When to change a MH

C5flyboy · 09/24/2011, 05:08 PM

Hey I am pretty new to the reef keeping hobby and bought my entire set up from a friend when he upgraded. I have had the tank running for about 5 months now and I don't know how long the MH was running before I got the tank and was wondering what are some visual signs that would tell you it's time to replace the bulb? Thanks

lambchops · 09/24/2011, 05:19 PM

I would just replace it.

C5flyboy · 09/24/2011, 05:21 PM

I've thought about doing that and probably will but I still need to know what to look for in the future to know when it's time again or should it be a set time frame?

shifty51008 · 09/24/2011, 05:42 PM

most people change them out at 9 months

mbg75 · 09/24/2011, 05:51 PM

+1 on the nine months. Are there corals in there yet?

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C5flyboy · 09/24/2011, 06:17 PM

MBG75,

There are some corals in it: frogspawn, torch, brain, couple of zoas, and a leather toadstool. I actually have almost the exact setup you have execpt my MH is a 150W. I recently changed one of my actinics because it burned out. I put in a hamilton 460nm blue and the other is a coralpro I think, and is the same color. Do you think I should put something different in place of the coral pro actinic? There was a purple colored light in it(the one that burned out) and my LFS gave me the hamilton.

mbg75 · 09/24/2011, 06:29 PM

If u don't know how long your buddy had the bulb for, then yes I would replace it soon.
If the bulb is old, a new one might shock the corals, u might have to raise it up, and bring it back down over time.

I ran a 14k phoenix and had great growth.

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sporto0 · 09/24/2011, 06:34 PM

I change mine every year 12-14 months, I try & get every dollars worth out of it.

mbg75 · 09/24/2011, 06:41 PM

What do you have? Mh/t5 combo?

Was there a brand on the old purple bulb?

Gotta change my signature, I upgraded to a 75 rimless 2 weeks ago.

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WI reefer55 · 09/24/2011, 08:17 PM

Ive had my 2 150w phoenix DE lamps in my sunpod for about 2 years and 3 months and there fine work the same as when new. I only keep LPS and softies if i had sps I would change every 1.5 years.

C5flyboy · 09/24/2011, 08:39 PM

Yeah my light fixture is a coralife with MH and T5 actinics and the moon lights. I'm not sure of the brand of the old purple color bulb or how long it ran before it quit.

C5flyboy · 09/24/2011, 08:40 PM

sorry the actinics are power compacts not t5's

mbg75 · 09/24/2011, 09:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by C5flyboy

sorry the actinics are power compacts not t5's

24" coralife combo? That puts out good light with the actinics..

They actually have split blue/purple bulbs available in pc's.

What color range is the mh?

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C5flyboy · 09/25/2011, 09:09 AM

it is the 24" combo hood. The MH only says 150W blue, not sure of the number side of it whether it's a 10k, 14k, 20k or otherwise. Do you think it might be wise to get another of the purple color PC to put back it the fixture?

mbg75 · 09/25/2011, 10:05 AM

If ur happy with the pc color, and the bulbs are newer, leave them.

Other hand, I would defiantly change out the mh bulb...there are color options for that also...

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09/24/2011, 05:08 PM	#1
C5flyboy Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2011 Location: Travis Air Force Base Posts: 75	When to change a MH Hey I am pretty new to the reef keeping hobby and bought my entire set up from a friend when he upgraded. I have had the tank running for about 5 months now and I don't know how long the MH was running before I got the tank and was wondering what are some visual signs that would tell you it's time to replace the bulb? Thanks

09/24/2011, 05:42 PM	#4
shifty51008 12-5 Chiefs record Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: NW Iowa Posts: 10,134	most people change them out at 9 months __________________ 75 gal. mixed DT, 100 gal. sump, 50 gal. fuge, Clownfish breeder

09/24/2011, 05:51 PM	#5
mbg75 Registered Member Join Date: May 2011 Location: Long Island Posts: 380	+1 on the nine months. Are there corals in there yet? Sent from my ADR6300 using Tapatalk __________________ 75 RIMLESS

09/24/2011, 06:29 PM	#7
mbg75 Registered Member Join Date: May 2011 Location: Long Island Posts: 380	If u don't know how long your buddy had the bulb for, then yes I would replace it soon. If the bulb is old, a new one might shock the corals, u might have to raise it up, and bring it back down over time. I ran a 14k phoenix and had great growth. Sent from my ADR6300 using Tapatalk __________________ 75 RIMLESS

09/24/2011, 06:41 PM	#9
mbg75 Registered Member Join Date: May 2011 Location: Long Island Posts: 380	What do you have? Mh/t5 combo? Was there a brand on the old purple bulb? Gotta change my signature, I upgraded to a 75 rimless 2 weeks ago. Sent from my ADR6300 using Tapatalk __________________ 75 RIMLESS Last edited by mbg75; 09/24/2011 at 06:51 PM.

09/24/2011, 05:19 PM	#2
lambchops Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: Eagan, MN Posts: 166	I would just replace it.

09/24/2011, 05:21 PM	#3
C5flyboy Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2011 Location: Travis Air Force Base Posts: 75	I've thought about doing that and probably will but I still need to know what to look for in the future to know when it's time again or should it be a set time frame?

09/24/2011, 06:17 PM	#6
C5flyboy Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2011 Location: Travis Air Force Base Posts: 75	MBG75, There are some corals in it: frogspawn, torch, brain, couple of zoas, and a leather toadstool. I actually have almost the exact setup you have execpt my MH is a 150W. I recently changed one of my actinics because it burned out. I put in a hamilton 460nm blue and the other is a coralpro I think, and is the same color. Do you think I should put something different in place of the coral pro actinic? There was a purple colored light in it(the one that burned out) and my LFS gave me the hamilton.

09/24/2011, 06:34 PM	#8
sporto0 Moved On Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Pittsburgh, Pa. Posts: 2,924	I change mine every year 12-14 months, I try & get every dollars worth out of it.

09/24/2011, 08:17 PM	#10
WI reefer55 Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Milwaukee, WI Posts: 294	Ive had my 2 150w phoenix DE lamps in my sunpod for about 2 years and 3 months and there fine work the same as when new. I only keep LPS and softies if i had sps I would change every 1.5 years.

09/24/2011, 08:39 PM	#11
C5flyboy Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2011 Location: Travis Air Force Base Posts: 75	Yeah my light fixture is a coralife with MH and T5 actinics and the moon lights. I'm not sure of the brand of the old purple color bulb or how long it ran before it quit.

09/24/2011, 08:40 PM	#12
C5flyboy Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2011 Location: Travis Air Force Base Posts: 75	sorry the actinics are power compacts not t5's

09/25/2011, 09:09 AM	#14
C5flyboy Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2011 Location: Travis Air Force Base Posts: 75	it is the 24" combo hood. The MH only says 150W blue, not sure of the number side of it whether it's a 10k, 14k, 20k or otherwise. Do you think it might be wise to get another of the purple color PC to put back it the fixture?

09/25/2011, 10:05 AM	#15
mbg75 Registered Member Join Date: May 2011 Location: Long Island Posts: 380	If ur happy with the pc color, and the bulbs are newer, leave them. Other hand, I would defiantly change out the mh bulb...there are color options for that also... Sent from my ADR6300 using Tapatalk __________________ 75 RIMLESS

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