150 watt Phoenix. how often do you replace yours

[douglam]

How often do y'all replace your phoenix 150watt 14k bulbs? i just picked up a used sunpod and the bulb is 9 months old but still looks good. someone told met he only replace theirs every 14 months. do they really last that long.

[glennr1978]

How often do y'all replace your phoenix 150watt 14k bulbs? i just picked up a used sunpod and the bulb is 9 months old but still looks good. someone told met he only replace theirs every 14 months. do they really last that long.

 

i use 250's, but i replace mine every 9 or so months. i'm going to try out a 10k for a while this time though....

[xbwolfx]

there was an article that said they can last for like 2 years with very little loss of light production.

[glennr1978]

there was an article that said they can last for like 2 years with very little loss of light production.

 

 

i can see a difference in my corals right around the 9 month mark in my tank. once i replace the bulb my corals color right back up.

[xbwolfx]

well that's b/c your tank sucks.

[Brian Crook]

I just replaced my 150 watt phoenix 14k about two weeks ago. Had it for about 10 months. I did however switch to an Aqua Medic 20k and am really loving it more than the 14k bulb. Personal preference.

[glennr1978]

well that's b/c your tank sucks.

 

 

I know, GGA told me already.

[jeffblly]

I am going to replace mine at the 1 year mark just to be safe.

[Grendel0501]

Would be nice if they actually lasted 2 years with no loss of intensity.

 

Everyone would use Phoneix.

[douglam]

i found the article and it showed that at 2 years it had about 65% of original output i think. in the first 3 or 4 months they loose about 25% and then level off to about a year or 14 months. ACCORDING TO THE ARTICLE i think it said at a year to 14 months it had lost about 31% from original output

[evilc66]

Every bulb degrades a little different though. The only true way to tell is to get a PAR meter and periodically check the output of the light to see where your major dropoff is. A Phoenix could last 9 months like Glenn's, but an XM 20K could last 12 months. My Plusrite ebay special lasted 4 months before tanking. Good thing it was only $25.

[vg30et]

Here is the article: http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2007-04/ac/index.php

 

I don't have any way of lowering or raising my lights so just to be on the safe side I'll be replacing my phoenix 14k at the 12-15 month mark.

[flipmodetank]

had to replace mine after 14 months because algae outbreak on the sand. 1 week after the replacement the algae was gone.