UV bulb -- how do you know

[Amstar]

How do you know if you UV bulb needs replaced? I bought a 40 gallon breeder that came with a pondlife turbo-twist 6x (18watt) UV. Not sure how hold the bulb is

 

[theMeat]

No way to tell unless it was labeled by the person who installed it.
Simple enough to change. You can buy new bulb on eBay for about 10 bucks.
Write the date of instal on a piece of masking tape on the unit, change every 10 months or so if on 24/7

 

[paintman]

I think the bulbs are rated by the hours of use. After you burn them for a certain period of time they become ineffective. When you get a new bulb you have to keep track of the hours.

 

[Amstar]

makes sense. so it might be worth buying a new bulb and keep tracking myself since I have no idea what life is left on the current bulb

 

[paintman]

I change mine every 12 months. (Pentair 40 watt) I guess if you see your water start to get a little cloudy that would be a good indicator that the bulb needs changing,

 

[StlSalt]

I just bought this bulb from Amazon for my Turbo Twist 6x. Mine is not the pond model though, but I'd be willing to bet it's the same bulb.

 

[theMeat]

I just bought this bulb from Amazon for my Turbo Twist 6x. Mine is not the pond model though, but I'd be willing to bet it's the same bulb.

Yup
Just have to look and see if you have pins in straight line like the one pictured, or in square pattern.
Fwiw many diff uv manufacturers use this same bulb