T5 light - life span??

[seafood]

Any reefer can enlighten me on the life-span of T5 light. Is there any common practise wrt light replacement.

I'm currently using Aquaz T5. Is there any different in life-span as compare to other brand.

Thanx.

[Alvin Tan]

Any reefer can enlighten me on the life-span of T5 light. Is there any common practise wrt light replacement.

I'm currently using Aquaz T5. Is there any different in life-span as compare to other brand.

Thanx.

change it every 6mths..but be sure to shorten ur lighting duration by 1/2hr when u replace a new tube..my 2 cents..

[Rex Ng]

the colour spectrum for china tube can't last for than 3 months.

[seafood]

thanx..time to spend $$

[Lester]

thanx..time to spend $$

hehe u seems so happy to spend money

[seafood]

just got job mah after idling for ~4 mths.....now at least have reason to spend n dun feel tt guilty.

[Kelmen]

I thought T5 can last from 1 - 1.5 year?

Is it depend on usage and brand?

[Alvin Tan]

I thought T5 can last from 1 - 1.5 year?

Is it depend on usage and brand?

yea....depends on which country it is frm n the brand of cuz...using AQUAZ tube for 8-10hrs a dae can only last for 6 mths...china tube can only last for abt 4mths??...replacing is impt...becos the colour spectrum would nt be so bright and the penetration isn't dere.. my 2 cents...

[Marineman]

yea....depends on which country it is frm n the brand of cuz...using AQUAZ tube for 8-10hrs a dae can only last for 6 mths...china tube can only last for abt 4mths??...replacing is impt...becos the colour spectrum would nt be so bright and the penetration isn't dere.. my 2 cents...

I run my 3 ft Aquaz T5 Atinic for 13 hours a day since June last year, still running as of now.

My other 8 pcs of 4 ft Aquaz T5 been running 9 hours a day since January, still OK.

Atinic still bright as before, I have not notice any diff in the 4 ft, may change all in another 6 months time since I don't have any light loving corals in this tank.

[patrick123]

Yeah lor. I thought T5 can normally last for about 1 year.

[antizz]

I run my 3 ft Aquaz T5 Atinic for 13 hours a day since June last year, still running as of now.

My other 8 pcs of 4 ft Aquaz T5 been running 9 hours a day since January, still OK.

Atinic still bright as before, I have not notice any diff in the 4 ft, may change all in another 6 months time since I don't have any light loving corals in this tank.

Marineman you should try out deltec it will do your tank and coral more good than aquaz. Or coralife is also good, very nice packing.

[Alvin Tan]

Marineman you should try out deltec it will do your tank and coral more good than aquaz. Or coralife is also good, very nice packing.

bro..u are implying tt aquaz nt gd 4 corals la...actually...T5s are design for reefers that do nt hav a chiller and so they cannt fix on a MH...T5s gives off lesser heat den MH...the qns abt the lifespan realli depends on wad kind of corals u are keeping...for example...keeping LPS with T5s is recommended to replace every 6-8mths....wheares with softies...replacment can drag abit more longer...the difference is there...once the side of the tube turn black..it is time 2 replace a new one.. my 2 cents worth of comments..

[antizz]

bro..u are implying tt aquaz nt gd 4 corals la...actually...T5s are design for reefers that do nt hav a chiller and so they cannt fix on a MH...T5s gives off lesser heat den MH...the qns abt the lifespan realli depends on wad kind of corals u are keeping...for example...keeping LPS with T5s is recommended to replace every 6-8mths....wheares with softies...replacment can drag abit more longer...the difference is there...once the side of the tube turn black..it is time 2 replace a new one.. my 2 cents worth of comments..

I feel that Aquaz tube is hotter than deltec and coralife tube which is germany made,

[Alvin Tan]

I feel that Aquaz tube is hotter than deltec and coralife tube which is germany made,

while...different ppl gt different views abt their T5s they own..for me...AQUAZ is gd enough...as i hav 4 tubes firing in my 2ft nano...my LPS still opens well...so wad u hav quote that AQUAZ tube is not very gd for corals isn't quite appropriate..

[Marineman]

Marineman you should try out deltec it will do your tank and coral more good than aquaz. Or coralife is also good, very nice packing.

I can't get Deltec or ATI in Malaysia, I suppose they are a lot more expensive.

Afterall I am using MH, T5 is only complementary, so no point paying a lot more for it, I don't mind a BMW instead of a ferrari, as I already own a private jet, so to speak.

[Kelmen]

Hmm... I wondering is there such kind of svc to rent device (maybe from LFS) to detect the lighting power. So, we don't need to make guessing work.

Unless that device is not expensive. I seem to recall reading it is no cheap.

Its probably hard for us to tell when it's the right time to replace the bulb.

[Marineman]

Hmm... I wondering is there such kind of svc to rent device (maybe from LFS) to detect the lighting power. So, we don't need to make guessing work.

Unless that device is not expensive. I seem to recall reading it is no cheap.

Its probably hard for us to tell when it's the right time to replace the bulb.

The lighting meter is not cheap, cost more than S$300 in KL.

Normally just change your MH bulbs between 9-12 months, if you are rich and can afford, 6 months is recommended, for fluorescent, can last more than 12 months, for atinic, as long as you wish as it has minimum effect on your corals.

[Gouldian]

The lighting meter is not cheap, cost more than S$300 in KL.

Normally just change your MH bulbs between 9-12 months, if you are rich and can afford, 6 months is recommended, for fluorescent, can last more than 12 months, for atinic, as long as you wish as it has minimum effect on your corals.

For me, besides looking out for the Corals to "complain" to me that they are receiving insufficient lights or looking for some plants to start growing........

I used a simple digital camera, what I do is to take a picture of the tank noting the settings and time of the day. Five six months later, I will take the same picture of the tank using the same setting and situation. I managed to get some reliable indication from it.

[Alvin Tan]

For me, besides looking out for the Corals to "complain" to me that they are receiving insufficient lights or looking for some plants to start growing........

I used a simple digital camera, what I do is to take a picture of the tank noting the settings and time of the day. Five six months later, I will take the same picture of the tank using the same setting and situation. I managed to get some reliable indication from it.

wa...bro...smart method..haha..

[Kelmen]

I believe the best is to get the "official" stated lifespan of the bulb. Many stated about how many hours they can last.

Then we just some calculation, more manageable.

Mmm.... just wondering nearing the end of the lifespan mean the bulb gonna explode or mean performance down 50%?