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View Full Version : ATI Blue plus bulb life


SlowCobra
07/19/2009, 04:56 PM
What is everyone seeing for bulb life out of these?

reefkeeper2
07/19/2009, 06:10 PM
Definately less than one year. I will be changing mine out at 10 months if not sooner.

silverwolf72
07/19/2009, 08:17 PM
I just replaced one my other bulbs with a AB. I have another AB that has been running for almost 18 months, the new bulb looked a bit brighter than the old one but after about 2 weeks they both look the same. No PAR numbers so not really much of a test.

SlowCobra
07/20/2009, 02:24 PM
So out of all the people on this site only 2 others run a blue plus?!?

nanojg
07/20/2009, 02:30 PM
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15384725#post15384725 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by SlowCobra
So out of all the people on this site only 2 others run a blue plus?!?

Yep, only 3 people on RC run the ati blu plus. VERY unpopular bulb

SlowCobra
07/20/2009, 02:35 PM
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15384758#post15384758 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by nanojg
Yep, only 3 people on RC run the ati blu plus. VERY unpopular bulb

Is that so? Hmm then why does GrimReefer recommend it?

sunsetSPS
07/20/2009, 03:10 PM
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15384758#post15384758 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by nanojg
Yep, only 3 people on RC run the ati blu plus. VERY unpopular bulb

Using reef language it's very RARE bulb.

JRechcygl
07/20/2009, 03:49 PM
I would say 4500 hours of life is a good start to change... Some people use LUX meters and change according to that... Others do yearly, some stretch them further...

Rare bulb huh? Just answer the dudes question....
It is a popular lamp, at least I know many people that run them. Better PAR than the Giesemann equivilent.

gorey
07/20/2009, 04:06 PM
I have a 2 bulb t5 setup and I was told by Premium Aquatics to run 1 blue plus and 1 Aqua blue. Then I asked Grim Reefer what he thought and he suggested the Blue plus in front and a Fiji purple in the back. So im thinking it is a pretty awesome bulb IMHO...But I am only running a 2 bulb set up so what do I know!!

detroit_fan
07/20/2009, 04:09 PM
where are people gettting the impression that the ATI Blue+ bulb isn't very widely used? I'd say 90% of the T5 users I know use this bulb in their combo. As for life, are you overdriving with an ice cap ballast or normal wattage?

rbnice1
07/20/2009, 06:04 PM
I believe the rare bulb comment was sarcasm....

Blue+ is probably second to only atinic in bulbs sold.

I have 4 2 bulb units on my 90 plus 2 250watt mh's

I have 2 atinic 1 blue+, and 1 fuji purple. The blue+ and fuji are together and really make a cool color light. Very blue but the purple helps any reds pop.

SlowCobra
07/20/2009, 06:14 PM
I just want to know what people are getting, time wise, out of the bulbs. I keep going through them, much quicker than I should be.

I want to know if it is an issue with the bulbs or do I need to tear apart the setups on 2 different tanks in 2 different locations to find a reason as to why they keep breaking the glass, burning out, and generally having a short life span.

nanojg
07/21/2009, 07:09 AM
How are you going through them? are you noticing a change in color, are they not firing, are you testing the light output (lumens or par)?

I think Grim has said normally bulbs will lose a noticable amount of intensity after nine months, but most people change at the one year mark.

Are you overdriving them? are you cooling the bulbs? the ballast?

ps, yes it was sarcasim

mordibv
07/21/2009, 08:01 AM
Just a quess .
I would say that the bulbs you are going through are not ATI bulbs but another brand . Like Currrent or Off brand ebay bulb which are known for going out in spans of 1 month to 4 + . As far as the cracking or breaking glass that appears to be a cooling issue or u have your lights to close to another heat source .
BTW ATI bulbs rock .
I changed out at 10 months (ice cap overdriven )
The blue plus run on regulat HO were changed out around 13 months .

kretzkiller
07/21/2009, 08:07 AM
yah, apparently no one has a sarcasm radar..

kretzkiller
07/21/2009, 08:08 AM
why don't you ask this question in the t5 Q&A?