| TCMAS Twin Cities Marine Aquarium Society Club Forum |
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04-21-2005, 04:31 PM
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#1
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Little Fishy
Join Date: Jul 2003
Location: Monticello, MN
Posts: 120
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When do actinics need replacing?
How long can you run VHO actinics before you need to replace them? I seem to recall that VHO's are every 6 months, but is that also true if they are actinics supplementing MH's?
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04-21-2005, 04:49 PM
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#2
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TCMAS Member
Join Date: Mar 2000
Location: Brooklyn Center, MN
Posts: 5,665
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Depends on the ballast.
If running Icecap 430 or 660, I replace ever 12 months ( just makes it easy to remember ) but have gone longer on occasion ( 15+ months ) ......
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04-21-2005, 04:51 PM
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#3
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Semi-retar...eh...retired
Join Date: Jan 2002
Location: Mpls, MN
Posts: 2,995
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Depends on how much of the overall lighting is supplied by the actinics IMO. Corals definitely use the light - it's not just for "looks". If a large percentage of the total wattage over your tank is supplied by the actinics, I'd change them more often. If you're using an Icecap ballast, you can probably go as long as 9 months to a year. Even though I use an Icecap, I still change them out every 6 months. I know other folks go longer. Less efficient ballast, and I'd stick closer to a 6 month replacement. It's not going to hurt anything...except your wallet.  |
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04-21-2005, 04:56 PM
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#4
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TCMAS Used 'Ta Be
Join Date: Jul 2003
Location: Anoka, MN
Posts: 2,120
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If supplementing MH I would go 9m to 12m or when you notice a shift in color. Otherwise I would change every 6m if they are your main source.
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04-21-2005, 05:01 PM
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#5
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TCMAS Member
Join Date: Mar 2000
Location: Brooklyn Center, MN
Posts: 5,665
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Graham, If your running them on a Icecap and replacing after 6 months..... Not trying to be a smart ass or anything but can I have them when you replace ? Church tank has no real budget and I would be happy to run them on there as I feel they have plenty of life left in them at 6 months......Last pair went over a year and they were used before I put them on there so no telling how old they really were....
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04-21-2005, 06:06 PM
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#6
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Semi-retar...eh...retired
Join Date: Jan 2002
Location: Mpls, MN
Posts: 2,995
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No problem, smart ass
I've got some older 48" (with 6-9 months on them), but now I've been using 46.5" because of space constraints in the canopy. I may be going back up to 48", though....either way, they're all yours if you want them! |
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04-21-2005, 06:08 PM
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#7
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TCMAS Member
Join Date: Mar 2000
Location: Brooklyn Center, MN
Posts: 5,665
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The tank uses the standard 48". The mounts are all glued acrylic to acrylic and tight quarters in the low-profile canopy. Not too interested in remounting the endcaps for the 46.5" ones.....
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04-21-2005, 06:12 PM
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#8
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Semi-retar...eh...retired
Join Date: Jan 2002
Location: Mpls, MN
Posts: 2,995
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I understand. I haven't used 48s on the tank for well over a year, so those bulbs are kind of aged. I probably have at least 4-6 of them, though if you want to try them.
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04-21-2005, 07:41 PM
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#9
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Little Fishy
Join Date: Jul 2003
Location: Monticello, MN
Posts: 120
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Thanks for the info. I have an ARO ballast so I'll stick with 6-9 months.
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