Lighting

[johnfluevogs]

First...How long can you use a 175 w mogal base halide bulb? 6, 8 months...1 year?

Second ?, I currently have 2 36 w pc actinic bulbs and a 14k 175 w MH. I am having toruble with some corals like caps, hydnophoras, and turbinarias. I think that my light may be to blame. In the event that I am due for a MH bulb change should I stay 14k or go to a 10k or 20k? Any suggestions?

 

[sslarison]

Well as far as how long you should wait before replacing them I think most people go for one year.

The color temperature as you may know is mostly preference. I tend to like the higher levels. I'm using XM 20K right now. I like the way they look.

 

[johnfluevogs]

So how would you know that the bulb is producing sub par light qulity and it is time to change?

 

[Anonymous]

So how would you know that the bulb is producing sub par light qulity and it is time to change?

For MH two things happen:
1 - the bulbs puts out less light. This can be tested with a lux meter.

2 - The spectrum will shift toward the red end of the spectrum.

In my limited experience with MH is seems that the useful livespan of the bulb is inversely proportional to the Kelvin Color. ie. The bluer bulbs last 6 months and the yellower bulbs last a year or so.