How often does everyone change their VHO bulbs on a reef?
- Thread starter salth2o
- Start date
phoenixrising
Member
I have the exact same setup over my 90 reef and I also change the bulbs every 6 months.
O
ohioballer
Guest
sorry this is a little off the subject beth but someone told me to ask you about a canopy for a 72 gallon bow front where can i get one or do you have one you are selling i am in northeastern ohio also wickliffe lake county my email is ohioballer@ameritech.net thanx for taking the time to answer me
richard rendos
Active Member
I have an Icecap VHO ballast and change out bulbs once a year. I have tremendous growth rates and color from my stonies, polyps, mushrooms, leather, etc.
I also use MH and change them out every 9-10 months. MH bulbs seem to shift spectrum and lose intensity faster than my VHO's.
I also use MH and change them out every 9-10 months. MH bulbs seem to shift spectrum and lose intensity faster than my VHO's.
phoenixrising
Member
OhioBaller--Aquatic Technologies in Columbia Station. He's got whatever you may need.
beatenback
New Member
Hey Bang Guy, do you notice any differences with the Aquasun bulbs, or do they just last longer?
bang guy
Moderator
The AquaSun phosphors seem to last longer in my experience. It will be different for each setup. Heat kills bulbs. In an enclosed canopy VHO bulbs will not be useful for as long unless they are cooled by a fan.
While I don't subscribe to using a Lux Meter to determine the amount of light reaching your coral, I do believe they are useful for determining when to change the bullbs.
When comparing a new bulb to an old one remember that new bulbs lose 10 - 15% (or more) of their intensity the first couple weeks. Comparing the brightness of a brand new bulb with a used one is a useless excercise. I take the Lux reading about 2 weeks after the bulb was first lit (about 150 hours) and then replace the bulb when intensity drops another 15%. That's where I came up with the 2 years. In practice I change an AquaSun every 8 months and an Actinic every 4 months (I have 6 bulbs on the display) but never change 2 bulbs in the same month. I move the used AquaSun bulbs to the refugium and use them there an additional 2 years. I recently upgraded my refugium and now have more bulbs over it so I will probably start supplementing with some NO daylights (the refugium lighting).
Even after 4 years the AquaSuns are fairly bright but not up to par for a reef (pun intended).
While I don't subscribe to using a Lux Meter to determine the amount of light reaching your coral, I do believe they are useful for determining when to change the bullbs.
When comparing a new bulb to an old one remember that new bulbs lose 10 - 15% (or more) of their intensity the first couple weeks. Comparing the brightness of a brand new bulb with a used one is a useless excercise. I take the Lux reading about 2 weeks after the bulb was first lit (about 150 hours) and then replace the bulb when intensity drops another 15%. That's where I came up with the 2 years. In practice I change an AquaSun every 8 months and an Actinic every 4 months (I have 6 bulbs on the display) but never change 2 bulbs in the same month. I move the used AquaSun bulbs to the refugium and use them there an additional 2 years. I recently upgraded my refugium and now have more bulbs over it so I will probably start supplementing with some NO daylights (the refugium lighting).
Even after 4 years the AquaSuns are fairly bright but not up to par for a reef (pun intended).