Bleaching Maxi-Mini

[GroktheCube]

It's a bit odd, but over the course of the past week or so, her oldest and healthiest Maxi-Mini in her 65 appears to have been bleaching. Its pigment is still present, its behavior is normal, it has not moved, its oral disk and tentacles have just become much more pale and translucent than they were previously. It seems to be slightly less hungry, but still eats.

\ Lighting is unchanged (ATI 36" 4x39w T5HO with 1 blue plus, 1 actinic, 1 purple plus, 1 coral plus), water parameters are unchanged (NO3 ~30ppm, PO4 ~ .15ppm, 1.026, 8.0pH, 400 Alk, 8.5 dKH). The only change has been an upgrade to a much more powerful external recirculating skimmer, with some of the biopellets I took off of my 120g plumbed into it.

Her other two maxi minis are fine.

I'm a bit stumped, does anyone have any ideas?

 

[worm5406]

How old are the lights?

Is anything hosting in it?

 

[GroktheCube]

The bulbs are all 8-9 months old. There are 5 sexy shrimp in the tank, which split their time between this and another maxi mini.

 

[worm5406]

Could be some disparity in the bulbs.

Try this:

Take each bulb out and flip it 180. So what ever is on the left move it to the right.... Each of those bulbs have connections on both ends. They are T5's so it will not matter. That will show if there is a problem in the bulb, like a burned out spot or a spot where the light is different, as it will be moved to another part of the tank, unless it is dead center.

Can we get a picture?

 

[GroktheCube]

I'll get a shot later today.

I'll try flipping the bulbs to see if I can spot any imperfections.

 

[GroktheCube]

Here are a couple shots. I can't find any obvious flaws with the bulbs.

 

[CoralReeForrest]

T5 should be replaced after about 7 months, the spectrum they put out begins to deteriorate, and though our eyes can't see it and think they still look good, the spectrum becomes more yellow and is not good for coral, nems,Corraline, etc hope this helps! You may check petco as my petco is selling out their t5 and bulbs are 11 a piece.

 

[worm5406]

Yeah that is what I was pushing toward with the OP. That the bulbs need to be check and replaced.

+1

Sounds like a time to look at different bulbs/setups.

 

[GroktheCube]

Thanks guys. I'll give it a try. The bulbs have been in the Powermodule the whole time, and I was under the impression that active cooling would extend their useful life a bit, but it's a cheap easy fix that's well worth trying!

 

[CoralReeForrest]

Thanks guys. I'll give it a try. The bulbs have been in the Powermodule the whole time, and I was under the impression that active cooling would extend their useful life a bit, but it's a cheap easy fix that's well worth trying!

Nope heat isn't the killer of the bulbs it's the elements inside the bulb.

 

[ClippersTown]

just buy t5's from petco, put your old ones back into the box, and return it. every 7 months, rinse and repeat. idc about screwing over a large corporation.

 

[GroktheCube]

Thanks guys, it would seem I've been misinformed about bulb life vis a vis active cooled fixtures vs non cooled fixtures.

I've included some new ATI bulbs in the order I placed with BRS the evening. I'll make sure that she staggers replacements/raises the fixture to avoid further light shock.

 

[NYCBOB]

T5 should be replaced after about 7 months, the spectrum they put out begins to deteriorate, and though our eyes can't see it and think they still look good, the spectrum becomes more yellow and is not good for coral, nems,Corraline, etc hope this helps! You may check petco as my petco is selling out their t5 and bulbs are 11 a piece.

7 months? more like 12-18 months.

 

[QuackAttack]

just buy t5's from petco, put your old ones back into the box, and return it. every 7 months, rinse and repeat. idc about screwing over a large corporation.

Not cool dude

DO you know that you're not "screwing over a large corporation". You're screwing over other hobbyists. Petco doesn't absorb losses with a smile on their face they pass them on in the prices they charge.

I'm really sorry that you have no moral character.

 

[Lateralus]

just buy t5's from petco, put your old ones back into the box, and return it. every 7 months, rinse and repeat. idc about screwing over a large corporation.

So where does that leave the next guy buying your old bulbs? Another thing, theft is theft.

 

[DgenR8]

just buy t5's from petco, put your old ones back into the box, and return it. every 7 months, rinse and repeat. idc about screwing over a large corporation.

It's great to know that even in this hobby, there are people with such high moral standards :rolleye1:
Maybe I should remove your post, I should probably remove you from this community , but in the end, I think it's best that people be aware that we're surrounded by people like you.