When do you change your halide bulbs?

dmbnpj · 05/24/2006, 04:18 PM

I have (2) 250watt 10k XM's on my tank. Ive heard rule of thumb is changing the bulbs every 6 months. I have a hard time throwing away $150 worth of bulbs twice a year? Just wondering how long others push their bulbs

?

Thanks for any input!

PiNaPLeX · 05/24/2006, 04:35 PM

for metal halide bulbs it's more like 1 year for between bulb changes. 6-8 months is mainly for PC bulbs.

dmbnpj · 05/24/2006, 04:38 PM

sweet!

Zoalander · 05/24/2006, 05:00 PM

when they burn out, jk. 8-12 months depending on brand.

dmbnpj · 05/24/2006, 05:11 PM

how about XM's?

TrojanScott · 05/24/2006, 05:51 PM

I haven't set up yet, but am going with and just purchased XM's. I was told once a year.

Drakis · 05/24/2006, 06:01 PM

I just changed a 175w xm at one year even though I could not really see a decline in color or brightness, until i put in the new bulb lol

J4Life · 05/24/2006, 06:13 PM

I plan on replacing my XM's 10k, 250 single ends at about 2 years since I run them only 8 hours a day. XM's web site says that they are good for up to 6,000 hours so depending on your photo period you can fiugure out when you should replace them.

I just asked this same ?'s a week or so ago and the average response I got from XM users was 1.5 years.

Hope that helps,
Bill

p.s. Did I mention that I love XM's......

dmbnpj · 05/24/2006, 07:04 PM

good news! thanks....i keep mine on about 8 hrs/day so 1.5-2 yrs. sounds good to me!

J4Life · 05/25/2006, 08:06 AM

dmbnpj,

Just make sure to keep an eye on your corals. If you see any side effects like loss of color or they begin to slow way down in growth then I would go ahead and replace the bulbs then even if its before the 1.5-2 year mark. Remember its all about healthy corals.

Glad I could help.
Bill

TimFountain · 05/27/2006, 03:14 PM

Every year here.

twon8 · 05/27/2006, 03:42 PM

i have found nuisance algae appearence is a great indicator of bulb spectrum shifting. my xm 10k only went 3 months before it got really yellow and i got algae everywhere

J4Life · 05/27/2006, 07:24 PM

twon8,

That is a good tip about the algae as well. Sorry to hear that you had problems with the XM. My guess would be that you had a bad bulb. XM's are definitely great bulbs and I think they're very well made also.

Bill

clkwrk · 05/27/2006, 11:07 PM

9 months when over SPS and the another 6-9 months when over softies.

Actually I rotate my SPS bulbs over to the softies to finish the bulbs life.

05/24/2006, 04:18 PM	#1
dmbnpj Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: north carolina Posts: 1,914	When do you change your halide bulbs? I have (2) 250watt 10k XM's on my tank. Ive heard rule of thumb is changing the bulbs every 6 months. I have a hard time throwing away $150 worth of bulbs twice a year? Just wondering how long others push their bulbs ? Thanks for any input!

05/24/2006, 04:35 PM	#2
PiNaPLeX Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: San Jose, CA Posts: 439	for metal halide bulbs it's more like 1 year for between bulb changes. 6-8 months is mainly for PC bulbs. __________________ PiNaPLe X - If fate really exsists, then it HATES my guts! Current Tank Info: 29g glass tank, Penguin 330 filter, AquaC Remora Skimmer, 2x65w PowerCompacts (10k & actinic), 90g RR AGA tank /w Megaflow(in progress), 40g Sump/Fuge, 2 x Seio 1500, Dolphin 800, 2x250W MH (XM 10k), 2x54W T5 (Actinic Plus + True Actinic)

05/24/2006, 05:00 PM	#4
Zoalander Registered Member Join Date: May 2005 Location: Oak Park Illinois Posts: 1,571	when they burn out, jk. 8-12 months depending on brand. __________________ Previously known as Vetter1980 Current Tank Info: 36x36x10 frag tank

05/24/2006, 06:13 PM	#8
J4Life Premium Member Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Winston-Salem, NC Posts: 1,397	I plan on replacing my XM's 10k, 250 single ends at about 2 years since I run them only 8 hours a day. XM's web site says that they are good for up to 6,000 hours so depending on your photo period you can fiugure out when you should replace them. I just asked this same ?'s a week or so ago and the average response I got from XM users was 1.5 years. Hope that helps, Bill p.s. Did I mention that I love XM's...... __________________ Go Panthers! Got JC? <o)))>< Current Tank Info: 75 gallon, Reef tank

05/25/2006, 08:06 AM	#10
J4Life Premium Member Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Winston-Salem, NC Posts: 1,397	dmbnpj, Just make sure to keep an eye on your corals. If you see any side effects like loss of color or they begin to slow way down in growth then I would go ahead and replace the bulbs then even if its before the 1.5-2 year mark. Remember its all about healthy corals. Glad I could help. Bill __________________ Go Panthers! Got JC? <o)))>< Current Tank Info: 75 gallon, Reef tank

05/24/2006, 04:38 PM	#3
dmbnpj Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: north carolina Posts: 1,914	sweet!

05/24/2006, 05:11 PM	#5
dmbnpj Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: north carolina Posts: 1,914	how about XM's?

05/24/2006, 05:51 PM	#6
TrojanScott Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Lake Forest, CA Posts: 2,229	I haven't set up yet, but am going with and just purchased XM's. I was told once a year.

05/24/2006, 06:01 PM	#7
Drakis Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Vancouver, WA (the Couve) Posts: 241	I just changed a 175w xm at one year even though I could not really see a decline in color or brightness, until i put in the new bulb lol

05/24/2006, 07:04 PM	#9
dmbnpj Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: north carolina Posts: 1,914	good news! thanks....i keep mine on about 8 hrs/day so 1.5-2 yrs. sounds good to me!

05/27/2006, 03:14 PM	#11
TimFountain Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Portland, OR Posts: 82	Every year here.

05/27/2006, 03:42 PM	#12
twon8 Formally registered membe Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: slightly sw of richmond, va Posts: 5,920	i have found nuisance algae appearence is a great indicator of bulb spectrum shifting. my xm 10k only went 3 months before it got really yellow and i got algae everywhere __________________ Anthony Richmond Reef Club "and as things fell apart, nobody paid much attention." Not building a wall but making a brick Current Tank Info: 300g DD display, 60g frag tank

05/27/2006, 07:24 PM	#13
J4Life Premium Member Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Winston-Salem, NC Posts: 1,397	twon8, That is a good tip about the algae as well. Sorry to hear that you had problems with the XM. My guess would be that you had a bad bulb. XM's are definitely great bulbs and I think they're very well made also. Bill __________________ Go Panthers! Got JC? <o)))>< Current Tank Info: 75 gallon, Reef tank

05/27/2006, 11:07 PM	#14
clkwrk Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Mesa ,Az Posts: 10,257	9 months when over SPS and the another 6-9 months when over softies. Actually I rotate my SPS bulbs over to the softies to finish the bulbs life. __________________ ------- Feel free to use my photos for ONLY informative sites, education or enjoyment.All I ask is to include my Reef Central User id and where you got the photo ( RC).