What are your lighting plans when mercury-containing lights are eventually banned?

[Nonya]

BACKGROUND:

The Restriction of Hazardous Substances Directive 2002/95/EC (RoHS 1), short for Directive on the restriction of the use of certain hazardous substances in electrical and electronic equipment, was adopted in February 2003 by the European Union.[2]

The RoHS 1 directive took effect on 1 July 2006, and is required to be enforced and became a law in each member state.[3] This directive restricts (with exceptions) the use of ten hazardous materials in the manufacture of various types of electronic and electrical equipment.

WHAT DOES THIS MEAN FOR REEFERS? The two most recognizable hazardous substances are lead and mercury, with mercury being necessary for metal halide and fluorescent bulbs.

What are your plans when mercury-containing lights are eventually banned?

 

[Big Smelly fish]

I will continue to use MH and T 5 for as long as I can. I have enough for a few years on hand and will probably buy more this summer to stock up. But I don’t see them going away anytime soon.

 

[fish farmer]

They are already making tube style LED lamps, much like the LED screw type lamps.

I remember when incandesent bulbs were on the way out, saw those compact fluorescent bulbs pop up and claim they would last forever....they were terrible IME. Now it is LED lamps.

My plan would be to look into either a different LED light set up for my tank or if available LED tube lamps.

I just hope DIY options would still be available....got a small area to work with.

 

[snorklr]

lets see...the law is 15 years old with no discernable effect on our hobby...and i'm sure this has no effect on china etc that arent part of the EU...so i'd say this is a non issue and just another case of europe and the US trying to go green while the rest of the world ignores us....

 

[Nonya]

I just hope DIY options would still be available....got a small area to work with.

After selling an existing tank with MH, I actually DIYed another MH/VHO system. Later, I tried my hand at DIY LEDs, with 650 5mm blues and royal blues, resistors and drivers, and a dozen 3W whites. When my corals took off, I was convinced. My next build will definitely be DIY LEDs.

 

[Malcontent]

Fusion reactor.

 

[Nonya]

Fusion reactor.

Mister Fusion is out of production. Too much ionizing radiation.

 

[X-37B]

Already switched over the last month and a half.
6-16hds on 3 systems and one xr15 g5 blue on another. Still need another radion.
This is from an old school halide guy. I always get a laugh at the which one is better arguementive posts. They all work very well if you know what your doing.
Just hung one xr15 blue this morning. My 3 led systems.

Plus im using 60% less power.

 

[SnorkelBob]

All I've ever known is LED. No problem here.

 

[Nonya]

I went to Lowes today to find a CFL to use in calibrating my DIY spectrometer. There was just one small box of them left. I had no idea LEDs had taken over the screw-in bulb market so completely.

 

[Daniel@R2R Verified Admin]

Fusion reactor.

Arc reactor

 

[Nonya]

Arc reactor

I think that predates Mr. Fusion.

 

[nereefpat]

Isn't it established that specialty markets aren't affected by a potential ban? European reefers are still using MH and T5.

I really don't live in fear of not being able to get bulbs. If it ever happens (we've been hearing about it happening for at least ten years now), I guess I'll deal with it then.