t-5 bulb life

riche · Jul 19, 2016

On average what would you say is the life expectancy of a good t-5 bulb, if running over a mix reef 8-10 hrs a day?

shakinghorizons · Jul 19, 2016

6 months or less in my experience.

Animagus · Jul 19, 2016

I'm only using Actinics at the moment, but I replace these once every year and none of the corals seem to mind.

riche · Jul 19, 2016

I have heard 9-12 months. It will be a 12 bulb t-5 6' fixture each bulb is 36"

I am thinking of using this or looking for a mh/t-5 combo

So many decisions but I'm going with what I really want to do with this tank and make it a awesome reef tank

nemo1017 · Jul 19, 2016

With your usage usually about 6 months is the mark.

Antics · Jul 19, 2016

Twice a year for 8-10 hours a day in my opinion.

twilliard · Jul 19, 2016

Well people's you all forgot the most important question? what is driving them?

riche · Jul 20, 2016

twilliard said:
Well people's you all forgot the most important question? what is driving them?

Its a current usa fixture that uses 12 36" bulbs, 6 on one switch and 6 on the other

twilliard · Jul 20, 2016

riche said:
Its a current usa fixture that uses 12 36" bulbs, 6 on one switch and 6 on the other

With those ballasts I would say 10 months.
You can always tell if they are driven hard by the rapid darkening (within a month) of the lamp ends.
I love my icecaps lol

riche · Jul 20, 2016

twilliard said:
With those ballasts I would say 10 months.
You can always tell if they are driven hard by the rapid darkening (within a month) of the lamp ends.
I love my icecaps lol

Is this a decent light? I got it from a friend who bought a set up and wasnt going to use it, as he is a led guy. I will hopefully being doin g everything inc some easy to keep sps

twilliard · Jul 20, 2016

I ran their fixtures for many years.
In my fixture one of the ballasts quit and that is where I begun my adventures in the orriginal icecap ballasts. (Lamps last about 4 to 6 months on those)
They hold up well, watch for heat damage to the lamp holders.
Also I noticed the whiter the lamp the hotter the ends get. Just check for blackening of the lamp ends as this is a good indicator of lamp life.

Animagus · Jul 20, 2016

What about those Hagen ballasts? I've been using the one in the link below for about 8 years now and this thing has been absolutely flawless. I haven't had any problems replacing my Actincs once every year, but should I do this more often?

http://www.ebay.com/itm/HAGEN-GLO-T...953587?hash=item51c2869fb3:g:Fd0AAOSwDk5T~Kty