Changing T5's: 1 bulb every week, or every two?

[musicsmaker]

Changing my bulbs out and I was wondering if I really need to wait 2 weeks in between bulbs, or can I safely do one a week?

How do you all do it?

 

[dwest]

I change one bulb out every 4 months in my 4 bulb t5 hybrid system. Its just easier for me that way.

 

[tehmadreefer]

All at once. The par loss from old bulbs is very minimal per BRS study.

 

[musicsmaker]

All at once

I wouldn't feel comfortable doing that, seeing as I can't raise or lower my lighting easily. I don't want to stress my SPS.

 

[tehmadreefer]

I wouldn't feel comfortable doing that, seeing as I can't raise or lower my lighting easily. I don't want to stress my SPS.

meh, your tank, your choice. Do what you want.

 

[jda]

I change all of my bulbs at once too, so if you even do one every few days to feel better, you are going to be all right.

 

[TerraFerma]

I have never noticed any adverse impact from changing them all at once. Corals are pretty easy going with increasing/decreasing intensity under T5's.

 

[Bpb]

All at once. The par difference should be negligible since they’ll increase in intensity over a couple weeks due to burn in. They’re probably going to be pretty close in intensity for old bulbs vs brand new ones. The intensity will gradually increased naturally

 

[musicsmaker]

I change one bulb out every 4 months in my 4 bulb t5 hybrid system. Its just easier for me that way.

This works out to each bulb getting changed once every 16 months, correct? I was planning to change them once every 6 months. Your method seems like it would save me a little money. What kind of corals are you keeping?

 

[Skynyrd Fish]

Same here all at once. 6 bulb ati.

 

[musicsmaker]

All at once. The par loss from old bulbs is very minimal per BRS study.

I change all of my bulbs at once too, so if you even do one every few days to feel better, you are going to be all right.

I have never noticed any adverse impact from changing them all at once. Corals are pretty easy going with increasing/decreasing intensity under T5's.

All at once. The par difference should be negligible since they’ll increase in intensity over a couple weeks due to burn in. They’re probably going to be pretty close in intensity for old bulbs vs brand new ones. The intensity will gradually increased naturally

Same here all at once. 6 bulb ati.

That's a lot of votes for all at once. I guess it won't hurt to wait 1 week in between bulbs. Sounds like waiting two weeks between bulbs is totally unnecessary, though.

Thanks for all the feedback, everyone.

 

[dwest]

This works out to each bulb getting changed once every 16 months, correct? I was planning to change them once every 6 months. Your method seems like it would save me a little money. What kind of corals are you keeping?

This is a great video:

How often do you really need to change T5 bulbs? | BRStv Investigates

Today on BRStv Investigates, we finally put T5 bulbs to the test and determine whether you need to change them out as frequently as previously thought! In this episode we'll discuss changes to spectrum and PAR output from running the bulbs during a simulated year as well as running them at lower...

www.bulkreefsupply.com

 

[homer1475]

I've always changed all my bulbs at once. 6 bulb ATI sunpower.

 

[dwest]

Actually, this is the brs video I meant to attach earlier:

 

[mfinn]

I've usually changed out 2 at a time every 3-4 days.

 

[X-37B]

I do 2 every week on an 8 bulb system.

 

[andrew.jones50]

So long as everything else on the system is stable, you shouldn’t over think it.

I ran T5 for a long time over multiple tanks. They were all SPS tanks. Mostly 6 bulb fixtures. All ATI bulbs. I always changed them all at once because logistics. Never had any adverse reactions from the inhabitants. But I would also change the bulbs every 6- 8 mths.

I miss my t5 lamps. Some of the best color I’ve had and no shadows on my sticks. I don’t miss the electric bills.