at 7 hours at 12 inches off water line.

Either raise the lights or use fiberglass window screening to diminish light intensity.

 

[jda]

I just do it. I have never raised fixtures, cut time or anything unless I was upping wattage a lot or going to like a very high output bulb like 6500k.

 

[Reefcowboy]

I swap my 250 radiums every 10 months. I have a full sps and change both bulbs at once, never had issues. Im sure once a year would be fine as well. The other day I had a dream mh bulbs were no longer being sold, lol. Im placing an order soon for 10x radium bulbs, which would last me a good 4-5 years running my so loved halides.

Ran all typed of leds, just love how sps look under my halides. I guess after these bulbs run their time in 5 years or so ill be forced into the led world lol

 

[jda]

Radium are made in Germany where people use MH more than in the United States. They are also used in General Lighting. This is probably the last bulb that I would expect to see go since.

People have been promising the demise of mercury based bulbs for more than a decade. VHO are still being made. T5 and MH increased in sales. We will likely have the ever-so-promised hovercraft and jetpack transportation methods before MH goes away.

 

[Peepers]

Radium are made in Germany where people use MH more than in the United States. They are also used in General Lighting. This is probably the last bulb that I would expect to see go since.

People have been promising the demise of mercury based bulbs for more than a decade. VHO are still being made. T5 and MH increased in sales. We will likely have the ever-so-promised hovercraft and jetpack transportation methods before MH goes away.

Absolutely. Also with "medical indoor gardening" becoming mainstream more and more, it will be a long time before growers can afford to switch to led for their use. Mh will be available for a long time to come I believe.

 

[jda]

I live in Colorado and I had an assignment to value a grow facility. I went to about 10 facilities and called about 5 more. All used HPS, MH and MV to supplement their sunlight greenhouses. About half invested in LEDs and took them off... a few said that I could come by and have all of the LED units that I wanted for free. A few had some 10-12 bulb T5 units. Now 15-16 places is not all of them in the world, but these places are highly profitable and in business to make millions so their experience was telling to me.