life expectancy/quality of bulbs?

[moliken]

I have a nova extreme pro t5 ho light 36".
the info states: "3-10,000K T5 HO Slimpaq bulbs and 3-T5 HO Slimpaq actinic 460nm bulbs. Slimpaq bulbs offer 50% more output to ordinary lighting systems and a longer lifespan."
It's the longer lifespan that I do not understand b/c it's so vague.
Ive had the system running since mid december, just over 6 months. 1 actinic and 1 ho bulbs are on 10:30 am to 9 pm [about 1900 hours so far] and the other 4 11:30 am to 8 pm [about 1700 hrs].
When should I replace bulbs, which ones, all at once? help.

 

[Nerdy Nudi]

there is tons to read on the subject of bulb life.

here are some general guidelines:

1- lamp performance/output is diminished greatly in the first few months of its life, then very slowly over its remaining life.

2- spectrum shifting is another aspect of lamp decline. this is when the color changes to something that you dont like, your corals dont like, or that algae does like.

3. when you decide to replace your bulbs is really up to what your bulbs are doing. are they just lighting the tank? do you prefer a certain color? do you want to grow coral as fast as you can? if performance is key, ie coral growth and color, then you probably will want to change them more often. if not, ride them out.

4. better bulbs will have better ouput and hold their spectrum longer. ati, dd/geisemann are considered tops.

keep in mind, if you are going to swap out a lot of bulbs at once, and they are older or inferior, be careful. the livestock could be shocked as to the greater and sudden output of the newer lamps.

change one at a time, raise the fixture, and or reduce the light period for best results.

good luck

 

[moliken]

THANKS NN. i wanna do what's best for the critters