T5 lights spectrum shift

[kamiru]

Hi,

may i know when will T5 lights spectrum starts to shift?
If it does, will that affects colouration of SPS?

[Horace]

I have heard, (NOT TESTED), that T5 spectrum will start to shift at about 6 mo. However, the shift of T5 is supposedly much less severe , and starts about the same time as MH. For this reason, those with money will replace them at 6 mo, but those of us on a tighter budget usually push them to about 1 yr before replacement. At 1yr most halides are pretty much toast, where you could continue to run T5 for a bit longer with much less of a shift of spectrum and loss of PAR than the MH would be showing. You may want to see if you can find a study on them, but this is what I have been told by some of the more knowledgable folks in the T5 community. I am really not sure how they came about that info. HTH

[trythechi]

Hi,

may i know when will T5 lights spectrum starts to shift?
If it does, will that affects colouration of SPS?

As far as established top class T5 only tanks that I'v seen - this is the reported tube change schedule:

1. B Mohr: Germany - change afer 8 months;
2. Iwan: Switzerland - RC Large tank forum - change after 6-8 months;
3. Dannano: Singapor - RC TOTM May 05 - not changed for over 2 years.

B Mohr reported that growth slowed after 8 months - however Dannanno's tank shows they can been SPS vibrant for much longer - he says he took out his DSB to provide more growth space.

I'm going to change mine every 8 months but keep the used bulbs for a 'rainy day'.

Cheers

Simon

[moonpod]

The problem is that there isn't any concrete data. Additionally cooling measures and ballast types will affect the schedule. Finally lower k bulbs are always more stable than higher k. So.....the answer is....it depends!

[kamiru]

Last week, i did change out 2 new T5 bulbs. I saw a drastic change in colouration of my sps. The colours are becoming more intense. From my observation, the hypothesis is the bulbs changeout. From now on, i will change them every 6- 8months. For my previous bulbs, i had used them for 1 yr. The sps colours become lighter when my bulbs are abt 6 months old.

[Iwan]

Last week, i did change out 2 new T5 bulbs. I saw a drastic change in colouration of my sps. The colours are becoming more intense. From my observation, the hypothesis is the bulbs changeout. From now on, i will change them every 6- 8months. For my previous bulbs, i had used them for 1 yr. The sps colours become lighter when my bulbs are abt 6 months old.

Welcome in the club of the T5 fans.
Wait a couple of months and then look as the colors have developed.
You will be surprised positively.

[kamiru]

Welcome in the club of the T5 fans.
Wait a couple of months and then look as the colors have developed.
You will be surprised positively.

Iwan, i am a great fan of urs! I even set the wallpaper of your tank pics on my desktop. Really amazed by your tank. T5 did wonders!

[Dejan]

T5 did wonders!

Yes... if magic would be only in T5 tubes everyone would use them..(As I do )

I think there is a lot in Iwan's eye for each small changes in tank and careful maintaince due long period..