lighting

[hrhladyvic]

Originally Posted by alazandv

I change my T-5 every 18-24 months. Usually they fail after 24 months anyway and have to be replaced. Remember not to change all the bulbs at once but stretch it over a period of few weeks. I use sharpie to mark the bulbs that were already replaced so that I don't replace the bulbs I just changed couple of weeks earlier and leave the old ones in there.

really? stretching it out works better, i though that messes up the ligt spectrum

[stevem]

you should not change them all at once, you can burn your corals. Space out the changes

[xoomer]

Originally Posted by hrhladyvic

really? stretching it out works better, i though that messes up the ligt spectrum

If you were to listed to manuafacturers they'd tell you to change it every 2 weeks. I simply don't believe it and change it every 18 months. I've not had problems because of this with algae blooms or anything else.

[stevem]

what do you mean every 2 weeks.

[xoomer]

Originally Posted by stevem

what do you mean every 2 weeks.

I exagerrated so you get my point. They'd like for you to change your bulbs as often as possible so that they make more and more $$$. Recently I purchased a full set of T5s (12 bulbs) for my Current fixture at a cost of nearly $300.

[stevem]

Almost what some fixture go for

[xoomer]

You bet.