How often do you change your 5600K bulbs?

[AZBigJohn]

I use two 5600K shop lights to light my cheato in my sump, and run it 8 hours a night. I know they eventually lose their color spectrum, but the last ones I got were the LED versions inside a traditional light bulb socket.

Just curious if anyone knows the "useful" life of these bulbs as far as spectrum is concerned. I have seen a negative change in the color and amount of my cheato after about 8 months, but that seems a pretty short time for an LED to lose its color spectrum.

 

[AntiSatan]

IF they are actual LED lights far as I know they should be good till they die.

 

[aguila88psi]

LEDs do lose par but after a long long time

 

[82ndengineer]

Not all led lights are made the same as far as heat sink and diode used. Some seem to fizzle out faster than others due to this. Theoretically LEDs are good for 13-15 ( this may have changed since last I read)years per most manufacturers but I have a hard time believing that it will remain the same spectrum and quality over that time.

 

[briankmarsh1980]

if you are growing algae it shouldn't matter but i would think a quality led would last a few years. i can't answer your question as to why you are seeing a loss of growth becouse of light

 

[Holyassasin]

Maybe if your losing macro algae growth, it's because you have undetectable nitrates. Algae feeds on Nitrates, without that, they starve to death.