How often do you service your UV?

[WhatCouldGoWrong71]

I get that we should change our bulbs once a year but, I have a Pentair 40w (and 25w on a different tank) that I serviced yesterday. It’s been running 24/7 with a 10 minute break at midnight, why, not sure, one of life’s many mysteries. When I inspected the bulb, the ends have slight dark spotting, I just changed a bulb in the other unit that had been running for a year, and the bulbs looked similar, this 40w was purchased brand new, so I know it’s history, unlike the 25w. However, when I took the the sleeve out I was shocked at how much calcification after 3-4 months was on the sleeve. I think the UV may have been nearly useless with this level of calcification. For those that service, is this normal?

 

[blaxsun]

I clean my UV every 3-6 months and replace the bulb yearly.

 

[Max93]

I clean the bulb inside the UV (stuff gets stuck on it) at the 6 month mark. Then I just replace it every January. So 1 year bulb

 

[Science/G]

Yup