black spots on hps bulb?

I was cleaning out my cool tube and had this out and noticed little black specks on the inner tube of the hps. It's a hortilux brand 600 watt that's only been running for a couple months now. Still seems to be as bright as usual. Is that normal??

I've never seen black spots anywhere but the 2 ends of the arc tube.
Maybe it's still under warranty and you can get a replacement?

They get specks like that and it doesn't seem to hurt anything. I got HID bulbs all over the place and they all get some crap in the tubes after a while. I'm still using a 15 yo 400W EYE Hortilux conversion bulb and it vegs plants just fine. Got all sorts of white flecks in it. Got a brand new 1000W Hortilux conversion bulb for flowering with my MH ballast that I'm firing up soon but still debating whether to leave the MH bulb in until stretch is finished. Cheap MH bulb tho with almost zero red in it.

I wouldn't worry about it. Put dark glasses on so you can see if there are any arcs in the tube when it's starting or all warmed up. That wouldn't be good. I use a lens for my welding helmet to watch it fire up. Kinda cool.

prosinz said:

I was cleaning out my cool tube and had this out and noticed little black specks on the inner tube of the hps. It's a hortilux brand 600 watt that's only been running for a couple months now. Still seems to be as bright as usual. Is that normal??

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That's pretty normal.

It's some of the spent sodium depositing itself on the arc tube. Nothing to worry about using HPS.

OldMedUser said:

They get specks like that and it doesn't seem to hurt anything. I got HID bulbs all over the place and they all get some crap in the tubes after a while. I'm still using a 15 yo 400W EYE Hortilux conversion bulb and it vegs plants just fine. Got all sorts of white flecks in it.

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Haha, yeah I have a buddy that uses bulbs for years and years and years. I think you'd notice a difference if you got a new bulb, though.