old hps bulb no good?

I have been using a 600 watt eye hortilux bulb that has been used for about 6 crops before mine... I was told that after a few crops the light is no good anymore to produce buds even though it still lights up and is very bright?

I am on my 5th week of flowering and wondering if you guys think i should buy a new bulb or if the one im using now is still good? thanks!

without a lumens meter there isn't a sure way of knowing but i have heard (and read) that you should replace your HPS bulb every 18-24 months and your MH every 12-18 months.

good question, I have wondered this many a time

hmm is there something else that the human eye cant see comming from the bulb ?

mobby420 said:

hmm is there something else that the human eye cant see comming from the bulb ?

Click to expand...

yes there is...... lumens.

If it ain't broke - don't fix it!!! The best reason to replace an HID bulb is because you notice it's not producing that well anymore, not because "someone else" said you should. It's all a simple matter of "$ vs. Yield". It's whatever you feel most comfortable with; "Spending a few bucks on a new bulb" -or- "Putting up with the ever decreasing yield from an old, tired, bulb".

If you notice that the bulb is producing 25-50% less bud each crop - it's probably passed time to replace it!

IMO buy the cheap lamps & replace often, I have used high dollar lamps, some folks love them, I don't think there worth the $ IMO. but I only use CFLs, 1000W hps, 400W hps and 400W MH in my grows

I ask because i bought a used lamp with bulb that was used before, i was wondering hopw important it is i change the bulb!

T.H.Cammo said:

If it ain't broke - don't fix it!!! The best reason to replace an HID bulb is because you notice it's not producing that well anymore, not because "someone else" said you should. It's all a simple matter of "$ vs. Yield". It's whatever you feel most comfortable with; "Spending a few bucks on a new bulb" -or- "Putting up with the ever decreasing yield from an old, tired, bulb".

If you notice that the bulb is producing 25-50% less bud each crop - it's probably passed time to replace it!

Click to expand...

it is very impotant to change the bulb. When you do you will see ahudge diff. They say replace the bulb every year

Buy a new bulb , its not just the lummes but the colour spectrum that fades with use .