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mario4254
02/13/2009, 10:15 PM
a buddy of mine got a used reef set up comes with MH DE 250w he doesnt know how long ago bulbs were changed is there a way to tell? just looking at the bulb or fireing it up? thanks for any help

BLKTANG
02/13/2009, 10:32 PM
on a DE bulb i look for alot of the "white ashy" looking stuff inside the bulb for a use indicator.

I say get new bulbs,& forget about the guessing.

A DE bulb will start to loose alot of PAR after 6mo,& decline rapidly from there if the bulb is used 8 hours a day.

reefscape15
02/14/2009, 07:37 AM
+1 with BLKTANG. just get a new bulb and then you don't have to worry about it

jener8tionx
02/14/2009, 08:34 AM
I would say don't spend the $$ unless you don't like the bulb. According to:

http://www.reefkeeping.com/issues/2007-04/ac/index.php

The par is pretty stable out to a year. If the color shifts visibly, I would change them out.

amadillo
02/14/2009, 10:21 AM
yea get some new lights, 14k Phoenix