Burning in New Lights, Please read & Share

rbrice020378 · 02/14/2006, 03:09 PM

I wanted to start a thread about burning in new bulbs for you tank. Hopefully this will become a growing thread with lots of info. I bought a new light for my 12gal about three weeks ago and installed it. After a couple of days I realized that some of my corals weren't doing to well.
(I will definately claim ingnorance on this because I didn't think that there would be a problem with new bulbs. Boy was I wrong.)
In the process I have lost almost all of the Xenia that I had moved from my 65 gal, I lost a gold Sarco, and I almost lost these.

After about 2 days with the new bulb.
1-23-2006

Once I realized that these Zoos were in trouble I moved them to my 29 gal. Here is what they look like after about 2 weeks.

2-8-2006

There was nothing I could do about the Sarco, when I noticed there was a problem it was too late. In it's case it just started to die without warning. The Xenia isn't too big of a deal because the stuff always comes back if you have a little hiding where you can't see it.

Keep in mind this could have been MUCH MUCH worse.

Please post any info that you can, to help other reefers keep from having to experience this. Also share how to properly burn in lights.

reverendmaynard · 02/14/2006, 03:39 PM

All you did was replace the bulbs? Had the old ones burned out, or did you just feel it was time to replace. Did you use the same color/temp/wattage of the previous bulbs?

I think it's fairly common knowledge that when moving up in intensity on your lighting to take it slow, acclimating your animals similar to how you acclimate them to new water. It's better to underlight than overlight during this time. So if you upgrade to twice the intensity, you might want to only have them on for an hour or two a day for the first week, then an extra hour a day per week until you reach the full lighting period your after.

I've never heard of a problem this serious just from changing bulbs, though.

rbrice020378 · 02/14/2006, 03:55 PM

I'll have to double check the bulb I can't remember off the top of my head what the watts were.

But, I have decided that when I go to change another bulb that I will use a fixture not on a tank to burn it in. Otherwise I will follow the method that you have suggested.

Entropy · 02/14/2006, 03:59 PM

Keep in mind this was a 12g. Bad things can happen real easy on a tiny tank like this.

reverendmaynard · 02/14/2006, 04:04 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by rbrice020378
I'll have to double check the bulb I can't remember off the top of my head what the watts were.

But, I have decided that when I go to change another bulb that I will use a fixture not on a tank to burn it in. Otherwise I will follow the method that you have suggested.

So, just to confirm, all you did was change the bulb?

What kind of fixture is it?

rbrice020378 · 02/14/2006, 04:21 PM

That's all I did was change the Bulb, and its a power compact.
When I moved the Zoos and I had a rock with two gold sarcos on it to my 29 the zoos and the one remaining sarco have since recoup'd as you can see by the posted pic.

reverendmaynard · 02/15/2006, 07:37 AM

Wow.

I can certainly see why you didn't expect to have any adverse effects.

Thanks for sharing.

j0tca · 02/15/2006, 08:29 AM

I recently had issues with new XM bulbs and contacted the company regarding it. One of the pieces of information they told me is that there is no "burn in" period for their, or supposedly any other metal halide bulb. This appears to be a reef tank legend. I am not sure about a burn in period for power compacts, but I can say that there is no (or essentially no (i.e. less than an hour)) burn in period for VHO bulbs. Power compacts run on essentially the same principles as all other flourescents so I don't see how there could be a burn in period for them either.

I am no saying that the spectrum does not change over time, just that it starts out at it proper spectrum and then slowly shifts. All bulbs "yellow" over time. a Bulb has a life of 4000-6000 hours before it's spectrum is shifted to a useless range. Most people change their bulbs every 12 months, or equivalently 3650 hours, assuming a 10 hour/day photoperiod too ensure continued proper spectrum.

So, without changing the color temp/make of bulb, and if the old bulb was only used for 4000 or less hours, there should have been no advers affects. Of course, the original, or new bulb might be manufactured incorrectly aswell.

Damage to corals is not neccesarily attributable to the light source directly. Increased intensity will affect the entire system of reef tanks. A prime change is in the Ph cycle. More light can dramatically increase the photosynthesis in a tank leading to decreased carbonic acid in the day and a more pronounced Ph swing.

HTH,

Will

rbrice020378 · 02/15/2006, 01:54 PM

Thanks for the post, j0tca.
I didn't realize that the change of a light could be so profound on the tank. The old bulb was just under a year old.

I just figured that the intensity of the light and perhaps the proximity of the coral that they could have just been getting burned because the bulb was brand new.

