t5

[eserrano]

i just got my t5 4 bulb and i dont know when each light should come on

 

[eserrano]

it got a timer

 

[eserrano]

 

[Planedoc]

It should be based on what time you are home and want to enjoy your tank. I work from 6 to 4:30. I have my actinic lights come on at 11 and whites come on at 11:30. I turn off white at 9 and actinic at 9:30. Gives me 10.5 hours of light and the tank is lite in the evening while I am home to watch it. I feed everyday at 7pm.

 

[eserrano]

what about the leds

 

[eserrano]

i am going to use that schedule i work till 6 so it works for me

 

[eserrano]

how often do i change my t5 builbs or how do i know when to change them

 

[gonpostal]

If they're properly cooled, you should be able to get a year out of the bulbs IMO. Most people probably change them somewhere between 9 and 12 months.

 

[eserrano]

they have fans on top but i havent seen them come on but my house temp is always 70

 

[eserrano]

 

[gonpostal]

I would suggest figuring out why the fans aren't coming on, the bulbs will last longer if they're cooled.

 

[eserrano]

 

[eserrano]

i just got the light like 2 days

 

[eserrano]

i am sorryi just turn the white lights on and the fan came on i dint think they came on but they real quiet so they do work

 

[eserrano]

so when do i know it time to change them

 

[gonpostal]

I wish my MY fans were that quiet! :smile:

 

[gonpostal]

so when do i know it time to change them

You probably won't be able to tell just by looking at them. If they're new bulbs, you can wait a year. If you want to be safe, 9 or 10 months. If you're only going to have fish in the tank it's not as important, If you're going to have corals you might want to keep track. If this is a used fixture with used bulbs and you don't know how old they are and you're going to be keeping corals, I would change them soon.

 

[lighting]

If you want to keep the special effect you'd better change it around every 6 months . When you found the tube become dimmed you can change it .