halides life expectancy?

[kware]

Is there a general rule of thumb on how many hours metal halides produce usable light for?
I have 2 de phoenix 14k bulbs run by 2 icecap electrinic ballasts and cant remember when I replaced them last. Im having a hair algae problem and am wondering if the lights are the problem?
anybody have any suggestions?

[Dmorty217]

9-12 months. You will notice unwanted algae when the spectrum shifts

[kware]

I only run the light for about 6.5 to 7 hours a day. Does that sound right?

[d2mini]

Depends on the bulb.
I easily run my Radiums 14 months. I don't have a PAR meter but don't notice a diff before or after switching bulbs.
I run 7 hrs/day.

[gcarroll]

I used to run my Phoenix for 14-18 months. The problem I see is the Icecap ballast does not run the bulb to specs so you could see earlier degradation.

[kware]

Their is so much info out there about lighting that its kind of overwhelming. The 2 phoenix bulbs are all I run too. The light fixture I use is a cheap Chinese brand and the four 4 pin florescent bulbs quit working and I never fixed it not wanting to spend the money on new bulbs, thinking they didnt do much anyway

[gus6464]

Overdrive ballasts like M80 will kill the bulb faster. As a safe bet I would say 12 months is a good amount no matter the ballast.

[gcarroll]

Originally Posted by gus6464

Overdrive ballasts like M80 will kill the bulb faster. As a safe bet I would say 12 months is a good amount no matter the ballast.

Incorrect. The M80 does not over drive DE bulbs or a Radium SE bulbs. Not many have more experience that me running the Phoenix. I've run them successfully on many different ballast.

[outy]

Plusrights went two years

at 18 months I had some GHA but that was due to little to no water changes

[gcarroll]

Originally Posted by gus6464

Overdrive ballasts like M80 will kill the bulb faster. As a safe bet I would say 12 months is a good amount no matter the ballast.

Incorrect. The M80 does not over drive DE bulbs or a 250w Radium SE bulb.

[kware]

Am I the only one who only run halides with nothing else?

[gus6464]

Originally Posted by gcarroll

Incorrect. The M80 does not over drive DE bulbs or a Radium SE bulbs. Not many have more experience that me running the Phoenix. I've run them successfully on many different ballast.

http://www.advancedaquarist.com/2004/2/aafeature1

304-309W isn't overdriving?

307W on a DE Ushio.

[gcarroll]

Didn't have to read far to find this
"Since the ANSI-M80 is the recommended ballast for 250W double ended lamps, we decided to compare the lamps using this ballast to establish a baseline of performance."

[cloak]

Originally Posted by kware

Is there a general rule of thumb on how many hours metal halides produce usable light for?
I have 2 de phoenix 14k bulbs run by 2 icecap electrinic ballasts and cant remember when I replaced them last. Im having a hair algae problem and am wondering if the lights are the problem?
anybody have any suggestions?

I really don't know, but I've ran Hamilton bulbs along with XM's on an older Hamilton magnetic ballast for years on end without any problems. It's always replaced each year on January first.. I light it up for about 6 hours a day. (11-5)

http://reefkeeping.com/issues/subject/lighting.php

[gcarroll]

I have always loved the picture on the box on the Phoenix! I wish they would have chose this one instead.

[gus6464]

Originally Posted by gcarroll

Didn't have to read far to find this
"Since the ANSI-M80 is the recommended ballast for 250W double ended lamps, we decided to compare the lamps using this ballast to establish a baseline of performance."

A 250W rated bulb (per the manufacturer) running at 308W is overdriving no matter how you slice it.

[gcarroll]

Originally Posted by gus6464

A 250W rated bulb (per the manufacturer) running at 308W is overdriving no matter how you slice it.

Says who? You, or experts Like Sanjay and the manufacturer who recommended that ballast.

[gcarroll]

Calling a bulb a 250w bulb has nothing to do with reality and just marketing.
A 400w radium is really only a 360w bulb
A 250w radium is really a 270w bulb

Lets not forget, Sanjay's testing measures power from the wall before the ballasts inefficiencies. So please let's talk about reality and not marketing.

[alton]

Without some type of light meter you are guessing, I have had DE lamps lose 50% of there output at 8 months, others 14 months and some SE lamps go past 24 months with only a 10% loss in PAR. If you are getting algae I would guess phosphates first. Under driving a lamp does not prematurely kill a lamp. If you have LPS they will let you know when it is time, with SPS you may lose them like I did when my lamps lost 50% at 8 months, and your eyes cannot tell you when they go bad.

[kware]

I just ordered a new set

[welshintheusa]

Originally Posted by kware

Am I the only one who only run halides with nothing else?

I run a S/E 400 watt halide with a Radium Blue lamp/bulb. I disagree that an older lamp/bulb creates algy. When a halide is older, the bulb just does not emit the same par or in the same Kelvin. I had in the past, great success with running cheapo d/e lamps bulbs with no algy issues. Algy is caused by your parameters, not your bulb.
I run my Halide for 10 hrs a day, night time is only a few blue leds.

[fishresponse]

So what does a non-radium (regular) 250w bulb run at in terms of watts ran on a standard 250w ballast?

[sirreal63]

Originally Posted by gus6464

A 250W rated bulb (per the manufacturer) running at 308W is overdriving no matter how you slice it.

You should listen to Greg, he knows what he is saying. Alternatively you can see what the mfg. states as the nominal lamp wattage.
http://www.radium.de/en/product-cata...s-horticulture

HQI bulbs run a higher wattage for the lamp, this includes not only DE bulbs but some European SE bulbs as well. If anyone has doubts about what ballast to run then there is a handy article that will show you as well as give you a very good understanding of how MH operates.
http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2007-03/sj/index.php

To the OP, this may help.
http://www.reefkeeping.com/issues/2007-04/ac/index.php

[Member No. 1]

Jack, I was hoping you would chime in.
I've been running 2 Phoenix 14k 250 DE for years in a Aquamedic fixture with what I assume are magnetic ballasts. The hum from them is getting louder.
I have been looking to upgrade to electronic, so what would you recommend?
I have been looking at the Galaxy Dual 250W by Sunlight Supply. My LFS has one but I see they are discontinued and replaced by the same only for a single 250W. I know I would need two.
I'm worried about light output vs the magnetic and not driving the lamp at a correct level.
Thought?
TIA

[sirreal63]

If it were me, I would get the Hamilton M80's. I have run electronics off and on over the years, and yes they work, but I will always prefer the correct magnetic ballast for the bulb. Operating a bulb as close as possible to spec means the bulb is functioning as designed, no bulbs are designed for an electronic ballast spec but most will run on them. Considering you are running a DE bulb, get a ballast designed for the bulb, you will get the most out of the bulb.

If you want to go with the electronic, then one of the select a watt ones would be a better option. I have been tempted to try one of the LuXcore ballasts, but I already have way more ballasts than I need. I also avoid any dual ballast, if half of it goes out, you are left without a ballast until it is repaired or replaced. A pair of single ballasts is a wiser decision, your tank will be ok with only one bulb until you can get a replacement.