Questions --T5 HO bulbs (?)

[riemannp]

For you T5 HO lighting owners:

1) What type of bulbs do you use and why?
2) How frequently do you change your bulbs?
3) How do you know when it's time to replace bulbs?
4) Where do you get your bulbs?

Thanks!!

 

[Scooterman]

I can't give you a hands on but have seen & read up on them a good bit.
Depending on how your using them & what your keeping under would help determine how long your needing to replace the lamps. H.O. T5's will light brightly over two years claimed by the manufacturer. If your keeping softies you probably could go a year before replacing them, LSP 8 months & sps 6 months respectively. This is from people that keep these corals & have determined that at these points is optimal for continual coral growth. Now the types & where is varying & I'll let the T5 guys chime in on these questions.

 

[returnofsid]

Here's the bulb order I use in my Tek 5, 6 bulb 48" unit that's on my 75.

Bulb Order:
ATI 54W Blue Plus T5 HO Fluorescent
UV Lighting 54W Super Actinic T5 HO Fluorescent
ATI 54W 12000K Aquablue Special T5 HO Fluorescent
GE 54W 3000K Daylight T5 HO Fluorescent
UV Lighting 54W 10000K AquaSun T5 HO Fluorescent
ATI 54W Blue Plus T5 HO Fluorescent

That order is from front to back. I really like the color that mix provides.