how often do you change your halide bulbs?

[jhale]

while planning to add lights to my hood I realized that will be two more expensive halides to replace, four in total.$ouch$

how often do you replace them?

 

[cali_reef]

About 12 months on the DE and 13-14 on the moguls in the past based on other?s opinion and actual color shift.

Now I use a PAR meter to track the bulb and will change when the PAR start to diminish.

 

[bad coffee]

Change my bulbs? I'm supposed to do that?

I'm about to change my 150w now. I'm looking for a good price on the phoenix 14k. I've got a Ushio 20k and I'd like a little less blue.

I also bought my light used so I don't know how much it was burned before. I've had it up and running for two months. I'll keep the old bulb as a spare.

BC

 

[jhale]

does the PAR meter measure just the intensity of the bulb?
I have a light meter, can I use that? it measures light in the 1/10th's of stops for cameras.

speaking of bulb prices, who's got the lowest?

 

[cali_reef]

PAR meter measure the intensity of the light spectrum that affects photosynthesis, photo light meter measures only the spectrum that our eyes pick up.

Sanjay wrote an article on the differences.

 

[spykes]

lux is the amount of light intensity to out eyes, par i think is photosynthesis Available Radiation, which is measured in PPFD not in lux units i remember. well i know my XM20K 250's give out 111 PPFD so im very happy =D

 

[spykes]

uhm my camera picks up lux dunno if that helps you or not

 

[jhale]

right, I remember reading that article now. how much is a par meter, is it worth buying one?

 

[House of Laughter]

I change my halides every 10-12 months - use one as a spare and sell the other on RC to someone needing a spare or setting up a new tank.

I remember those meters are expensive and (for me) not worth it. rather use that money for keeping my bulbs current.

I use the XM 250's as well, and boy are they bright

House

 

[jhale]

which XM's do you have Jim, the 10K?
I liked the look of the light you have.
it was nice and neutral.

 

[cali_reef]

A "cheap" PAR meter that is usefull is about $229+ shipping. The one I got is $70 more and measures natural lighting in addition to electric lighting.

Here is where I got mine:
http://www.apogee-inst.com/bqm_spec.htm

[ April 19, 2005, 03:53 PM: Message edited by: cali_reef ]

 

[jhale]

hmm, that will have to wait. it's cool that you have one.
I have other things to buy for the tank first.

 

[jhale]

thanks for the link, i could not find them anywhere. i was searching under PAR meter, not dual radiation meter.
I have it saved and added to my wtb list