Replacing T5's timeline

Totally disagree with stretching them for 18 months. 10-12 is actually stretching it if used 8+hrs daily.

 

Marine Depot says they last up to 18 months. Since they're in the business to sell bulbs, I think we can take their word for it. I change mine every 12 months and have never experienced loss of color, etc running 10 hours per day.

 

if it makes you feel better just changed my mine at the 3 year mark and things seemed to be ok

 

Then I would like to know why I've been listening to sooo many reefers who (up until now) have been saying 10-12 month change out? Can this many people be wrong? I'm talking for over 2 years and 100's of experienced reefers opinions here. Just this a.m. I've read that t5ho's have a longevity of 20,000hrs! If this is true, why are people changing them out even after 18 months? Seems like there's an awful lot of mixed opinions on their actual longevity.

 

I'm with the 10-12 month school here. They are tube light bulbs... The color changes so spectrum gets messed with, the ends darken, they get crusty and rusty on the metal ends etc.... Also the par on an 18 month old bulb and a brand new one is enough to shock your corals a bit when you do change. With coral the more consistent the parameters (even with light) the better color and over all health of your reef. Just my 2c
Heidi

 

Once a year here...need it or not !! lol ... just because they are still working, does not mean they are
still "working". : /

 

You are correct- there are a lot of opinions on the matter. All I can say beyond other's opinions and the seller's statement is my own personal experience. With PC, I changed the bulb every 6 months and you could see how yellow the old one had become. Not the case with changing T5s at 12 months. Perhaps some of the discrepancy is in the quality of the bulbs being used- i.e- I doubt a $7.00 Coralife bulb will last as long as a $35.00 Geismann.

 

precisely. 8)

 

I used to change mine at least every 6 months (8 ATI 48" t5s) because they lost par...I was overdriving them with Icecap 660's....Hence why i decided to switch to LED..lol

 

Having an ATI Aquablue Plus in the back for almost 12 months now and within the last week algae is starting to grow like crazy against the back wall. I know it's the lights! So I too believe in the 8-10 months change out which is what I've done today.