BLV bulbs life span

[mv3i]

Anyone can enlighten me on the characteristics of BLV 10K ( or most MH bulb) as it's nearing it's life span ??

notice mine (coming to a yr) is turning slightly off white ... a t touch of yellow .... like a saki bulb but not yellow ...

time to change ....

thanks

[Eric]

Anyone can enlighten me on the characteristics of BLV 10K ( or most MH bulb) as it's nearing it's life span ??

notice mine (coming to a yr) is turning slightly off white ... a t touch of yellow .... like a saki bulb but not yellow ...

time to change ....

thanks

1 year only? The lifespan is 8000hrs leh........if use 10hrs a day also have to use 800days = 2.5yrs leh........

Eric

[macro]

i change it by 8mth with usage 10hr/day.by that time can notice a slight pinkish tint.

[mv3i]

hmmm ... y 2 different views .... quite extreme cases here

btw ... mine is on for 10hrs/day

[macro]

my a 250WDE on magnetic ballast.

type of ballast,duration,quality of line voltage will affect the life span and color temp but not sure if there a differnet btw DE and SE when come practical usage.

[jellyfish]

lifespan of the bulb is the total hrs u can use in normal condition, eg, if you fixed the MH at your living room and use it as a spot light, yes, the lifespan could be yrs... Well, for marine, we change the buld not because it is spoilt, it is becaused the colour shift from 1 colour to another (kelvin rating) and the bulb will loss its intensity after some time. usually, most hobist change their bulb after 6~7 months, for PL, around 9 months, FL will last longest, around 1 yr (not VHO type)

[roidan]

just to add, most of the lifespan numbers are more or less accurate only if you strike the bulb once and leave it continuously running...then perhaps you can get near the manufacturer's ratings...

our usage patterns of striking and turning off day in day out will reduce the effective hours by alot.

[AlfaRomeo]

As a general rule, MH bulbs should be changed yearly or so..

[mv3i]

As a general rule, MH bulbs should be changed yearly or so..

that's wat i reckon too in general ... with radium being a little less than 10 mths on the average .

being watching the tank the last few day ... really think that the bulb spectrum has shifted slightly to a touch of yellow .

any lobang for bulbs ?

hoping to try 250W 14K SE but not many in the market ... any recommendations?

[planetg]

my BLVs are into 9th month. the colour sux big time. without my actinic t5s, i wouldn't want to look at the tank.

as for 250W SE 14K, u've got prob hamilton (14K), or giesemann megachrome (13K) or aquaconnect (14K). however for AC 14K, u can either order overseas or wait for some LFS to carry such product as it's not available now.

i'm looking to changing to 14K also for a more pleasing look