Bad Bulbs?

Esabasard · 06/04/2007, 01:12 PM

I have a current outer orbit light 48" with 2 150W HQI. I was not satisfied with the color of the HQI that came with it, they are 10K but very yellow to me. Having read from people on here I went with the current 14K because people say thay are not too blue so I thought it would be just right with the t5 actinics. I put them in on Friday night and turned them on and all looked good but it was laying on its back on the floor. I left it on flat on the floor since the timer was going to shut them off in 30 minutes anyway. After they went off I replaced the light on the tank, when they came on again the next day they seem so dull. The color seems too blue and my girlfriend even said its hard to tell they are even on. They seemed bright when on the floor, but it was on the floor. Did I destroy my new bulbs by only running them for 30 min for their first time? Sorry to be so wordy. Thanks

Esabasard · 06/05/2007, 08:49 AM

Bump

Esabasard · 06/05/2007, 03:15 PM

Anyone?

PaulErik · 06/05/2007, 03:56 PM

You changed the orientation of the bulbs. It takes time for a metal halide lamp to stabilize when the operating position is changed. It also takes approximately 100 hours for a new bulb to stabilize in color and light output.

Typically 14,000K lamps will be dimmer than 10,000K lamps.

A.T.T.R · 06/05/2007, 04:18 PM

14k is alot dimmer
and 20 is even dimmer yet

well i guess dimmer isnt the right word. just less light that we can easily see ( red)

but youll love the tnak with the 14ks but you may want ot get away fromt he current lights. buy some retro reflectors and make your own ( using the insides of the current light)

reason behind this? reflectors are terriable on the current and on the coralife. they are to small.. coral is easily shaded and gets dead spots

Esabasard · 06/05/2007, 07:26 PM

Does the side to side orientation matter, I was under the impression that as long as the nipple was down then that's all I had to worry about.

PaulErik · 06/05/2007, 08:16 PM

The inner bulb nipple is actually recommended to point up.

Iâ€™m not sure what you mean by side to side orientation. As long as the lamps (HQI/DE) were operated horizontally no harm will be done to the lamps.

Esabasard · 06/06/2007, 06:59 AM

The inner bulb nipple cannot point up, it can only point to the side. I was told to make sure that the outer nipple is pointing down. I have contacted my retailer and should be getting new bulbs in a few days. There was definately something wrong with these, they weren't as bright as my 70W bulbs on my sunpod.

06/04/2007, 01:12 PM	#1
Esabasard Registered Member Join Date: May 2006 Location: Lebanon, TN Posts: 228	Bad Bulbs? I have a current outer orbit light 48" with 2 150W HQI. I was not satisfied with the color of the HQI that came with it, they are 10K but very yellow to me. Having read from people on here I went with the current 14K because people say thay are not too blue so I thought it would be just right with the t5 actinics. I put them in on Friday night and turned them on and all looked good but it was laying on its back on the floor. I left it on flat on the floor since the timer was going to shut them off in 30 minutes anyway. After they went off I replaced the light on the tank, when they came on again the next day they seem so dull. The color seems too blue and my girlfriend even said its hard to tell they are even on. They seemed bright when on the floor, but it was on the floor. Did I destroy my new bulbs by only running them for 30 min for their first time? Sorry to be so wordy. Thanks

06/05/2007, 08:49 AM	#2
Esabasard Registered Member Join Date: May 2006 Location: Lebanon, TN Posts: 228	Bump __________________ 20gal Long, MP10, 4x24W T5 current sundial - Bulbs: Blue+, Fiji Purple, KZ Coral Light, Blue+

06/05/2007, 03:15 PM	#3
Esabasard Registered Member Join Date: May 2006 Location: Lebanon, TN Posts: 228	Anyone? __________________ 20gal Long, MP10, 4x24W T5 current sundial - Bulbs: Blue+, Fiji Purple, KZ Coral Light, Blue+

06/05/2007, 04:18 PM	#5
A.T.T.R Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: ft lauderdale Posts: 2,729	14k is alot dimmer and 20 is even dimmer yet well i guess dimmer isnt the right word. just less light that we can easily see ( red) but youll love the tnak with the 14ks but you may want ot get away fromt he current lights. buy some retro reflectors and make your own ( using the insides of the current light) reason behind this? reflectors are terriable on the current and on the coralife. they are to small.. coral is easily shaded and gets dead spots __________________ Chris Addicted to the Reef- Current Tank Info: Starting a 20g

06/05/2007, 07:26 PM	#6
Esabasard Registered Member Join Date: May 2006 Location: Lebanon, TN Posts: 228	Does the side to side orientation matter, I was under the impression that as long as the nipple was down then that's all I had to worry about. __________________ 20gal Long, MP10, 4x24W T5 current sundial - Bulbs: Blue+, Fiji Purple, KZ Coral Light, Blue+

06/05/2007, 03:56 PM	#4
PaulErik Premium Member Join Date: Dec 2000 Location: North Charleston, SC Posts: 1,703	You changed the orientation of the bulbs. It takes time for a metal halide lamp to stabilize when the operating position is changed. It also takes approximately 100 hours for a new bulb to stabilize in color and light output. Typically 14,000K lamps will be dimmer than 10,000K lamps.

06/05/2007, 08:16 PM	#7
PaulErik Premium Member Join Date: Dec 2000 Location: North Charleston, SC Posts: 1,703	The inner bulb nipple is actually recommended to point up. Iâ€™m not sure what you mean by side to side orientation. As long as the lamps (HQI/DE) were operated horizontally no harm will be done to the lamps.

06/06/2007, 06:59 AM	#8
Esabasard Registered Member Join Date: May 2006 Location: Lebanon, TN Posts: 228	The inner bulb nipple cannot point up, it can only point to the side. I was told to make sure that the outer nipple is pointing down. I have contacted my retailer and should be getting new bulbs in a few days. There was definately something wrong with these, they weren't as bright as my 70W bulbs on my sunpod. __________________ 20gal Long, MP10, 4x24W T5 current sundial - Bulbs: Blue+, Fiji Purple, KZ Coral Light, Blue+