VHO lighting, how long do they last?

five.five-six · 04/19/2009, 11:06 AM

I am running 2 VHO lamps as dusk and dawn, 2 hours in the morning and 2 at night, they are in an open canopy. they have been running for almost a year now and i am starting to think about changing them

125G Reefer · 04/19/2009, 02:33 PM

Just 4 hours a day? They should still be good. They'll go about 6-9 months using them for 8 hours a day. Or heres the kicker, keep a new one for a spare, and if you think they are getting bad, throw in the new one and get an idea of how much light they have lost.

five.five-six · 04/19/2009, 04:06 PM

now that is a good idea, does anyone know where to get the Phillips .03

grigsy · 04/19/2009, 06:07 PM

It depends a bit also on the ballast you are running them on also. For example, if you are using a Magnatek ballast, you should consider replacing about every 6 months. If you are running an Ice Cap or Fulham electronic ballast, you should get more time out of the VHO bulbs - about every 10-12 months you should change. At least, that has been my experience with VHO bulbs.

Dont know about Phillips 03 blue but I do like Voltarc and URI (now UV lighting) VHO Actinics. Try either Champion http://www.championlighting.com/home.php?cat=822 or Hamilton Tech http://www.hamiltontechnology.com/sh...lacement+Bulbs

VaderWS6 · 04/19/2009, 06:17 PM

I've been using my 110 watt VHO actinics for about 7 years now. I was just using them to balance the 10k XM metal halides, but now that I have Radium 20k's, I just use them for 2 hours dawn 2 hour dusk. I was running them every day for 10 hours. If you're just using them for dawn/dusk, I wouldn't worry about replacing them. Just a waste of money. I've never had VHO bulbs fail, and have always run VHO on an Icecap 660. They're not as bright as when I first purchased them, but its not that big of a difference in appearance. BTW, they're URI bulbs.

five.five-six · 04/19/2009, 07:37 PM

thanks for the links, I am running 140 watt 60" on a PFO ballets, the thing is huge so I suspect that is magnetic.

when you say 6 months, is that for a 8-10 hr day, because i am only running them 4 hrs a day

125G Reefer · 04/20/2009, 08:38 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by five.five-six
thanks for the links, I am running 140 watt 60" on a PFO ballets, the thing is huge so I suspect that is magnetic.

when you say 6 months, is that for a 8-10 hr day, because i am only running them 4 hrs a day

Yes, that is the time reference.8-10 hrs a day, change em around 6-9 months. 4 hours a day an double the time frame, 12-18 months.

04/19/2009, 11:06 AM	#1
five.five-six Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Corona Posts: 7,827 Blog Entries: 6	VHO lighting, how long do they last? I am running 2 VHO lamps as dusk and dawn, 2 hours in the morning and 2 at night, they are in an open canopy. they have been running for almost a year now and i am starting to think about changing them __________________ Originally posted by yellowslayer13: "I hate that hole" Current Tank Info: SCMAS Member 225 peninsula euroreef RS180 Apex 400W X 3 20k radiums / Spectra mixed SPS

04/19/2009, 04:06 PM	#3
five.five-six Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Corona Posts: 7,827 Blog Entries: 6	now that is a good idea, does anyone know where to get the Phillips .03 __________________ Originally posted by yellowslayer13: "I hate that hole" Current Tank Info: SCMAS Member 225 peninsula euroreef RS180 Apex 400W X 3 20k radiums / Spectra mixed SPS

04/19/2009, 06:17 PM	#5
VaderWS6 Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Kentucky Posts: 1,644	I've been using my 110 watt VHO actinics for about 7 years now. I was just using them to balance the 10k XM metal halides, but now that I have Radium 20k's, I just use them for 2 hours dawn 2 hour dusk. I was running them every day for 10 hours. If you're just using them for dawn/dusk, I wouldn't worry about replacing them. Just a waste of money. I've never had VHO bulbs fail, and have always run VHO on an Icecap 660. They're not as bright as when I first purchased them, but its not that big of a difference in appearance. BTW, they're URI bulbs. __________________ 2001 black T/A WS6~M6 ASC#6979 331rwhp/348rwtq Mods: !CAGS, Pro 5.0, TSP lid, BGRA, Raptor shift light, Strange 4.10 gears, Strano springs, SLP Bilstein shocks, GMMG exhaust Current Tank Info: Main reef:75 gallon w/ 2 250watt Radium 20k run on a PFO dual 250watt HQI ballast w/Lumenbright mini reflectors. 4 110watt VHO actinics for dawn/dusk,Geo kalkreactor,Litermeter 3,Xtreme 160 skimmer,2 Vortech mp40w's

04/19/2009, 07:37 PM	#6
five.five-six Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Corona Posts: 7,827 Blog Entries: 6	thanks for the links, I am running 140 watt 60" on a PFO ballets, the thing is huge so I suspect that is magnetic. when you say 6 months, is that for a 8-10 hr day, because i am only running them 4 hrs a day __________________ Originally posted by yellowslayer13: "I hate that hole" Current Tank Info: SCMAS Member 225 peninsula euroreef RS180 Apex 400W X 3 20k radiums / Spectra mixed SPS

04/19/2009, 02:33 PM	#2
125G Reefer Moved On Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Glendale,AZ Posts: 913	Just 4 hours a day? They should still be good. They'll go about 6-9 months using them for 8 hours a day. Or heres the kicker, keep a new one for a spare, and if you think they are getting bad, throw in the new one and get an idea of how much light they have lost.

04/19/2009, 06:07 PM	#4
grigsy Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Santa Cruz, CA Posts: 2,307	It depends a bit also on the ballast you are running them on also. For example, if you are using a Magnatek ballast, you should consider replacing about every 6 months. If you are running an Ice Cap or Fulham electronic ballast, you should get more time out of the VHO bulbs - about every 10-12 months you should change. At least, that has been my experience with VHO bulbs. Dont know about Phillips 03 blue but I do like Voltarc and URI (now UV lighting) VHO Actinics. Try either Champion http://www.championlighting.com/home.php?cat=822 or Hamilton Tech http://www.hamiltontechnology.com/sh...lacement+Bulbs