Do I need new PC bulbs??
 

I was wondering how long you all usually run your PC bulbs? I am running a 20" 96w 50/50 Coralife fixture over my 10 gallon softie tank? I run the lights about 6 hours a day.

Thanks

Suggest at least once a year minimum or even a little sooner. When I was using them, after about 10 months critters/conditions went downhill pretty fast until I replaced the lighting.

I would say between 6 and 9 months is pretty common.

Yup!
6 months for extended photoperiods like 14-16 hours and 9 months for 8-12 hours.

You could go a year at that rate!

Why such a short photoperiod? (just curious)
Is it for your viewing pleasure? Algae problem?
Your corals need more light than that. Think about where they come from, they get about 14 hours of sunlight each day.

My lights are on for:
Actinic = 10 hours/day
10,000K = 9 hours/day

My shortened period is to help keep the algae in check and to help slow the growth of my leather patch (which grows like Xenia)

I do mine once a year. 12 hour photo period

-JP

I run them for 6 hours because of the algae. All of my corals are extended and growing so i did not think that there was a problem with running them less. Do you think i should up it to 8 hours or more?

How long has the tank been set up? How old is the bulb?

The tank has been setup for 4 months and the bulb/fixture is about 3 months old.

I would bump them up to 8-10 hours. The bulbs are new enough to not be the cause of the algae. If you get more algae when you bump up the photoperiod, you'll want to find the cause. As the bulbs age, they will definitely promote algae. but at 3 months, you're probably ok.

What color temp is the bulb?

pc's are typically on good for 6-9 months. they will still run longer then that, but the output will be much less and the spectrum of the bulbs will greatly shift.

4-Tube Compact Fluorescent Lamps provide maximum illumination in a small space. The 50/50 lamp combines 50% 10,000K with 50% Actinic for maximum benefits

Your lights are fine, you have about another 6 - 7 months of life left in them.
Do as jasonh suggests and bump up your photoperiod.

To help with the algae:
Feed your fish less, and feed every other day if you're not doing so already.
Do a weekly 10% water change.
Run carbon in your HOB and change it often.
Maybe add another small pump like a micro jet for more flow. You don't want any dead spots.

I'm just telling you this out of experience with nusiance algae, and in hopes that the info can help you too!

Thank you for your info. I added the Rio90 a couple days ago and the flow seems great. I will bump up the lights and try to feed less. Unfortunately the clowns are so cute and it is hard to not give them a little food :)

Thank you all for your info i will let you know how things go.