mh light bulb life

shuturhole316tx · 04/04/2009, 11:57 AM

I am in Iraq right now and my wife is having a problem with our tank. she started by saying there were bubbles all over the tank, and then cam the brown algie. my bulbs ar xm 10K and are about 14 months old on mag ballasts. could this be the problem as all water test are good. sorry I can post picsas the net over here sucks. all water test are undetectable. system runs a kalk and cal reactor carbon reactor, and asm g3 skimmer on a 180 tank with 75 gal sump (180 gal water valum)

aquaman67 · 04/04/2009, 12:21 PM

I know what it's like to care for a tank from Iraq. Been there done that, it's not fun.

It could be the bulbs. Most people change MH bulbs anywhere from 8 to 12 months so I'd say you're due.

Is there anyone that can help her change them? I'm sure there is a fish shop in Killeen.

Has / can she do a water change? That might be something else to get a LFS to help out with. Are you coming home on leave any time soon?

Good luck with the tank and down range. Wish I could do more. keep us posted.

shuturhole316tx · 04/04/2009, 10:32 PM

ok changed the bulbs out. and a lfs sold my wife some phosfate sponge and a phosfate test kit. it test at 0 and they charged her 70 bucks for it all. could it just be the bulbs?

04/04/2009, 11:57 AM	#1
shuturhole316tx Premium Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Killeen, TX/Camp Taji, Iraq Posts: 315	mh light bulb life I am in Iraq right now and my wife is having a problem with our tank. she started by saying there were bubbles all over the tank, and then cam the brown algie. my bulbs ar xm 10K and are about 14 months old on mag ballasts. could this be the problem as all water test are good. sorry I can post picsas the net over here sucks. all water test are undetectable. system runs a kalk and cal reactor carbon reactor, and asm g3 skimmer on a 180 tank with 75 gal sump (180 gal water valum) __________________ Thanks, John 180 Gal Reef & Fish Starfire Tank Current Tank Info: 180 Gal, Starfire Tank, Corals, Fish, inverts, lots of money!

04/04/2009, 10:32 PM	#3
shuturhole316tx Premium Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Killeen, TX/Camp Taji, Iraq Posts: 315	ok changed the bulbs out. and a lfs sold my wife some phosfate sponge and a phosfate test kit. it test at 0 and they charged her 70 bucks for it all. could it just be the bulbs? __________________ Thanks, John 180 Gal Reef & Fish Starfire Tank Current Tank Info: 180 Gal, Starfire Tank, Corals, Fish, inverts, lots of money!

04/04/2009, 12:21 PM	#2
aquaman67 Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2002 Location: Tennessee Posts: 7,629	I know what it's like to care for a tank from Iraq. Been there done that, it's not fun. It could be the bulbs. Most people change MH bulbs anywhere from 8 to 12 months so I'd say you're due. Is there anyone that can help her change them? I'm sure there is a fish shop in Killeen. Has / can she do a water change? That might be something else to get a LFS to help out with. Are you coming home on leave any time soon? Good luck with the tank and down range. Wish I could do more. keep us posted.