Questions About Zoa's

Its an Odyssea light isnt it?

 

Yes, why?

 

Im curious about its ballasts. Ballasts do wear out.

 

yeah but now so soon. How do you know when the ballasts have gone bad? I do have a fan cooling them and they never get hot. I think it may be the bulbs thou, what do you think?

 

I know high quality ballast can last up to 5 yrs. One of the main reasons the odyssea ones are so cheap are becuase its lower quality. I have read several threads on RC about how people bought the cheap lights and then upgraded the ballasts. You can pick up ballasts dirt cheap from lowes and various other places. check out Welcome to BallastWise.com, thats the cheapest Ive seen complete ballasts.

Now your bulbs should be changed every 6 months to maintain intensity (another side effect of cheap ballasts). I think MH's are good for 9 months at best anyways. If you havent changed them since July, I would definetly be looking for new bulbs.

 

luna,

Think it just a matter of zoa maturity..:-/..notice on rock below, zoa's all from same colony. Newer ones have green centers (left)...little older, orange (right), oldest whitish (center)

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So I think I should start at the bottom and just change the bulbs for now and wait and see if they get back their color scheme.
Scott, I dont think its the maturity b/c I only had them for about a yr.

 

Zoa's typically brighten up with maturity, not darken. Thats what is referred to as "color up". With them losing color, they are not getting enough light for them to maintain the bright colors. Wether it be from the bulbs not producing the intensity as they use to or the ballasts not driving the bulbs enoughs.

 

Ha, Ha, mine do just the opposite...

Par for the course in my tank...

 

OK, I just changed the bulbs, we'll see if that was the problem. I'll let you guys know tomorrow or in a couple of days if my corals look better. Thanks all for your time and help.