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Life Span of Fluorescent Lights
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syaeger View Drop Down
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Joined: July 16 2003
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    Posted: February 28 2004 at 6:30am
What is the normal life span of PC and NO fluorescent lights? After how long should I replace them to make sure my lights are always running at full capacity?
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Mark Peterson View Drop Down
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Points: 21436 		Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Mark Peterson Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: February 28 2004 at 7:57am
Full capacity...hmmm...I guess the answer to that is to replace them daily!

Better pin connections, like my soldered connections and diy end caps, increase their life, IME. I leave them on for almost two years. But if you are looking for close to initial capacity, change them every six months.

FYI a general rule of thumb says that changing them yearly will give the most light for the lowest cost. I believe the manufacturers claim that PC's last longer than NO, but I doubt that.

My 2 cents
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Travis View Drop Down
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Points: 621 		Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Travis Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: March 05 2004 at 5:03pm

I agree with Mark.  I have always read 1yr on PC.  Not sure on NO.  But they will loose intensity and spectrum the older they get. 
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reptoreef View Drop Down
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Points: 2060 		Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote reptoreef Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: March 13 2004 at 12:38am

I'm new to this site, but (IMO) the max life, here is probably 1 year, but for best results without too much trauma to the corals(due to intensity flux from old to new), I recommend, at max every 8-10 months... if you want a longer lasting high intensity system, research MH lighting systems.

     Laters, Jason
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RTaylor View Drop Down
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I have read that after one year MH bulbs put out like 30% less light but still pull the same juice, so they don't last any longer.

Edited by RTaylor
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reptoreef View Drop Down
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Points: 2060 		Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote reptoreef Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: March 13 2004 at 8:22pm

Taylor, please post where you've researched this 30% decrease and the type/brand of bulb researched or was this stat a general finding? I'm considering an upgrade to MH, and will probably still do so, but want as much info as possible. Personally, I have read of a decrease in intensity, but not nearly that of pc's/vho's at a decrease of nearly 50% at 10 months to 1 year. If there is only a max of a 30% decrease with MH, (IMO), this appears to be a positive reason for MH.

    Thanks, Jason
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