How long do power compact bulbs last?

[Mainframe562]

I have a CSL 32w bulb running for about 5 months now and want to know on the average how long the pc bulb will last so I can purchase one before hand. I know many people have this bulb, mostly people with nano cubes like myself.

[whadmin]

That's still up for debate, but, We have some local reefers that have tested them. They found that most bulbs don't necessarily loose intensity after 6 months, they do take upto 5 times more power to keep them going... hard on ballasts I would imagine. But to answer your question, I'd look at replacing them around 6-8 months.

 

Walter

[surfy]

I second that.

I always had to change mine around the 6 month mark. Those 96w power quads, what a joke.

Thats the only thing I could fit in my corner tanks canopy and they shift around 5 months or so. $120 a year for two PQ's got a little old so I went with a 250w DE pendant.

I never tried the full 10k PQ only the 50/50 so maybe the 10k will last longer.

 

50/50 bulbs seem to shift faster than full color temp bulbs.

[Mainframe562]

Cool, I guess next month I'll have to dip into the wallet again. Thanks a lot guys.

[SeaSide]

Well... PC is kind of funny thing.

I have 55w PC over my 20G freshwater tank. The bulb is like 3 years old and still working without noticable problem. Okay, its 2 years and 9 month old. This cheap "made in who knows where" PC bulb last quite long.

 

I think it gets yellower than before at about 6 months. People say that a color spectrum change or something like that tho, I wouldn't really care since the light is on fresh water tank and I don't really care about alage in that tank. My fish hate me for not being generous with TetraMin. But, I am sure I would concern that spectrum change if the tank were salt water tank with corals.