T5 bulb replacement

Guttersnipe · Oct 20, 2019

hi Reef2reef! I hope everybody is doing well. I’m just having a few beers and doing some online shopping for some new light bulbs for my three Ati fixtures. I have a 48 inch 8 bulb fixture, 36 inch 8 bulb fixture, and a 36 inch 4 bulb fixture.
That’s a total of 20 bulbs. I love the results from these lights but man the bulb replacement is crazy. Only good thing is they only need to be replaced once a year. Tipsy online shopping is not good for my wallet.
How often do you replace your t5 bulbs?

AdamB · Oct 20, 2019

Guttersnipe said:
hi Reef2reef! I hope everybody is doing well. I’m just having a few beers and doing some online shopping for some new light bulbs for my three Ati fixtures. I have a 48 inch 8 bulb fixture, 36 inch 8 bulb fixture, and a 36 inch 4 bulb fixture.
That’s a total of 20 bulbs. I love the results from these lights but man the bulb replacement is crazy. Only good thing is they only need to be replaced once a year. Tipsy online shopping is not good for my wallet.
How often do you replace your t5 bulbs?

I bought Ati bulbs when I first got
My 90 gallon up and running. I replaced every 6 months as that was what company recommended I liked them a lot but costs added up so I bought 2 viper spectras led to replace as I figured buying leds would pay for themselves which they have And grew a mixed tank greatly. I also bought hydra 26’s for my other tank as well instead of going t5 due to replacement costs.

dwest · Oct 20, 2019

I think you should watch this.

https://www.bulkreefsupply.com/vide...d-to-change-your-t5-bulbs-brstv-investigates/

DennistheMenace · Oct 20, 2019

I replace my T5s every 6 months. I use a hybrid setup for my 165g mixed reef, with 2 Hydra 26s and 8 39 watt t5s. I love the looks of the led, and the fill of the t5s.

dwest · Oct 20, 2019

This is the second brs video on t5 bulb life.

https://www.bulkreefsupply.com/vide...ed-to-change-out-t5-bulbs-brstv-investigates/

jda · Oct 20, 2019

Yearly is fine. I do not even replace mine that often if they are not doing the heavy lifting (I use MH for that).

C. Eymann · Oct 20, 2019

I have put 54w T5s on Icecap440 VHO ballasts (110w ea) in retrofit kits/canopies before, it was advised to change the bulbs every 4-6mo, I guess if I was running t5 only fixture I'd be pretty diligent on bulb changing, agree with Jda though, if I'm just using t5 to supplement halides, I'll run them a year.

flockaveli · Oct 20, 2019

I'd shoot for an annual swap out, but I've ran the same bulbs for at least 16 months with no issues. ATI makes great fixtures and that may help preserve the bulbs life. Prior to using them I'd switch out the bulbs every 6-8 months.