How do you change light bulbs??

[mrrrkva]

Ok no smart answers. I have to replace all my bulbs. They are all old (over 1 yr old). I have 2X165 VHO's and 3 X175 MH on a 200 gallon tank. I was just going to change 1 light bulb a week starting with the VHO's and work to the MH, but this would take 5 weeks. Can I just do 1 every 3 days?

 

[taikonaut]

>... Ok no smart answers.

LOL Oh well.

Patience is virture, and it is true for reefkeeping. There is no perfect yes and no answer for changing bulb, but the best thing is to do it gradually so that the critters can adjust to the higher light level.

With that said, I can tell you that you can change it all at once, but put a plastic screen over the tank top to cut the intensity down. Over the course of several days, gradually roll the screen out of the way, and you will be all set.

 

[VaderWS6]

I change by bulbs once a year no matter what.

 

[Anonymous]

There is no completly right answer, but here is what I did/do. At 1 year I changed half of my bulbs. At 18 months I changed the other half. From then on I changed the bulbs at 1 year intervals. So every 6 months I change out half of the bulbs. It kind of spreads out the cost of new bulbs.

 

[mrrrkva]

Can I do 2 VHO's at one time
And than Maybe 1 MH every 3-4 days?

 

[Anonymous]

You could probably change them all out at once. They light different sections of you tank. I split mine to spread the cost and to reduce the loss of intensity effects of the VHO since that is all I use.

 

[Mogo]

I try to change out my mh's within a year and VHO's in 6 months. I change out 1 mh at a time every week or 2 so that the tank isn't blasted with alot of "new" light at once. So the last bulb i change out is usually over a year old.

Staggering the changeout also gives me time to do some creative accounting (hiding, burying etc.) as $400-500 on the credit card at 1 go for silly light bulbs is impossible to explain to the CFO (wife). 8O

 

[Ralphyhp]

If i were you i change the VHO both at the same time, because of the shipping coasts for those bulbs, then go with the M/H 3-4 days as you mention. Ralphyhp :wink:

 

[Mogo]

Yeah, I change out both of my VHO's at the same time.