Metal halide

[justingraham]

@hybridazn @aquavista99 @saltyfilmfolks @GoVols @prsnlty
Is my bulb bad? Or what is it to the best of ur knowledge

My bulbs are five months old
Light fixture five months old bought new

The darn light just went out and the flickering only happens when I cycle the switch on and off

Kinda mad right now any help would be great

Justin

 

[Roy 9121]

If the bulb is 5 months old, its about time to replace it any way. So i would replace the bulb and see if that fixes your problem.

 

[justingraham]

I was told I would get a year easy out of these

Their twin bulbs or something like that

 

[PSLReefer]

Nah 9 - 10 months on halides. If it's flickering when turned on then you have a problem somewhere either ballast or bulb, change the bulb and see what happens..... lol

 

[Roy 9121]

If the bulb is 5 months old, its about time to replace it any way. So i would replace the bulb and see if that fixes your problem.

I was told I would get a year easy out of these

Their twin bulbs or something like that

I don't know about that, I haven't used MH in quite a while, the technology May have gotten better. But i use to change mine about every 6-7 months.

 

[3mm3]

what ballast is this?
Metal halide bulbs last a good 12 to 18 months. There was a study done back in the day and found there was minimal par lost.
Food for thought
http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2007-04/ac/index.php

 

[justingraham]

Everything I have is reefbrite

250watt metal halide de

 

[Roy 9121]

Ok, so here's what you do. Go buy a new bulb, and put it in. If that fixes you problem, good. If not, put your old bulb back in, and go buy a new blast.

 

[PSLReefer]

Also what brand bulbs are you using? Hopefully not those cheap plusrite ones.

 

[saltyfilmfolks]

I agree. Swap the bulb to trouble shoot the system.
A Bulb that gets old is just a different color and intensity it should still fire.

Our dear Mr R Farley used a warm bulb and preferred the color and look when it way past time most would have changed it. And yes. It still grows corals.

 

[justingraham]

Ok so it's not the ballast I switched it out with my other side and the light came right on.

Same thing happened to this bulb with the other ballast

 

[3mm3]

Did you check bulb contact connections? Loose? Clean? Like mentioned can you swap bulbs and check?

 

[hybridazn]

1 year out of halide bulbs easy if ran around 8-10 hours a day.

Anywho....

Make sure the bulb is making good contact with the ends, it might have popped out a bit and causing it to arch. If mounted correctly try a new bulb. I doubt it's your ballast since it is trying to fire.

 

[justingraham]

Ok, so here's what you do. Go buy a new bulb, and put it in. If that fixes you problem, good. If not, put your old bulb back in, and go buy a new blast.

Yea I'm just going to ignore u thanks for ur help but it's not really any help

 

[justingraham]

Also what brand bulbs are you using? Hopefully not those cheap plusrite ones.

Reef brite twin arc 10k

 

[justingraham]

I agree. Swap the bulb to trouble shoot the system.
A Bulb that gets old is just a different color and intensity it should still fire.

Our dear Mr R Farley used a warm bulb and preferred the color and look when it way past time most would have changed it. And yes. It still grows corals.

Other bulb is hot right now just ran for six hours have to work in the am so might not get to it till tomorow

I did switch the ballast tho and the bulb lit up with the bad lights ballast

 

[justingraham]

1 year out of halide bulbs easy if ran around 8-10 hours a day.

Anywho....

Make sure the bulb is making good contact with the ends, it might have popped out a bit and causing it to arch. If mounted correctly try a new bulb. I doubt it's your ballast since it is trying to fire.

All the way in hybrid

 

[justingraham]

Did you check bulb contact connections? Loose? Clean? Like mentioned can you swap bulbs and check?

All the way in not loose no salt creep or corrosion

 

[Roy 9121]

Yea I'm just going to ignore u thanks for ur help but it's not really any help

Ok, thank you for that.

 

[justingraham]

1 year out of halide bulbs easy if ran around 8-10 hours a day.

Anywho....

Make sure the bulb is making good contact with the ends, it might have popped out a bit and causing it to arch. If mounted correctly try a new bulb. I doubt it's your ballast since it is trying to fire.

And if it is the bulb any problems running a brand new one and one with five months on it?