Replacing Bulbs

[captjab]

I know this could've been posted in the Lighting & Equipment Forum, but I want to see how the T5 users with SPS do this.
I have a 6 bulb T5 + Cree LED fixture that has old bulbs in it. My 6 new bulbs arrived today and I'm wanting to know the best procedure to replacing them.
Should I replace all 6 bulbs today and leave lighting schedule as is.
Should I replace all 6 bulbs today and shorten the lighting schedule and slowly increase it over the next few weeks?
Should I replace 2 bulbs a week over the next 3 weeks?
I'm just trying to avoid any bleaching issues the new bulbs may cause.
Thanks for your suggestions.

 

[captjab]

Another option I have is replacing all 6 bulbs and only running 2 or 4 bulbs for a couple weeks and then powering up the remaining 2 or 4.

 

[NastyZ]

What I do is I change out 2 bulbs at a time once a week by the end if the month all new bulbs are in and I don't change the photo period of height of the fixture I as change my bulbs around the 10-11 month mark so I don't shock my corals

 

[Dapg8gt]

I think the most common way is if you change all 6 at one time and raise the fixture up and slowly lower it down over about 2 - 4 weeks or shorten the lighting period and slowly bring it back up..

Another option that I don't do is add mesh window screen under it in layers and remove one every few days..

What I do is just swap 2 bulbs at a time staggered by a week.. So on my 8 bulb ATI it takes me a month..

Some things to take into consideration also is if you are swapping to higher par bulbs (like more blue + or similar) you may need to take a little longer or raise the fixture all together..

If you have access to a par meter or have one it makes the whole process easier imo. I notice a big jump In par in certain spots of my tank just swapping bulb locations fwiw.

 

[captjab]

Thanks guys. I'm going back with pretty much the same bulb combo. I'm going to change 2 every week or so over the next month.

 

[ssscuz]

I plan on changing mine, one a month, to try spread cost and prevent shocking coral with all new tubes at once.

 

[NastyZ]

I plan on changing mine, one a month, to try spread cost and prevent shocking coral with all new tubes at once.

You'll have to start doing that pretty early depending on how many bulbs you have if you wait to long to start some of the bulbs could shift spectrum on you