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How often to change Compact Fluorescent Lights
Hello,
How often do most of you change your CF bulbs? I've got some of the long 55W & 65W bulbs that I've been using for about 8 months. I'm starting to suspect a measureable decrease in light output from the changes I'm seeing in my tank. Maybe I'm just paranoid... Thanks! |
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ups.com... Hello, How often do most of you change your CF bulbs? I've got some of the long 55W & 65W bulbs that I've been using for about 8 months. I'm starting to suspect a measureable decrease in light output from the changes I'm seeing in my tank. Maybe I'm just paranoid... Thanks! I've read but can't verify as yet (my lights are only 2 weeks old) that T8/T12's can diminish their output by as much as 50% in the first 6 months, and the T8's and T5's can go 30% longer, so 8 months sounds about right. I plan on changing mine every 6 or 7 months, as I am quite paranoid about lumen, spectrum and CRI output for my new tank ;) Oz -- My Aquatic web Blog is at http://members.optusnet.com.au/ivan.smith |
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On 12 Jan 2005, the world was enlightened by 's opinion about...
Hello, How often do most of you change your CF bulbs? I've got some of the long 55W & 65W bulbs that I've been using for about 8 months. I'm starting to suspect a measureable decrease in light output from the changes I'm seeing in my tank. Maybe I'm just paranoid... Thanks! In general, T5/PCF bulbs should hold 90% of their rated output for the life of the bulb (~20,000 hours or about 4.5 years). Here's a link to GE's data sheet for T5HO bulbs (PCF are folded T5s), scroll all the way to the bottom of the .pdf to see the lumen maintenance graph: http://www.gelighting.com/na/busines...sources/litera ture_library/sell_sheets/downloads/fluorescent/28345_starcoat_t5 _linear.pdf I use them till they die. :) kev -- Civilization. An organized system of alternatives to the stone age - CJCherryh |
kev wrote:
http://www.gelighting.com/na/busines...sources/litera ture_library/sell_sheets/downloads/fluorescent/28345_starcoat_t5 _linear.pdf Dude, tinyurl.com I use them till they die. :) Looks like the sensible thing to do. Unless there is more to aquarium lights than lumens. Is there? -- Victor M. Martinez Owned and operated by the Fantastic Seven (TM) Send your spam he Email me he |
On 12 Jan 2005, the world was enlightened by Victor Martinez's opinion
about... kev wrote: http://www.gelighting.com/na/busines..._resources/lit era ture_library/sell_sheets/downloads/fluorescent/28345_starcoat_t5 _linear.pdf Dude, tinyurl.com Heheh I know, I know. :) I use them till they die. :) Looks like the sensible thing to do. Unless there is more to aquarium lights than lumens. Is there? I'd imagine that the photosynthetic parts of the spectrum output curve matches the lumen curve unless the phospors degrade in a manner that doesn't affect what our eyes see. kev -- Civilization. An organized system of alternatives to the stone age - CJCherryh |
In article . com,
wrote: Hello, How often do most of you change your CF bulbs? I've got some of the long 55W & 65W bulbs that I've been using for about 8 months. I'm starting to suspect a measureable decrease in light output from the changes I'm seeing in my tank. Maybe I'm just paranoid... Well, there's one way to find out for su get one new one and compare it to the old ones. The anal retentive and wealthy re-tube at 6 mos. I just use twice the number of tubes and replace them when they burn out. -- Need Mercedes parts ? - http://parts.mbz.org http://www.mbz.org | Mercedes Mailing lists: http://lists.mbz.org 633CSi 250SE/C 300SD | Killies, killi.net, Crypts, aquaria.net 1970 280SE, 72 280SE | Old wris****ches http://watches.list.mbz.org |
In article ,
Victor Martinez wrote: kev wrote: http://www.gelighting.com/na/busines...sources/litera ture_library/sell_sheets/downloads/fluorescent/28345_starcoat_t5 _linear.pdf Dude, tinyurl.com I use them till they die. :) Looks like the sensible thing to do. Unless there is more to aquarium lights than lumens. Is there? Nope. Prove it to yourself. Try a pair of really old high CRI full spectrum 10K tubes then try a pair of new cool/warm whites and observe the difference. In other words, yes Virginia, new $7 tubes work better than old $40 tubes. -- Need Mercedes parts ? - http://parts.mbz.org http://www.mbz.org | Mercedes Mailing lists: http://lists.mbz.org 633CSi 250SE/C 300SD | Killies, killi.net, Crypts, aquaria.net 1970 280SE, 72 280SE | Old wris****ches http://watches.list.mbz.org |
In article , Richard wrote:
Well, there's one way to find out for su get one new one and compare it to the old ones. The anal retentive and wealthy re-tube at 6 mos. I just use twice the number of tubes and replace them when they burn out. It would seem to me that's not a very cheap solution, the extra electricity costs will outweigh the replacement costs of the bulb... The 6-month guideline is generally only for super-light hungry reef tanks (which I also keep) - and even that is up for argument. In my planted tanks I replace my bulbs about every year or so, by then there's a significant -and noticeable even to the naked eye- drop in light output. My plants sure do grow like crazy after a bulb change. -Eric |
In article ,
Eric McGlohon wrote: In article , Richard wrote: Well, there's one way to find out for su get one new one and compare it to the old ones. The anal retentive and wealthy re-tube at 6 mos. I just use twice the number of tubes and replace them when they burn out. It would seem to me that's not a very cheap solution, the extra electricity costs will outweigh the replacement costs of the bulb... Look at GE's publshed devay curves, it never goes below 50% so I come out ahead, sorta. We have the cheapest electricity in the world here. But, occasionallyll splurge and spend a whopping $7 on a new pair of tubes so I can't say I really have dim lights. The 6-month guideline is generally only for super-light hungry reef tanks (which I also keep) - and even that is up for argument. In my planted tanks I replace my bulbs about every year or so, by then there's a significant -and noticeable even to the naked eye- drop in light output. My plants sure do grow like crazy after a bulb change. Sure, they've never so bright as the first week. Freshwater or marine there's no such thing as too much light, just not enoiugh plants :-) -- Need Mercedes parts ? - http://parts.mbz.org http://www.mbz.org | Mercedes Mailing lists: http://lists.mbz.org 633CSi 250SE/C 300SD | Killies, killi.net, Crypts, aquaria.net 1970 280SE, 72 280SE | Old wris****ches http://watches.list.mbz.org |
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