Replacing T5 Bulbs ?

[cjrudy]

My new ATI bulbs are being delivered today, the current bulbs are at least 18 months old,whats the best way to replace them. One or two at a time, over days or weeks.


Currently have Geissman Actinic+ and 2 Aquablue+




Replacing them with ATI, 4 Blue+, 1 Purple+ and 1 Aquablue Special.

 

[-Logzor]

Sounds like your old bulbs are pretty toasted. Replace one bulb a week. No sense in risking your corals to light-shock.

 

[cjrudy]

Definitely don't want to risk any corals, although 6 weeks to replace the bulbs seems a bit much.

 

[cdness]

Well you can do 2 bulbs a week if you wanted to.

Another option would be to replace half of them this week and the other half next week, but raise the fixture a bit. If you cannot raise the fixture, put some window screen between the light and the tank to cut the intensity a bit and remove a layer of screen every couple days to acclimate.

Personally I just replaced all 6 of mine and raised the light 5 more inches. I dropped it one chain link each week until I got back down to where it should be.

 

[foxhuntr]

i think it would be easier to replace all of them at once and then shorten your light period...i would shorten it by 2 hours a day for the first 2 weeks......i run 8 T5's on my display and change all of them at once and run on my normal light period and it never affects the corals......now if you were replacing MH i would say yes to acclimating your corals again

 

[cjrudy]

I'm thinking of replacing them all at once and using 3-4 screens and removing them slowly. Reducing the light period doesn't make sense, intense light is intense light, whether its 30 minutes or 6 hours.

 

[florida reef]

I just switched out bulbs and replaced them with ATI's. It took me about 2 weeks to switch them all out by only adding a couple at a time and cutting back my photo period. Just take it slow and watch the corals to see how they react. BTW, prepare yourself for outstanding growth after you go from old weak bulbs to new bulbs...I had my bulbs for about 10 months and I'm sure they were pretty weak. When I switched out to the new bulbs all of my chalices sprouted new eyes and acros began growing like weeds within a few weeks!

 

[johnboy411]

i work outside in vegas, standing outside in the sun for 30 minutes is tolerable 6 hours would burn you to a crisp

 

[turfster26]

i think it would be easier to replace all of them at once and then shorten your light period...i would shorten it by 2 hours a day for the first 2 weeks......i run 8 T5's on my display and change all of them at once and run on my normal light period and it never affects the corals......now if you were replacing MH i would say yes to acclimating your corals again

+1....replace all the bulbs and shorten the run time in half and slowly work up the run time according the what the corals are telling you......

 

[cjrudy]

Ok, put all the new bulbs in and raised the fixture up another 2 inches to its max and added 4 pieces of screen. The tank is pretty dark even with all the lights on so I don't think I will be shocking any corals.