New Ushio 10k MH-different look

[slojmn1]

I just put in two new 400w Ushio 10k MH bulbs. They were awesome the first two days(running 3 hours only to help acclimate tank to new bulbs). Today, day 3, the right bulb is great, nice crisp, white light. I love it. The left bulb is suddenly looking dimmer, greener, YUCK. They both looked great yesterday. What could be happening here? I run them on dual PFO ballast, nipple up, at least pertty close to up on the left one. They both seemd fine yesterday and the first day. Any suggestions or ideas?

 

[dattack]

Did you switch the bulb to see if there is any difference in color? If you switch the bulb to a different socket and it still looks green then you have a bad bulb.

 

[slojmn1]

Switched the bulbs and they are both looking crisp and white again, as they did the first couple of days. So I will let them sit for a few days and see if the same thing happens around the third or fourth day. I contacted Champion Lighting where I purchased the bulbs and they said return it and they will send me a new one. Excellent service. I hope I don't have to return it but if it comes up green again in a few days I will send it back to them for a replacement. This is so curious. I would think if it was going to be dimmer and yucky green it would do it right from the start. Always an adventure int his hobby.

 

[slojmn1]

Interesting thing happened today. Both bulbs kicked on prior to supplemental lights, so I could really see what was happening. Both bulbs horribly green while warming up. Then both bulbs looked like a nice crisp white a bit later. An hour later left side bulb, the original good one, looks perfect, the right side, original questionable bulb looks green/dim. I notice the fan is going on the left side of tank but not yet on on the right side. Later,30 minutes, the right fan is now running and both bulbs look great, nice crisp, white. This is continuing to be perplexing. I thought with the fans blowing on the bulbs you could possibly experience a greener, dimmer bulb. I have what appears to be the opposite effect, read about this here on the board. I need to watch it for a few more days to get a true correlation but I do like the look of both bulbs now that the fans are running. The only problem was the other day when I initially noticed the difference between bulbs the fans were running. Who knows, I am still not sure whether to send this bulb back or not.

 

[Anonymous]

The 400W German bulbs run best when on an HQI ballast. It could very well be you have a bulb that is a bit finicky on a normal ballast.

 

[kmagyar]

Slojmn1: Is that a regular ballast or an HQI ballast?

 

[slojmn1]

kmagyar- regular ballast.
Mick- I like the way you put that, finicky. I am still observing this bulb. We will see how it goes today.

 

[Anemone]

Are the fans and bulbs wired together? Maybe a current problem/short keeping the fan from running also causes the bulb to burn green. Maybe, as Tom said, the bulb is finicky - especially if anything impacts the current flow.

Kevin

 

[slojmn1]

Fans and bulbs are not wired together, but thanks for thinking of that.

 

[Anonymous]

Right it is a voltage issue. Maybe time the fans to kick on AFTER the bulbs ignite say 5-10 minutes it may help them fire a bit more reliably.

 

[slojmn1]

Mick- That sounds like a good idea. It worked out that way today as we had a power outage here yesterday and I didn't set the fans right on. The lights seem fine today. Both looking white.

 

[slojmn1]

Thanks Mack. We are currently at about 17 hours of run time so far. It will take another week to week and a half to get to 100 hours. I will definately return it if it shows up dim and green after this break in period.

 

[mwm6]

You need to allow a minimum of 100 hrs of burn-in time with halides for the lamp CCT to become stable.

If it is still acting as it is after this, return it.


Mack

 

[slojmn1]

Update- Today is day five after switching bulbs from one side to the other. I have the fans timed to come on after the bulbs are up and running so they can fire up without the fans interfering. Fans are running and bulbs have been running for one hour.I noticed the left bulb, original good bulb, is dimmer/horrible green. The right bulb, original suspected bad bulb is a nice, crisp white. I turned the left fan off while leaving the right fan running. Within 10 minutes the left bulb, original good bulb, is looking a lot whiter and crisper. Not quite to the point of the right bulb, original supected bad bulb, but very close. Are you still with me here or totally confused

? I would say the fan may be the culprit. So, next step will be to put spacers in both fans and aim them down onto the water surface a bit more and off of the bulbs as much as possible. I am getting a new fan to replace my really loud, obnoxious IceCap fan. When the new one comes in I will make the change then. I'll let you know what happens.