02/14/2006, 03:09 PM	#1
rbrice020378 Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Southaven, MS Posts: 287	Burning in New Lights, Please read & Share I wanted to start a thread about burning in new bulbs for you tank. Hopefully this will become a growing thread with lots of info. I bought a new light for my 12gal about three weeks ago and installed it. After a couple of days I realized that some of my corals weren't doing to well. (I will definately claim ingnorance on this because I didn't think that there would be a problem with new bulbs. Boy was I wrong.) In the process I have lost almost all of the Xenia that I had moved from my 65 gal, I lost a gold Sarco, and I almost lost these. After about 2 days with the new bulb. 1-23-2006 Once I realized that these Zoos were in trouble I moved them to my 29 gal. Here is what they look like after about 2 weeks. 2-8-2006 There was nothing I could do about the Sarco, when I noticed there was a problem it was too late. In it's case it just started to die without warning. The Xenia isn't too big of a deal because the stuff always comes back if you have a little hiding where you can't see it. Keep in mind this could have been MUCH MUCH worse. Please post any info that you can, to help other reefers keep from having to experience this. Also share how to properly burn in lights.

02/14/2006, 03:59 PM	#4
Entropy Texas Reefer Join Date: May 2003 Location: Round Rock, TX Posts: 13,656	Keep in mind this was a 12g. Bad things can happen real easy on a tiny tank like this. __________________ Rich Overton 150G cube FOWLR, 30g sump, ReefKeeperII, 3x Koralia 1400's, QuiteOne 3000, Reef Octopus DNWB150, 4x 30w Par38 LED. Current Tank Info: 36x36x27 150g

02/14/2006, 03:39 PM	#2
reverendmaynard Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: RI Posts: 1,490	All you did was replace the bulbs? Had the old ones burned out, or did you just feel it was time to replace. Did you use the same color/temp/wattage of the previous bulbs? I think it's fairly common knowledge that when moving up in intensity on your lighting to take it slow, acclimating your animals similar to how you acclimate them to new water. It's better to underlight than overlight during this time. So if you upgrade to twice the intensity, you might want to only have them on for an hour or two a day for the first week, then an extra hour a day per week until you reach the full lighting period your after. I've never heard of a problem this serious just from changing bulbs, though.

02/14/2006, 03:55 PM	#3
rbrice020378 Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Southaven, MS Posts: 287	I'll have to double check the bulb I can't remember off the top of my head what the watts were. But, I have decided that when I go to change another bulb that I will use a fixture not on a tank to burn it in. Otherwise I will follow the method that you have suggested.

02/14/2006, 04:21 PM	#6
rbrice020378 Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Southaven, MS Posts: 287	That's all I did was change the Bulb, and its a power compact. When I moved the Zoos and I had a rock with two gold sarcos on it to my 29 the zoos and the one remaining sarco have since recoup'd as you can see by the posted pic.

02/15/2006, 07:37 AM	#7
reverendmaynard Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: RI Posts: 1,490	Wow. I can certainly see why you didn't expect to have any adverse effects. Thanks for sharing.

02/15/2006, 08:29 AM	#8
j0tca Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Montreal Posts: 916	I recently had issues with new XM bulbs and contacted the company regarding it. One of the pieces of information they told me is that there is no "burn in" period for their, or supposedly any other metal halide bulb. This appears to be a reef tank legend. I am not sure about a burn in period for power compacts, but I can say that there is no (or essentially no (i.e. less than an hour)) burn in period for VHO bulbs. Power compacts run on essentially the same principles as all other flourescents so I don't see how there could be a burn in period for them either. I am no saying that the spectrum does not change over time, just that it starts out at it proper spectrum and then slowly shifts. All bulbs "yellow" over time. a Bulb has a life of 4000-6000 hours before it's spectrum is shifted to a useless range. Most people change their bulbs every 12 months, or equivalently 3650 hours, assuming a 10 hour/day photoperiod too ensure continued proper spectrum. So, without changing the color temp/make of bulb, and if the old bulb was only used for 4000 or less hours, there should have been no advers affects. Of course, the original, or new bulb might be manufactured incorrectly aswell. Damage to corals is not neccesarily attributable to the light source directly. Increased intensity will affect the entire system of reef tanks. A prime change is in the Ph cycle. More light can dramatically increase the photosynthesis in a tank leading to decreased carbonic acid in the day and a more pronounced Ph swing. HTH, Will

02/15/2006, 01:54 PM	#9
rbrice020378 Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Southaven, MS Posts: 287	Thanks for the post, j0tca. I didn't realize that the change of a light could be so profound on the tank. The old bulb was just under a year old. I just figured that the intensity of the light and perhaps the proximity of the coral that they could have just been getting burned because the bulb was brand new.