How often should I replace?

[billaweed]

This is stemming from another thread I posted the other day, Is There a such thing as TOO much Lighting?, where I was thinking I may not be getting enough light do to old bulbs. I have a Nova Extreme T-5 fixture and I replaced the bulbs about 5-6 months ago. I'm thinking of replacing them now, but i'm not sure if I HAVE too replace them now. Is that too long to keep bulbs? I was told that T-5's were good for up to 1 year.

Can a more educated aquarist shine some light on this subject for me?

thanks

 

[120gallons]

Fluorescents are typically best to replace about every 6 mos.

 

[tike]

I run t-5's over my sps heavy tank. I have a fixture with individual reflectors. i just replaced my bulbs after 18 months. The old bulbs were still growing corals just fine but i wanted a different color combo. How big of a tank do you have (dimensions) type of corals, and how many and wattage t-5's are you running?

willie

 

[billaweed]

I run t-5's over my sps heavy tank. I have a fixture with individual reflectors. i just replaced my bulbs after 18 months. The old bulbs were still growing corals just fine but i wanted a different color combo. How big of a tank do you have (dimensions) type of corals, and how many and wattage t-5's are you running?

willie

I have 4 x 54w 48" T-5 bulbs over my 50 gallon tank. My tank is pretty much a standard 50 gallon rectangle. The corals that are still growin off the bulbs i have now are my zoa's, colt corals, and kenya's. My leathers and shrooms dont seam to be doing very well. They seem to have shrunk in size. They still bloom, but not as much as they did when I first got them.

thanks

 

[Scooterman]

Look at the quality of the lamps/reflectors to get extended life & the height off water but all fluorescents drop off around the 6 month area but your corals depending on types will still can go a long ways, so your looking at several considerations. These lamps are rated a life of around 2 years which is typical for fluorescents & you won't see the drop off, you would have to meter it (Hey it is bright still after a year, Yes it will be to your Eyes)!

 

[tike]

I have 4 x 54w 48" T-5 bulbs over my 50 gallon tank. My tank is pretty much a standard 50 gallon rectangle. The corals that are still growin off the bulbs i have now are my zoa's, colt corals, and kenya's. My leathers and shrooms dont seam to be doing very well. They seem to have shrunk in size. They still bloom, but not as much as they did when I first got them.

thanks

I run the same set up over a 60 gallon. The shrooms need to be near the bottom to do the best. Don't know about the leather coral cuz I've never kept them before.

 

[dnjan]

From an earlier thread:
http://www.reeffrontiers.com/forums/showthread.php?t=7006&page=2

"T-5 HO lamps are not an unbent PC, they are a new technology. I've tested GE 6.5K lamps for the equivalent of 2 years on a reef tank with improper venting of heat and still found you were getting above 90% after 24 months, being overdriven on our VHO ballasts (a 54-watt lamp runs at 85-watts). On a T-5 HO ballast, 3 - 4 years is doable. Don't run these lamps on a ballast that doesn't shut down power to a dead lamp. Also there are many brands of T-5 HO lamps and we'll have to learn what's good and what's not."

 

[Reeferdude]

There is no way to gage how long a bulb will last because it all depends on how long you run them. Another factor that causes premature bulb failure or light reduction is heat. In other words if you run your bulbs on a lighting cycle 4hours a day less than the next guy, they'll last longer. The best way to determine the need for replacement is to pay close attention to your tank. Algae growth. good and bad. Coral growth etc will be the best indicator...Also keep track of the lighting cycle and calculate the hours put on each bulb that way when you get close to the manufacturers life expectancy of the bulb you can make a better judgment call...

 

[Scooterman]

http://www.reeffrontiers.com/forums/showpost.php?p=287549&postcount=42

http://www.reeffrontiers.com/forums/showpost.php?p=69080&postcount=6

 

[DonW]

This cheap little meter will answer the question for you.
http://www.jlaquatics.com/phpstore/store_pages/product-info.php?product_ID=mil-lux

Most rule of thumbs in this hobby are not accurate. Bulbs change slowly over time and you will not notice the difference with your eyes from day to day. I think everyone says 6 mo on halides but on my xm 20k's they would last a wopping 4 months. Now if I left them in place for an extra 2 month I may have bleached my corals after a bulb change or just plain had brown corals.

Don

 

[dnjan]

http://www.reeffrontiers.com/forums/showpost.php?p=287549&postcount=42

Too bad the data as well as details of the testing for the above link was never posted (at least not that I could find). As mentioned earlier in the above thread, temperature has a huge effect on T-5 life. T-5's alone, in a well-ventilated hood should last considerably longer than T-5's as supplemental lighting right next to MH's.

The data from IceCap (saying bulbs should last at least 2 years) was undoubtedly for T-5's only, with proper cooling. But if jezzeaepi's results were in a combination MH-T5 fixture, then his big decrease in 6 months would make sense.

 

[Scooterman]

I thought he just had 4 T5's? I'm sure we could ask him to post his latest results or get the latest being he has a means for testing.

 

[burning2nd]

i got a year and some outta my t5's but im sure with reflectors and good low temp, they will last....

even the old bulbs are still good.. i also just wanted to change the color a little...

 

[billaweed]

I thought he just had 4 T5's? I'm sure we could ask him to post his latest results or get the latest being he has a means for testing.

I can test them. I'll get a meter and post results. I have no algae growth and my corals are growing. My zoas are popping up like crazy.

So maybe they arent bad yet. either way I'm gonna buy a meter and test them.

 

[tike]

Sounds like they are fine to me.