T5 bulbs question

[bckane]

What is the lifespan of T5 bulbs.? Getting ready to place an order and was thinking about ordering another set of bulbs. My bulbs are going on 6months old running 8 hours a day.
TIA
Brian

 

[AJtheReefer]

Brian
It really depends on the ballast and ventilation.

I've gone for 24 months and seen the corals growing. However, I wouldn't recommend going for that long.

IMO. I would say around 12 months to kept things working at optimal rate.

 

[bckane]

Icecap ballast......Im thinking 12 month, I would replace all the bulbs. Thanks
Brian

 

[AJtheReefer]

Brian
Here is a nice thread with some information. The consensus is 12 months to keep things going strong.

link

 

[jeffbrig]

I went a good 18 months on my T5s before I ordered replacements. Then slacked off for another month or two before I finally replaced them. Never had any algae issues or anything like that. I did notice the new bulbs were brighter, but the tank was still doing fine under the old ones.

Corals do look better today than they did a few months ago, but I changed my old 10k MHs to 14k, and started running a longer MH photoperiod at the same time.

I think you can easily go 12 months without issue, after that you can still get by, but you might not be getting the same output.

 

[bckane]

cool thanks