How often should you change your bulbs?

[fishoholic]

Originally Posted by KrazyKuch

Actually Mika from the research i have done T-5 bulbs can go for about 2 years....

Our T5 bulbs had to be replaced after 8 months, we noticed our corals started to shrink and look bad, after we replaced the bulbs all our corals went back to normal.

[KrazyKuch]

Originally Posted by fishoholic

Our T5 bulbs had to be replaced after 8 months, we noticed our corals started to shrink and look bad, after we replaced the bulbs all our corals went back to normal.

so then all in all the only difference between T-5's and metal halide is the tempurature....Why do people bother going with T-5's then if MH last longer and are cheaper!!

[SeaSerpant]

wattage?

[fkshiu]

Originally Posted by KrazyKuch

so then all in all the only difference between T-5's and metal halide is the tempurature....Why do people bother going with T-5's then if MH last longer and are cheaper!!

Depends on the quality of the bulb. My G-man bulbs last at least 1 year.

T-5 bulbs cost in the range of $25-$35 per bulb whereas as good quality MHs run about anywhere from $80-$100. Over a 4' foot tank requiring 2 MH bulbs or anywhere from 4-8 t-5 bulbs, the cost of bulb replacement is roughly the same.

T-5s systems use less wattage overall that equivalent MHs systems and the results is less heat.

[Myka]

Originally Posted by KrazyKuch

so then all in all the only difference between T-5's and metal halide is the tempurature....Why do people bother going with T-5's then if MH last longer and are cheaper!!

Depends what you want. Some people don't want to spend $700+ on a chiller, so they opt for T5. Some people only want to keep LPS or softies, which do great under T5. Some people like the bulb combinations you can get going. Lots of reasons...

[fishoholic]

Originally Posted by KrazyKuch

so then all in all the only difference between T-5's and metal halide is the tempurature....Why do people bother going with T-5's then if MH last longer and are cheaper!!

We switched back to MH.