UV Sterilizer Suggestions.... Please?

[tcarswell]

I have a pentair 40w uv as well. My bulbs only seem to last 4-6 months despite changnig the ballast. do you run yours 24 x7. i have started running just a few hours a day to try and conserve bukb life

Are your bulbs dying or losing effectiveness ?

 

[Toby_H]

I have a pentair 40w uv as well. My bulbs only seem to last 4-6 months despite changnig the ballast. do you run yours 24 x7. i have started running just a few hours a day to try and conserve bukb life

I have the same question as Tcarswel. I have a few UV lights and I've never had any of the bulbs actually burn out (stop emitting light)... I change my bulbs once a year... some run 24 x 7...

 

[tcarswell]

I have the same question as Tcarswel. I have a few UV lights and I've never had any of the bulbs actually burn out (stop emitting light)... I change my bulbs once a year... some run 24 x 7...

You go a year ? I change mine every 6 months... Think im over doing it? The bulbs are 46 bucks sure would be nice to go a year.

 

[gavigan1]

I have the same question as Tcarswel. I have a few UV lights and I've never had any of the bulbs actually burn out (stop emitting light)... I change my bulbs once a year... some run 24 x 7...

they start to flicker, end caps get real hot , the filiment looks burnt and eventually the gas doesnt light. thought i had a ballast issue so i changed it but the bulbs dont seem to be lasting any longer?

 

[Toby_H]

You go a year ? I change mine every 6 months... Think im over doing it? The bulbs are 46 bucks sure would be nice to go a year.

I change them yearly and I am convinced that they are effective for the full year. On some tanks I've plugged the UV light into the same timer as the aquarium lights, on other tanks I've left them on 24/7.

Several years ago when they were far less common, changing bulbs yearly was the standard, and all the research I did seemed to support that, then my personal experience seemed to confirm it worked well. It was only after they became more popular in home aquariums did the manufacturers begin to publicly exaggerate the need to change more frequently and naturally internet users propagated manufacturer recommendations as if it was undeniable fact...

they start to flicker, end caps get real hot , the filiment looks burnt and eventually the gas doesnt light. thought i had a ballast issue so i changed it but the bulbs dont seem to be lasting any longer?

I have Turbo Twist UVs as well as Danner UV lights. I've been very impressed with both and have never once had a bulb flicker or burn out (stop emitting light).

I would consider changing brands...