T5 bulb longevity

[leonarsi]

Hi

Got a Noova T5 system with 8x45w bulbs about 5 months ago. Seems that the 10k bulbs are yellowing already. How long should T5 bulbs last? Also i've read that URI are the best brand, any testament to that?

Lastly what effect will i see between 12K vs 10K?

Any help appreciated

 

[Wes]

12k will appear a little bluer than 10k...

manufacturers recommend switching out bulbs every 18 months...Most people switch every 12 to be safe...

If you are seeing color shift after 5 months maybe your not keeping the bulbs cool enough? Not sure why but 5 months they should still be burning pretty good.

My favorite brand at the moment is Aquascience, URI are good, so are ATI...It's a matter of preference if go with any of the big names...

I noticed better colors and a growth spurt after i switched to AquaScience but results may vary...It's tough to say which bulbs are "best" when several manufacturers are making pretty darn good ones.