Replacing MH bulbs

[MuralReef]

So my bulbs are getting to the age where I will need to replace them and when I recently replaced my T-5 bulbs my corals near the top got a little bleached out. I want to avoid this when I replace them. Is there a suggested way to go about the replacement?

Also I was pricing out bulbs and found bargain bulbs on Amazon $17 compared to $50 for a similar product. Reviews were either 5 stars or 1 and the criticism was always the color was off. What do you guys think about this?

 

[sethsolomon]

Get 14k phoenix bulbs for your 250w HQIs. None of the other bulbs are quite as good as that bulb.


Also, the $17 bulb you will absolutely have to replace that every 4-6 months to keep the color consistent.

 

[MuralReef]

Get 14k phoenix bulbs for your 250w HQIs. None of the other bulbs are quite as good as that bulb.


Also, the $17 bulb you will absolutely have to replace that every 4-6 months to keep the color consistent.

I guess if it ain't broke don't fix it!

 

[sethsolomon]

yup pretty much

 

[TheRealChrisBrown]

I bought the $17 bulbs from Amazon for my 2x250 and the color was way off. It had no blue in it at all. After a week I had an algae bloom to end all algae blooms, my water looked like it came straight out of a pond or something. I'd highly suggest going with a quality proven bulb, like the 14k Phoenix Seth recommended.

 

[MuralReef]

I bought the $17 bulbs from Amazon for my 2x250 and the color was way off. It had no blue in it at all. After a week I had an algae bloom to end all algae blooms, my water looked like it came straight out of a pond or something. I'd highly suggest going with a quality proven bulb, like the 14k Phoenix Seth recommended.

All I needed to hear!

 

[Luke.Fraizer]

I was just wondering about this as well. I'm glad I went with the 14k Phoenix after reading this! I was getting a lot of algae with the 10k I had on the tank that were super old, but now it is declining with the 14k. I am loving them.

 

[MuralReef]

So my first question was never answered. When I change my bulbs is there anything special I should do? Do I need to reduce the photo period? Do I need to change anything? Should I change them one at a time and spread it out over time or just change them all at the same time? They don't seem any less intense and the spectrum seems the same visually, but I closing in on 18 months on these bulbs and the hair algae makes me think there has been a color shift.

 

[aztecdreams]

I usually adjust the photo period to a few hours less for a bit