how often do you change your T5s
- Thread starter Allmost
- Start date
I run 6x T5s on 2 IC660 Ballasts for 8hrs/day and I liek to change mine around the 9-12 month range.
Overdriving, active cooling and photoperiod are all things to consider when your asking how long lamps last.
Overdriving will cause them to weaken faster, but overdriving and not cooling will burn them out in a matter of months.
Also, Are the new lamps in the back the same as the rest of the lamps? I have some corals that are near the back that look 10x better than the rest of them in my tank and I have attributed that to them being directly under an ATI Blu Plus. Some corals really seem to color up well under that spectrum.
Chris
Overdriving, active cooling and photoperiod are all things to consider when your asking how long lamps last.
Overdriving will cause them to weaken faster, but overdriving and not cooling will burn them out in a matter of months.
Also, Are the new lamps in the back the same as the rest of the lamps? I have some corals that are near the back that look 10x better than the rest of them in my tank and I have attributed that to them being directly under an ATI Blu Plus. Some corals really seem to color up well under that spectrum.
Chris
Allmost
New member
yea I understand what you mean, actually the lamps at the backa re cheap ones, and the 6 at front at ATI lol that's why I thought they have gone bad lol
it comes with 2 fans, so they are being kept cool, but 12 hours a day is prety long
hmm not sure.
the system is low in nutritiuons so I wont see algae to know.
Allmost
New member
yea that thing is getting Huge !!!
what are they bad for ? I think they kill fish, since I have lost all my small fishes lol
I dont see anythig bad on the SPS so ...
the crabs' legs are hairy
Allmost
New member
hmmm most of my SPS pieces have crabs in them, but shiny ones who are supposedly good.
I only see this guy in the rock work, never on a SPS coral. for example my anthias used to sleep under a rock, they went missing and one day I found this guy right where they sleep ! same story with my rainbow goby
any cool methods of catching him ? I cant use the glass method, as the current is so high that any food would come out of the cup fast.
when i said active on acros i mean eating them. he is not a commensal crab. if on acro means feeding on acro.
look at night with flashligth, he doesnt move for awhile when see flashligth. when you see on acro if possible take the acro out. he will be on acro. this is my only working method for catching them. more experienced people here will much help. btw sorry for my english. i m from Turkey.
look at night with flashligth, he doesnt move for awhile when see flashligth. when you see on acro if possible take the acro out. he will be on acro. this is my only working method for catching them. more experienced people here will much help. btw sorry for my english. i m from Turkey.
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Allmost
New member
DA special bulb ???!!! never heard of it, lol, but sounds exiting lol, any links ?
I was thinking more like 4 KZ new GEN, 3 KZ blue and 1 KZ fiji purple.
but I like my blue color more, so maybe give up a newgen for another blue.
Allmost
New member
Joel, to be honest, I am too confused now 
lol
http://reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1706461&page=254
I checked this out and also the Zeovit forums, and ppl are saying that the new Gen KZ bulbs have a higher par reading !
this link shows the PAR reading for ATI. but not the NEW GEN by KZ, but I have read on Zeovit site that its 370 ! (not the same environment so who knows ! )
http://sites.google.com/site/tfivetesting/par
so the confusion continues lol
the lighting I have right now, growth is not that good, so I need to go more whiter I think.
basically 4 whites, 3 blues and 1 fiji purple. who ever gives me higer par I take it lol
any you know any links please let me know
lolhttp://reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1706461&page=254
I checked this out and also the Zeovit forums, and ppl are saying that the new Gen KZ bulbs have a higher par reading !
this link shows the PAR reading for ATI. but not the NEW GEN by KZ, but I have read on Zeovit site that its 370 ! (not the same environment so who knows ! )
http://sites.google.com/site/tfivetesting/par
so the confusion continues lol
the lighting I have right now, growth is not that good, so I need to go more whiter I think.
basically 4 whites, 3 blues and 1 fiji purple. who ever gives me higer par I take it lol
any you know any links please let me know
Wow this is very shocking to me. I remember when T5 first came out everyone that one main advantage over MH was that the bulb would not need replacing until after 18-24 months and now we are down to 6-10 months. Really makes me think LED will be in the same boat, but thats another thread.
Just curious as I am going to be switch from MH to T5 and I have to say this bulb replacement point of view it may not be worth it. A couple of question though, are you finding that all bulbs need replacing at the 9 month mark or the ones such as more daylight or the purple able to last longer. Also would it be better if there is such a difference would it be better to stager the bulb replacment? Has there been any par testing to show the decrease?
Just curious as I am going to be switch from MH to T5 and I have to say this bulb replacement point of view it may not be worth it. A couple of question though, are you finding that all bulbs need replacing at the 9 month mark or the ones such as more daylight or the purple able to last longer. Also would it be better if there is such a difference would it be better to stager the bulb replacment? Has there been any par testing to show the decrease?
Allmost
New member
okay so changed them all this weekend and WOW !! what a change.
KZ bulbs ROCK !
so got 5 blue, 2 NEW GEN and 1 fiji purple, but the blue looks very smooth ! and not a clue of yellow in the NEW GEN, love them. will post some pics soon.
in matter of 2 days, I think the corals are starting to look better even ! or I see them better.
True perc, I was still getting growth and ... under old bulbs so it wasnt a must, if I didnt want to change to KZ bulbs, I could have held on to these guys for up to 10 months I'm sure. but having a fan to cool the bulbs down is a big plus.
KZ bulbs ROCK !
so got 5 blue, 2 NEW GEN and 1 fiji purple, but the blue looks very smooth ! and not a clue of yellow in the NEW GEN, love them. will post some pics soon.
in matter of 2 days, I think the corals are starting to look better even ! or I see them better.
True perc, I was still getting growth and ... under old bulbs so it wasnt a must, if I didnt want to change to KZ bulbs, I could have held on to these guys for up to 10 months I'm sure. but having a fan to cool the bulbs down is a big plus.
jc-reef
New member
hmmm most of my SPS pieces have crabs in them, but shiny ones who are supposedly good.
I only see this guy in the rock work, never on a SPS coral. for example my anthias used to sleep under a rock, they went missing and one day I found this guy right where they sleep ! same story with my rainbow goby
any cool methods of catching him ? I cant use the glass method, as the current is so high that any food would come out of the cup fast.
You can use the glass method...I did to get out 3 crabs. The trick is to get a drinking glass (which is heavy), put a rather large piece of deli shrimp in the bottom of glass....then cut out a piece of egg crate used for frag racks and trim to fit inside snug and wedge down to about an inch or 2 from bottom of glass on TOP of shrimp bait. Place on the sand near a rock ledge and once lights go out the crab will drop into glass from rock and will not be able to climb back out. The egg crate will keep the shrimp bait from floating away.
here is proof....
I agree!! I too added a New Gen in place of my ATI aqua blue and swapped 1ATI Blue plus with a Super Blue...and love the color of the tank (no yellow wash out)! I already had a Fiji Purple and still have a few Blue+'s to keep the peaked blue spectrum smoother and broader. The corals seem to be reacting positively so far.
