T5 bulb life

[demifelix]

I was reading about T5 bulb's life and most places says we should replace the bulbs every 6 months. Is this really true or just recommended? Is there any changes in the wavelength or color or any other side effects for letting the bulb runs until it dies?

 

[iam392]

When I got my T5's I was told the same thing.

demifelix;568638 wrote: I was reading about T5 bulb's life and most places says we should replace the bulbs every 6 months. Is this really true or just recommended? Is there any changes in the wavelength or color or any other side effects for letting the bulb runs until it dies?

 

[peachyreef]

I change mine every 8-10 months. Over time the wavelength becomes warmer... in most cases this promotes algea. I think six months maybe a little excessive imo.

 

[gnashty]

I go every 9 mo - I heard somewhere 18 mo but dont remember where

 

[zippgirlrn]

I change mine every 12 mths.

 

[misu]

I changed my original rsm bulbs after about 14 months and that was probably too late. I have giesemann bulbs now but I swear I can tell they're dimmer after 7 months or so

 

[weaglereefer]

Keep in mind, the amount of time spent on will mean different time of use for bulbs, so if your actinics come on an hour after, and stay on an hour later than your daylights, that's 25% more use per day. While you might go 10 months with the daylights, you would only go 8 with the actinics.

 

[enderg60]

Funny how they were marketed as only needing to be changed every 24 months when they first came out.

usual rule of thumb is 9-12 months for all florescent lights.

If you are over driving them its usually 6-9 months but that is still under debate/testing

 

[weaglereefer]

weaglereefer;568725 wrote: Keep in mind, the amount of time spent on will mean different time of use for bulbs, so if your actinics come on an hour <u>before</u>, and stay on an hour later than your daylights, that's 25% more use per day. While you might go 10 months with the daylights, you would only go 8 with the actinics.

Sorry, mis-typed...

 

[demifelix]

I have this fixture it's a year old, and the actinic just went dead this morning. I tried taking the bulb out and saw that 1 of the 2 pins on one end was rusted so bad that it fried and came off the bulb. The end cap was also burned as well...not sure if due to this or not, so now I'm looking for a replacement bulb and the endcap.

 

[weaglereefer]

Felix, I have 4 "blue" bulbs. I don't know the specs on them, they came with my fixture, but you're welcome to them if you want.

 

[demifelix]

weaglereefer;568823 wrote: Felix, I have 4 "blue" bulbs. I don't know the specs on them, they came with my fixture, but you're welcome to them if you want.

Sure...thanks in advance.

 

[jef4y]

12 months here... In the process of replacing mine now. 2/week for 4 weeks.

 

[schwaggs]

EnderG60;568729 wrote: Funny how they were marketed as only needing to be changed every 24 months when they first came out.

usual rule of thumb is 9-12 months for all florescent lights.

If you are over driving them its usually 6-9 months but that is still under debate/testing

SO TRUE! I think you are right, they are still just a florescent bulb and should be replaced every 9-15 months depending on use.

I replace mine every 12 months but most of mine are used only for supplimental lighting.

 

[weaglereefer]

Ok, so that's another question.

The fixture I have has 2 250w bulbs, and 4 T5 bulbs for actinic supplementation. Since I'm not using the actinics for any PAR (well not needed anyways), do I NEED to replace them every year? I'll be running two Phoenix 14k 250w bulbs for the halides. For the actinics, I was thinking two ATI Blue + and two ATI Actinics (don't have to be ATI, if there is another actinic bulb out there that's better I'm all ears, but I do want the Blue+ bulbs). Any thoughts?

 

[enderg60]

If your running halides and dont care about the par then let them run till they burn out.

if your talking about just actinics when using a T5 setup they you will want to change them regularly as they do provide some needed light.

 

[snowmansnow]

6 months here.

 

[schwaggs]

weaglereefer;569016 wrote: Since I'm not using the actinics for any PAR (well not needed anyways), do I NEED to replace them every year?

I used to run my Actinics for years for this very same reason. However, lately I have been wondering why can't the "spectrum shift" that we think causes excess algea growth occur with Actinics? The thing that made me think about this is a 15 gallon tank I have with a single very old actinc bulb that grows hair algea very well...