When To Replace T5 Bulbs

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When to Replace T5 Bulbs…[/face]




As a general rule of thumb we recommend replacing T5 bulbs every year or so. But bulb replacement schedules can vary from 6-18 months depending in certain factors.



1. Photo Period – How long are the bulbs on each day? – With a photo period of 8-9 hours per day most bulbs will typically last up to 12 months
2. The color spectrum of the bulbs – Actinic/Blue Blubs typically do not last as long as daylight bulbs
3. The Installation – The hotter the installation, the shorter the lifespan
4. Ballast – Overdriving with a VHO Ballast or using a Dimmable Ballast typically reduces lifespan by about half
5. What type of T5 Bulb? Different Brands and Quality of T5 Bulbs will vary in lifespan
Ultimately, the best judge of when it is time to replace bulbs are the corals and other livestock in the tank. If coral health, coloration and or growth start to decline, it is usually a good indication that it is time to change bulbs.
Now keep in mind, the above are general guidelines and are by no means exact indicators of how long a T5 Bulb will last. Please contact us if you have any questions.
Need to Upgrade your T5 bulbs?
Check out some of our more popular bulb combos!!!
4 Bulb Combos
2 ATI Blue Plus
1 ATI Purple Plus
1 ATI AquaBlue Special
6 Bulb Combos
3 ATI Blue Plus
1 ATI Purple Plus
1 ATI AquaBlue Special
1 GE 6500K Daylight
8 Bulb Combos
4 ATI Blue Plus
1 ATI Purple Plus
2 ATI AquaBlue Special
1 GE 6500K Daylight
10 Bulb Combos
5 ATI Blue Plus
2 ATI Purple Plus
2 ATI AquaBlue Special
1 GE 6500K Daylight
These combos will give you a crisp white, with a hint of blue…Good Par Output and of course great color.
For a BLUER look to your tank, simply replace an AquaBlue Special or the GE 6500K Daylight with another Blue Plus.
Again, please remember, these are only recommendations and we do not guarantee that the combos will give the desired look to your tank. These combos have received positive feedback and have definitely been successful for our customers. For all of those who are looking for ATI bulbs… we just got our shipment in…so to place an order you can go online or call us at the office…
For any questions, please contact us via email sales@reefgeek.com or call us TOLL FREE 866.295.9230
Have a great week everyone...
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