how often should i change my lights ??

[zlin0524]

TOTAL WATER VOL:100G WITH 90lb live rocks
years in hobby :2.5 yrs
water :RODI
chiller, protein skimmer
phosban reactor with phosphate adsorption media
runs carbon and GFO in filters
macro in sump(25g) with 60w lighting
vortech 40mh es
lights : Fixture, 2x150W Metal Halide HQIs & 4X54W T5s & Moonlights 20X3wLED from wingos
dosing : .3ml of CAL, MAG , ALK from BULKreef 2 part recipe1 IN ATO
ALK 9
cal 420
Mag 1350
salt:1.0235
tem:78
PH>8
nitrate:5
phosphate.05

 

[zlin0524]

 

[zlin0524]

 

[ScorpionSys]

I change halides every 2200 hrs about every 18 months at the 4 hours a day I have em on, PC bulbs get changed on the same 2200 hour schedule but more often about every 7 months as they are on 10 hrs a day. I have no idea about LED.

 

[NYreefNoob]

t5 every 12 months, mh every 8-10 months both start to drop par and color after that

 

[zlin0524]

thanks ,,, ii was gonna replace my T5 bulbs .instead,i just bought LED light 20x3 from wingo . everything looks happier

 

[Jzhou]

Personally I change t5 every 12 months and mh every 6.

 

[zlin0524]

thanks guys , any links u would suggest? good price for T5 and MH light bulbs? cuz they r pricey

 

[ScorpionSys]

To those that change MH every 6 months how many hours a day do you have them on? I would assume the time to replacement should be more in hours than days or months. I guess the best way to accurately replace your bulbs would be to test their spectrum and par.

 

[ScorpionSys]

thanks guys , any links u would suggest? good price for T5 and MH light bulbs? cuz they r pricey

Don't cheap out on the bulbs I made the mistake of trying the ebay 4 for $80 bulbs instead of the usual $80 each and I got very little coral growth with them as well as some nuisance algae growth. I ended up swapping them out for my tried and true USHIO 14000k's they just seem to look and work best for me. Everyone seems to have different tastes in color or brand I would try a few in different price ranges and find one ya like.

 

[zlin0524]

t5 11 hrs and MH 6 hrs and LEDS 4 hrs

 

[Jzhou]

the mh I only have on for like 6 of the 8 hr light period. try bigals.com for bulbs if you want cheap, but they dont really offer you the best bulbs.

 

[ScorpionSys]

So you guys think MH bulbs only last about 1000 hours? That seems low considering before they even put out the correct light they have a 100 hr burn in period.

 

[Jzhou]

its usually around that time frame when the spectrum begins to shift. It takes a couple of more months before the light output begins to dim. But I prefer to switch the bulb before it has the chance to change to a more red spectrum, its mostly a preventive measure against HA for me.