life of a MH bulb

[quikcoupe]

how many hours will a single ended 250w MH
bulb last?

[95accord]

6-8months or more depending on manufacturer
a good sign is when you start getting unwanted algea growths and the color the bulb emits has shifted spectrum (changed shade)

[quikcoupe]

thanks

[ERICinFL]

I run my halides 10hrs a day. Around the 11 month range is when I start to see algae popping up and the color in my corals start to change.