puff daddy
New Member
Okay i know that i should not replace ALL of my bulbs at once. I have 4 blue and 4 white PC's, how do I need to go about replacing them? Two at a time one of each color? Thanks for advise...
Replacing PC...
- Thread starter puff daddy
- Start date
bang guy
Moderator
8 bulbs total?
If it were me and I didn't have a lux meter I'd probably have two schedules since actinic bulbs don't last as long as daylight.
I'd replace a white bulb every 3 months and an actinic bulb every 2 months.
If I were running these bulbs on an IceCap ballast then I'd replace a white bulb every 4 months and an actinic bulb every 3 months since bulbs seem to be useful longer on the IceCaps.
Don't try marking the bulbs with dates. The markings often disintegrate from the combination of heat, salt and humidity (lessons learned
).
Use a spreadsheet or something to keep track of which bulb was installed and it's replacement date.
[hr]
With a lux meter I'd record the lux reading of the bulb types after they've been broken in (about 3 weeks) and then only replace the bulbs after they've lost a percentage of their lumens. 15 - 20%, or whatever you want for your "useful life threshold".
If it were me and I didn't have a lux meter I'd probably have two schedules since actinic bulbs don't last as long as daylight.
I'd replace a white bulb every 3 months and an actinic bulb every 2 months.
If I were running these bulbs on an IceCap ballast then I'd replace a white bulb every 4 months and an actinic bulb every 3 months since bulbs seem to be useful longer on the IceCaps.
Don't try marking the bulbs with dates. The markings often disintegrate from the combination of heat, salt and humidity (lessons learned
Use a spreadsheet or something to keep track of which bulb was installed and it's replacement date.
[hr]
With a lux meter I'd record the lux reading of the bulb types after they've been broken in (about 3 weeks) and then only replace the bulbs after they've lost a percentage of their lumens. 15 - 20%, or whatever you want for your "useful life threshold".
havitmyway
New Member
you take them out and put the new ones in!!!! i know it might sound hard but its not ...stagger the bulbs :notsure:
puff daddy
New Member
Originally Posted by havitmyway
you take them out and put the new ones in!!!! i know it might sound hard but its not ...stagger the bulbs :notsure:
Really that is what i do? I had not a clue..
I know how to replace just not how many at a time.
Yes 8 bulbs total.
you take them out and put the new ones in!!!! i know it might sound hard but its not ...stagger the bulbs :notsure:
Really that is what i do? I had not a clue..
I know how to replace just not how many at a time.
Yes 8 bulbs total.
puff daddy
New Member
anyone?
oceana
Active Member
Originally Posted by Speg
Explain why you wouldnt replace them all at the same time? Cause.. thats what i've always done.
becasue if the bulbs are really old the difference on light canbe rather large and shock the corals. so you replace them over a short time frame to reduce and shock.
with that said i also replace mine all at once. i replace my MH every 6 months so the light is not that much different. plus there are plenty of people willing to buy the used bulbs for a rather high price so i use that money to help buy the new ones
Explain why you wouldnt replace them all at the same time? Cause.. thats what i've always done.
becasue if the bulbs are really old the difference on light canbe rather large and shock the corals. so you replace them over a short time frame to reduce and shock.
with that said i also replace mine all at once. i replace my MH every 6 months so the light is not that much different. plus there are plenty of people willing to buy the used bulbs for a rather high price so i use that money to help buy the new ones
bang guy
Moderator
Exactly what Oceana said. It doesn't apply to MH as much though. Flourescent burn a lot brighter for the fist 100 hours or so. Sometime 15-25% brighter than they will after the break-in period. Add that to an old bulb that's burning 15% less bright and it'a a huge light difference.
IMO the second reason is just as important - stability. Staggering bulb replacements means that the corals are receiving about the same amount of light all the time. They don't have to waste energy adapting to differing lighting intensities.
In my experience when you have a lot of bulbs over a tank like 6 or more and you replace all of the bulbs at once many of the corals will retreat, some will even lose color.
IMO the second reason is just as important - stability. Staggering bulb replacements means that the corals are receiving about the same amount of light all the time. They don't have to waste energy adapting to differing lighting intensities.
In my experience when you have a lot of bulbs over a tank like 6 or more and you replace all of the bulbs at once many of the corals will retreat, some will even lose color.
speg
Active Member
Originally Posted by oceana
becasue if the bulbs are really old the difference on light canbe rather large and shock the corals. so you replace them over a short time frame to reduce and shock.
with that said i also replace mine all at once. i replace my MH every 6 months so the light is not that much different. plus there are plenty of people willing to buy the used bulbs for a rather high price so i use that money to help buy the new ones
Ah, I figured that was probably the reason... i'll continue changing them all at once though
havent got the kinda time to change them one at a time! I change mine every 6 months instead of a year like they 'can' go to.
People buy old bulbs? seriously? Explain!
becasue if the bulbs are really old the difference on light canbe rather large and shock the corals. so you replace them over a short time frame to reduce and shock.
with that said i also replace mine all at once. i replace my MH every 6 months so the light is not that much different. plus there are plenty of people willing to buy the used bulbs for a rather high price so i use that money to help buy the new ones
Ah, I figured that was probably the reason... i'll continue changing them all at once though
havent got the kinda time to change them one at a time! I change mine every 6 months instead of a year like they 'can' go to.People buy old bulbs? seriously? Explain!
speg
Active Member
No offense.. but I really feel that it isnt such a big deal.. well.. in some situations you may wanna do each one at different times if you have delicate corals and sps and etc. I really doubt that it would have much negative effect on leathers/shrooms/zoos/similar hardy coral. I mean.. i've never done it and havent noticed that the corals show ANY sign of stress.. and i've replaced some bulbs that were older than a year all at once...
Just my opinion.
Just my opinion.
oceana
Active Member
Originally Posted by Speg
Ah, I figured that was probably the reason... i'll continue changing them all at once though havent got the kinda time to change them one at a time! I change mine every 6 months instead of a year like they 'can' go to.
People buy old bulbs? seriously? Explain!
honestly i have no idea why. i sold my last set of radium bulbs that were 7 months old for 40 bucks each. i guess a older bulbs is better then no bulb at all for some people.
Ah, I figured that was probably the reason... i'll continue changing them all at once though
havent got the kinda time to change them one at a time! I change mine every 6 months instead of a year like they 'can' go to.People buy old bulbs? seriously? Explain!
honestly i have no idea why. i sold my last set of radium bulbs that were 7 months old for 40 bucks each. i guess a older bulbs is better then no bulb at all for some people.