T5 woes - anyone else with bad experiences

[Rachel Koktava]

Hi all,

I've been running four 54W T5 bulbs for a year but the bulbs in
question (Arcardia - particularly the actinics) only seem to last
about 4 months. After that time the phosphors have noticeably degraded
and the tank mates don't look to happy. In fact, I'm pretty sure I've
already lost one anemone and one coral due to the failure of the
lighting.

Are there any other users of T5 who have found a problem with T5's in
particular, or are using other brands to their satisfaction?

regards
rachel

[Steve Sells]

Most fluorescent bulbs need to be replaced every 6 months, period, some
even sooner, that's the nature of fluorescent lighting.

When I install new bulbs I use a permanent marker to list the date
installed. This way I know for sure when they were put in, rather than
trying to remember. Its so easy to think they were just installed, when in
fact its been quite a while.

Steve


"Rachel Koktava" > wrote in message
om...
> Hi all,
>
> I've been running four 54W T5 bulbs for a year but the bulbs in
> question (Arcardia - particularly the actinics) only seem to last
> about 4 months. After that time the phosphors have noticeably degraded
> and the tank mates don't look to happy. In fact, I'm pretty sure I've
> already lost one anemone and one coral due to the failure of the
> lighting.
>
> Are there any other users of T5 who have found a problem with T5's in
> particular, or are using other brands to their satisfaction?
>
> regards
> rachel

[Rachel Koktava]

> Most fluorescent bulbs need to be replaced every 6 months, period, some
> even sooner, that's the nature of fluorescent lighting.
>
> When I install new bulbs I use a permanent marker to list the date
> installed. This way I know for sure when they were put in, rather than
> trying to remember. Its so easy to think they were just installed, when in
> fact its been quite a while.

Yeah, but when I say 4 months I mean 4 months, not six. We are on our
fourth set of tubes and even these are beginning to show signs of
wear. Each tube is over 20 pounds, four tubes to the unit - its
costing around 160 to 200 pounds per year in new tubes alone.

There are some cheaper makes of tubes on the market, hence my original
question. I'd be interested in hearing of the experience of other T5
users that are using a different brand. All the same, even at half the
price one begins to wonder if I should have purchased halides in the
first place (still an option)

rachel

[Dan Norgard]

You may want to check the neutrals in your electric panel to be sure they
are tight. This can cause a little more amp draw which will shorten the
life of the bulbs. (lights are the first to suffer)
Dan

"Rachel Koktava" > wrote in message
om...
> Most fluorescent bulbs need to be replaced every 6 months, period, some
> even sooner, that's the nature of fluorescent lighting.
>
> When I install new bulbs I use a permanent marker to list the date
> installed. This way I know for sure when they were put in, rather than
> trying to remember. Its so easy to think they were just installed, when
in
> fact its been quite a while.

Yeah, but when I say 4 months I mean 4 months, not six. We are on our
fourth set of tubes and even these are beginning to show signs of
wear. Each tube is over 20 pounds, four tubes to the unit - its
costing around 160 to 200 pounds per year in new tubes alone.

There are some cheaper makes of tubes on the market, hence my original
question. I'd be interested in hearing of the experience of other T5
users that are using a different brand. All the same, even at half the
price one begins to wonder if I should have purchased halides in the
first place (still an option)

rachel