So..you don't believe you need to change your bulbs as often as some say?

[pammy]

Hey all. My T5 bulbs are 11 months old, and my MH bulb is 6 months old. I know some people say bulbs should be changed at 6 months, and some say 12 months, and some say longer. I figured there was no reason they had to be changed before 12 months. Well, I added my first SPS' two months ago, and they aren't showing any color or PE, so after adding a Phosphate Reactor and getting my phosphates to an undetectable level (from .1) and adding more flow, and pulling out my Coral Beauty that was nipping a bit, and still not seeing any improvement, I decided I should try changing out the 11 month old T5 bulbs. I pulled out the old T5 bulbs just now, and once out of the fixture, I couldn't believe how grey the old UVL Super Actinic bulbs looked next to the new ones (both out of the fixture) I put in a new ATI Blue plus bulb into the light fixture and a new UVL Super Actinic, and left in an old one of each just to see the difference when lit, and WOW, the new bulbs were SO much brighter than the old ones. They looked about twice as bright. Will be interested in seeing if this helps with the color of my SPS'. Guess I better lower the photo period of the T5's for a bit and gradually bring it back up over the next week or so.

Pam

[Phurst]

Yep, every time I change out bulbs I'm amazed at how dim they've gotten. My T5 actinics are less than a month old so I haven't had to change them yet, but MH and PC are always much, much brighter when I replace them.

[lReef lKeeper]

i agree, but i only change the bulbs out when i notice some things not looking right.

[veriann]

the good thing is old bulbs still do a good job on FO tanks

[NaClFinatic]

I think my MH and T5 needed changed at 9 months or sooner. (My cyano started about 6). I can't say for sure what the difference is becasue I am trying out all new bulbs.