pc bulb life

budhorse775 · 03/13/2006, 08:28 AM

I have had the same 4 corallife pc on my 55g tank for about a year now. Does anyone know how long they will stay at the same spectrum? The LFS says to change them every 6 months. Are they saying that to increase there wallets or is it true?

swashbuckler · 03/13/2006, 08:46 AM

the actinic if anything should be changed the most frequently- at least every 6 months or so- i feel that they loose so much power and color within the first 3 months, they get so ugly so quickly...

other than the- spectrum will shift towards the warmer colors- the daylight component should be changed every 6-8 months....

so yeah, i think your due for a change.

smleee · 03/13/2006, 09:34 AM

Yes the consensus is every 6-8 months. Though most people end up going 1 year. You can definately see the difference with your eyes between a 1 year old bulb and a new bulb; though I don't see much of a difference to the eye with a 6 mo. and new bulb (but that doesn't mean the spectrum or output hasn't changed). Oh well, I change every 12 months.

eee

unmc2001 · 03/13/2006, 09:43 AM

I go 9-12 months on mine. my friend still has his original bulbs on his 2x96W aqualight from 2.5 year ago. I seen his tank the other day and thought that he didn't have his actinics on but I checked and they were on but very dim. his lighting now looks like freshwater lighting (very yellow). He has been able to keep his green star polyps alive with that light though. His xenia are shrinking away.

budhorse775 · 03/13/2006, 10:45 AM

Thanks for the info. Anyone know where to find the best prices online 2 65w actinic & 2 65w 10000k square pin?

smleee · 03/13/2006, 11:38 AM

I usually go with Current from drsfostersmith.com or thatfishplace.com; whichever is cheaper at the time.

eee

swashbuckler · 03/13/2006, 01:04 PM

mm...coralife should have the straight pin arrangment, not square unless its 96W...

hellolights.com is a good source for lots of lighting

03/13/2006, 08:28 AM	#1
budhorse775 Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Land O Lakes,Florida Posts: 243	pc bulb life I have had the same 4 corallife pc on my 55g tank for about a year now. Does anyone know how long they will stay at the same spectrum? The LFS says to change them every 6 months. Are they saying that to increase there wallets or is it true?

03/13/2006, 08:46 AM	#2
swashbuckler Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Central VA Posts: 1,726	the actinic if anything should be changed the most frequently- at least every 6 months or so- i feel that they loose so much power and color within the first 3 months, they get so ugly so quickly... other than the- spectrum will shift towards the warmer colors- the daylight component should be changed every 6-8 months.... so yeah, i think your due for a change. __________________ "Der Guten Tag Hop-Clop" -The Producers Current Tank Info: 40breeder, 150W AquaMedic Oceanlight, 190W VHO Superactinics, AquaC Remora, 5 gallon fuge.

03/13/2006, 01:04 PM	#7
swashbuckler Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Central VA Posts: 1,726	mm...coralife should have the straight pin arrangment, not square unless its 96W... hellolights.com is a good source for lots of lighting __________________ "Der Guten Tag Hop-Clop" -The Producers Current Tank Info: 40breeder, 150W AquaMedic Oceanlight, 190W VHO Superactinics, AquaC Remora, 5 gallon fuge.

03/13/2006, 09:34 AM	#3
smleee Registered Member Join Date: May 2004 Location: Boise, ID Posts: 1,344	Yes the consensus is every 6-8 months. Though most people end up going 1 year. You can definately see the difference with your eyes between a 1 year old bulb and a new bulb; though I don't see much of a difference to the eye with a 6 mo. and new bulb (but that doesn't mean the spectrum or output hasn't changed). Oh well, I change every 12 months. eee

03/13/2006, 09:43 AM	#4
unmc2001 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Madison, WI Posts: 301	I go 9-12 months on mine. my friend still has his original bulbs on his 2x96W aqualight from 2.5 year ago. I seen his tank the other day and thought that he didn't have his actinics on but I checked and they were on but very dim. his lighting now looks like freshwater lighting (very yellow). He has been able to keep his green star polyps alive with that light though. His xenia are shrinking away.

03/13/2006, 10:45 AM	#5
budhorse775 Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Land O Lakes,Florida Posts: 243	Thanks for the info. Anyone know where to find the best prices online 2 65w actinic & 2 65w 10000k square pin?

03/13/2006, 11:38 AM	#6
smleee Registered Member Join Date: May 2004 Location: Boise, ID Posts: 1,344	I usually go with Current from drsfostersmith.com or thatfishplace.com; whichever is cheaper at the time. eee