coralreefaquarist Posted November 30, 2008 Share Posted November 30, 2008 ok so roughly 5 mabey 6 months ago i replaced all 8 of the bulbs on my teklight and now im kinda disapointed with the color i have softies and lps are great but i think switching a few over would really make a difference in the sps. i dont want to replace them all right now just 3 mabey 4 of them so the ? is. can i replace just 4 bulbs and write down the age of the bulbs and remember that the old 4 will need replacing 6 months before the new ones will need replaced. i know that when some bulbs get older that something in the color spectrum can change or something and you can loose color and get algae blooms or something. i dunno im talking jiberish probably and am worrying about it for nothing. is it ok to change 4 now and the old 4 later when there done. or is there a disadvantage to having half brand new and half used? sorry for any confusion and wasted time Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cgrant Posted December 1, 2008 Share Posted December 1, 2008 I have heard that the T-5 bulbs can go for 18 months. Not sure on that just what I have heard. I know some people change bulbs in cycles like you are talking about. It is little easier on the pocket book. I would think that changing a few at a time would be better for the corals, you are not hitting them with all new bulbs at one time and greatly increasing the intensity of the light they are receiving. I think some pictures before and after the new bulbs would be great so we can see the color difference. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dsoz Posted December 1, 2008 Share Posted December 1, 2008 I change mine out over a couple of month time period. New bulbs are brighter than old ones, and having more light too quickly is not good for some corals. Switching 4 now should be OK, and save the ones that you pull out to put back in later. Mark them with how long that they have been used. I have also heard that you can use T5 bulbs for 18+ months. I changed 4 out of 6 bulbs at the 12-13 month mark, and have yet to change my actinic (18+ months for those). I have a pair of actinic to put in, just have not got around to it yet. It probably is time. dsoz Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mrgreenthumb Posted December 1, 2008 Share Posted December 1, 2008 I usually change out my t5's at the 6 month mark, i notice that they tend to shift in color. I run t5's and halides and have never noticed the corals responding in anyway but positive when i throw new t5's or mh's in. Thats just me and my opinion. I have also heard that t5's last for 18 + months, though I don't know how much truth there is to that. All i know is at 6 months actinic or aquablue or pure actinic, whichever, they all definitely shift in color/spectrum at the 6 month mark for me!! I do overdrive mine on a vho ballast so that may have something to do with it, but i have heard other people that switch theres out this often as well! I think that t5's are fine for the 18months, I just don't know how visualy pleasing that light will be after that long, but par values are probably still fine. There is some more rambling for ya haha Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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