14K phoenix bulbs

[marie]

from a study i read somewhere, par drops fairly quickly over the first few months and then levels out a bit and drops much more slowly.

The guy doing the study had accidentely left one of the old bulbs in and had thrown the new one out. While the par was much lower initially then the new ones, by the time the year was up all 3 bulbs were fairly close even though the old bulb was 2 years old.

[RuGlu6]

I keep my bulbs for at least 2 years. some are 3 years old now. SPS are still growing and have nice color.

[viperfish]

Here is an interesting article on bulb life using the Phoenix bulbs as the test subject http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2007-04/ac/index.php. This guy claims a Metal halide bulb loses about 25% of its output at three to four months and at 18 months it is still at 70% of its initial output. So if a person is not going to change their bulbs every 4 months they are just as well to leave them in for a year and a half.

[whatcaneyedo]

I remember that article and was going to post it. Its probably the reason why I've been using Phoenix for the last 3 years. I place them over my display for 12 months at 7-8 hours a day and then over my frag tank for another 5-6 months. After about a year and a half I often get some cyano appearing under the old bulb. Whether the change in spectrum and intensity causes it or if its just coincidence I'm not sure. I guess its worth mentioning too that I use HQI ballasts which don't seem to be available anymore. According to my Apex controller the electricity they draw is actually more like 360W each.

[viperfish]

Originally Posted by whatcaneyedo

I remember that article and was going to post it. Its probably the reason why I've been using Phoenix for the last 3 years. I place them over my display for 12 months at 7-8 hours a day and then over my frag tank for another 5-6 months. After about a year and a half I often get some cyano appearing under the old bulb. Whether the change in spectrum and intensity causes it or if its just coincidence I'm not sure. I guess its worth mentioning too that I use HQI ballasts which don't seem to be available anymore. According to my Apex controller the electricity they draw is actually more like 360W each.

You got my curiosity going so I checked my Apex, I'm drawing 288 watts each on mine, they are HQI also. That's some kind of power you're pumping out of those things!

[Myka]

Doodskis, this thread is 4 years old! Good subject though.

[whatcaneyedo]

I'd rather see an old thread brought back than a new one started about the same subject any day.

[RuGlu6]

Originally Posted by medhatreefguy

You got my curiosity going so I checked my Apex, I'm drawing 288 watts each on mine, they are HQI also. That's some kind of power you're pumping out of those things!

What wattage your bulbs are? 250W?

[viperfish]

Originally Posted by RuGlu6

What wattage your bulbs are? 250W?

Correct, 250. DE bulbs are know to draw higher than the rated wattage.

[whatcaneyedo]

Do you have a true magnestic ballast or are you using a select-a-watt electronic ballast? Mine are magnetic, I've got a dual ballast from Sunlight Supply and a single from Hamilton. I may actually be higher than what I said before. Just now I shut off everything on the powerbar except the hamilton and it was 3.3 amps for that light alone. If watts = amps x volts I guess thats 396W unless I understand that wrong.