Light upgrade

[Kasey]

I have a 30 gallon tall with a 36" Coralife single CF.

I currently have a square pin 96 watt 50/50, that is probably past it's life for good light output.

Should I replace it with a 50/50, or would another range be better suited?

http://www.marinedepot.com/ps_AquariumP ... bulbs.html

 

[c-town]

i would stick with the 50/50, it will give you the fullest spectrum of light

 

[Entacmaea]

I would stay with the same spectrum as well- your animals have already adapted to it. Probably not a concern, but if your old bulb is REALLY old, cut down your photoperiod slightly with the new bulb at first so as to not shock your corals...

BTW, if you wanted to add another 96 watt bulb to your setup, www.ahsupply.com has cheap PC bulb retro kits...

 

[Kasey]

I'll look into the retro kits first then.

I thought I read on some site that after 12 months, the bulbs effects are very diminished?

I bought the light used, so I know the bulb is over 2 years old.

If the above holds true, can you check with a light meter of some kind?

 

[Len]

12 months is about the time bulbs start going south quickly. It is definitely time to do a bulb replacement. To improve lighting, I'd add at least one more PC to your tank.

There are lux meters that are not very accurate. There are PAR/PPFD meters that do a better job, but they cost a couple hundred bucks. I'd just swap out bulbs every 12 months. It's a healthy practice.

 

[Entacmaea]

If it is two years old, definitely replace it. I don't mean to alarm you with the reduction in photoperiod advice- maybe just reduce it by 2/3 at first and add 15 minutes everyday until you are back to normal- just in case. If you are adding another bulb, PLUS replacing the old bulb, go more slowly than that.

Also, I just checked and www.marinedepot.com has some PC retrofits that are all wired already, for only $5-10 bucks more than ahsupply.com- might be worth it.