Hallide bulbs

[sea goblin]

What is the average life span you guys get with your hallide bulbs? And how long do you have them on during the day?
Sea Goblin

 

[logan15]

most people that i have read replace them anywhere from 6-12 month.Majority of reefers run their lights on a schedule so prob 10-11 hours a day
Hope this helps,
Logan

 

[sea goblin]

bump

 

[josh]

That really depends on the type of bulb ( mogul or double ended ) and the type of ballast you are using.
It can vary from 8 months to upto 18 months.

 

[elan]

i also heard that german made bulbs tend to last longer.

 

[josh]

German bulbs lasting longer? Radiums have some of the shortest life span when running off an HQI ballast.
Your questions is kinda broad, what lamp in particular and what ballast will you run it with.

 

[sea goblin]

I dont know that much about metal hallide....I thought all the bulbs lasted about the same. Im basically trying to find out what will get me the most bang for my buck. The bulbs for hallide seam to be prety expensive, and i figured that it would be more economical to go with a balast and lamp style that would last the longest. This is all because im still on the fence on trying to decide on going with hallide or going with pc.
Do certain bulbs last longer in differant balasts? If so what is a good combo to go with?
I have a 30 gallon that i would like to turn into a nice little reaf. I thought at first i would go with 2 96 watt pc lamps. But im kinda leaning towards maybe going with hallide. what do you guys think? hallide would allow me to get sps and clams, but in such a small tank is it even feesable to try to maintain these guys?
thanks for the help,
Sea goblin

 

[elan]

IMO, i only have two 175 watt MH on a 135 gallon tank. and even those make the water temperature at least a few degrees warmer. I would think getting a MH for a 30 gallon would make it too warm for corals/clams, although i am sure there are some corals that will withstand temps at the higher end of the temperatures
I had to cut back the time i left my MH on so i would keep my temperature lower. I am planning on getting a chiller, but it will be some time before that happends.
The price factor, most of the people that i have asked advice reguarding MH say that MH and chillers go hand in hand for some systems. At least with the systems that have 250's or 400's. i couldnt even imagin a 1000watt bulb without a chiller. and the prices on the chillers are somewhat steep compared to other toys for our ecosystems.
IMO, if i were you, i would stick to PC and VHO type lights that produce much less heat.

 

[scarybo]

I have a 250 watt MH on a 40 gal acrylic tank. Heat so far hasnt been an issue. I run two 4 inch fans in the canopy when the MH is on. I have the lamp 6 inches from the water. I would go with MH. I have used all the major lighting systems..PC, VHO, MH. If you plan on keeping the high light SPS and Clams you will need MH. I tried with pc and vho. They just dont do well with either system.

 

[unsalted]

I am also looking at getting some sps and clams and was looking at MH. With a 72 ga tank can I put too much K in lighting.
That is if I put a 20000K bulb 5" off of the water am I asking for trouble?
Any recommendations since I already have pc's?

 

[scarybo]

I'm new to MH, but I would go with 10k and use the PC for atinic supplement.