How often should PC lamps be changed?

[texman]

I have 8 55W PC lamps (smartlites) running 12 hours per day. What is the useful life in terms of spectral shift etc?

 

[reefNewbie]

they usually say about they 10000 effective hours.

 

[Matchbox]

I replace mine every nine to twelve months. The link shows a nice comparision of the different types of bulbs.

http://www.reefcentral.com/library/pc_comparison.html

 

[Anonymous]

I would change them every 8-12 months or so. I also would suggest you save some money anf go with solid color bulbs i.e. 4 blues and and 4 6700k days or something, you get more intensity.

 

[dvb]

I changed out my 2 96W lights at 9 months and noticed a difference in my corals right away. It seemed to take them a few days to get used to the new light. I didn't notice them being brighter or anything but the corals did react.

My lights are on for about 12 hrs per day.

 

[monkeyboy]

I also would suggest you ... go with solid color bulbs ... you get more intensity.

Do you know why that is? I've never heard of that!

 

[MattM]

Put a 6700K and a Smartlight next to each other and turn them on. The white tube of the Smartlight is significantly dimmer than a single tube of the 6700K.

Why? You got me. Maybe it's a less pure phosphor in the mixed tube or something like that, but it's a really obvious difference. And verifiable with a lux meter, but I don't have the exact numbers.

The total tube compliment is the same - If you have two lamps and use Smartlights you get:

White-Blue White-Blue

And with the regular lamps it's:

White-White Blue-Blue

But the total lumen output is not at all similar. Try it!