replacing T5 bulbs

[Fishward]

hey,
i bought a used fixture last year and have been using it for about 6 months. it ran for 2-3 months before i bought it. im noticing slight changes in the light color. should i be replacing all the bulbs? or do actinic bulbs last longer? ive got 3 daylight bulbs, 2 Actinic, and a fiji purple... do they all need replacing every 6 months?

[lorenz0]

You can push it to 8 months easily. just remember when you replace the bulbs to raise the fixture up if you do so. The intensity of the bulbs at that stage can burn/bleach corals due to the increase of output with newer bulbs. Than raise it back down a week later

as for bulb choices, that combo is a decent all around combo and i would stick to similar kelvin rated bulbs

[chris88]

I change them at 9 months, but you can slowly start changing them out now one at a time over the course of a few months.

[RuGlu6]

Just wipe the salt off and you good. I change mine every 12 mo.