When to change T5 light tube?

[PKB]

Hi,

I have some question on T5 lights that I would like to seek for advise. I have been using my set if T5 lighting (5X55W) for almost 18 months now. The lights are working fine but I have read that we need to replace the tube so that the lighting are efficient for plant growth. The lights are on 8 hours a day.
Questions are;

1) How long can we use the light tube before changing them?
2) Where can I change them?
3) Do I have to leave my light set with the shop or is it done on the spot?
4 ) Roughly how much per light tube?

Thank you in advance.

[Urban Aquaria]

When i used to use T5 lights, i would usually change the tubes every 8-9 months (can see quite a noticeable difference in light intensity between the new tubes and old tubes).

You can buy replacement T5 light tubes from most LFS, prices will depend on length and brand. Just make sure you get the right length and type (if not sure, bring one of your current tubes as sample for comparison).

Changing the tubes is the same as changing ceiling room lights, just turn the old tube to release it from the casing, then insert the new tube and turn it to lock in the casing.

[Shadow]

I use my fluorescent light tube until it blown . The intensity does reduce after a while, thus plants that require a lots of light like carpet plants or red plants might be effected. If those plants is not in your tank, then it is relatively ok to use it until it blown.

[BFG]

Mine was at the 9 month mark. Usually, when the light kelvin has shifted, only unwanted algae benefit as the light tube output has degraded that it is beneficial for algae instead of for corals or plants. For some species of coral, you would see them stretching towards the light and increase of algae presence in the tank.

[PKB]

Thank you guys for the sharing. My stem plants a growing ok, I just planted Monte Carlo, lets see if the MC carpet. If they don't I think I will change the tube.

[Shadow]

I did some google on the lumen maintenance, Fluorescent light actually is not that bad. It is able to maintain 85% lument to almost its life time.

I made seperate discussion on LED vs fluorescent here

[Urban Aquaria]

Thats an interesting chart Shadow, good info.

I guess for comparison, if we were to calculate based on real-life usage, say 8 hours photoperiod a day for a year (365 days), that would work out to an average 2,920 hours of usage (aka burning hours) per year.

Based on that chart, fluorescent lights would have dropped to 90% lumens output within just 1 year of usage, while LED would still be maintaining around 98-99% lumens output (up until 15,000 hours, or 5+ years, the output is still above 95%).

LEDs only get to 85% output at around 30,000+ hours, which would be at 10+ years of usage based on the above sample usage timings.

[PKB]

I am still doing homework before I change the tube. That including the color temp. I was wondering what is the best color temp for planted setup and came across some interesting topics.

IMG_0697.PNG

[Urban Aquaria]

Usually when looking at lights to buy, if the manufacturer prints the spectrum chart on the packaging, ie. the spectrum curves peak at the blue and red areas, with abit in the green for balance, that usually indicates its got a good range of the required spectrums. Just select based on how bluish or how reddish/yellowish you prefer the visual color tone of the tank to be.

In the absence of spectrum charts, the next best thing is to just look for the words on the packaging like "designed for growing plants" or "for planted tanks"... at least that indicates the manufacturer most likely arranged the spectrums to be suitable for plant growth.

[PKB]

I change the tubes to 4 X Aquazonic T5 7500k. It mention the lights are for planted setup. But I don't like what I see. The tank don't seems as bright as before and it looks yellowish. I might switch 2 tube back to 12000K and see how it goes.

[Urban Aquaria]

I change the tubes to 4 X Aquazonic T5 7500k. It mention the lights are for planted setup. But I don't like what I see. The tank don't seems as bright as before and it looks yellowish. I might switch 2 tube back to 12000K and see how it goes.

Yeah, usually if you are used to looking at lights which are whiter or more towards the blue spectrum for a long time, when you switch to lights with lower color temperature, it will tend to look yellowish and dimmer (and vice versa). Just have to mix and match the lights to match your preferred light color tone.

I do notice that our eyes can adjust and adapt to different light color tones though, if you look at the new light for a week or two, over time your eyes will get used to it and it'll look "normal" again.

[PKB]

Hopefully my eyes will get use to the 7500k lights soon. I read that 6500k tube is better for plants compare to 12000k lights. I can't find the 6500k tube in Seaview so I bought the Aquazonic 7500K ones, hopefully it will benefit my plants more compare to my old 12000K.

I wonder if the Osram 6500K one will be better compare to Aquazonic 7500K?

Yeah, usually if you are used to looking at lights which are whiter or more towards the blue spectrum for a long time, when you switch to lights with lower color temperature, it will tend to look yellowish and dimmer (and vice versa). Just have to mix and match the lights to match your preferred light color tone.

I do notice that our eyes can adjust and adapt to different light color tones though, if you look at the new light for a week or two, over time your eyes will get used to it and it'll look "normal" again.

[Jimmy]

I change the tubes to 4 X Aquazonic T5 7500k. It mention the lights are for planted setup. But I don't like what I see. The tank don't seems as bright as before and it looks yellowish. I might switch 2 tube back to 12000K and see how it goes.

yup, I did what you wanted to do too. A mixture of 2 tubes of each type. Looks better and think that's more ideal too than all 4 tubes of 7500k.

[Urban Aquaria]

I wonder if the Osram 6500K one will be better compare to Aquazonic 7500K?

Plants can adapt and grow under a range of color temperatures and color spectrum combinations, so i guess you'll just have to try and see which ones look good to you.

[tanchini88]

hi bit off topic here. is it possible to change a T5 fluorescent tube to a T5 LED tube without any modification?

[Urban Aquaria]

hi bit off topic here. is it possible to change a T5 fluorescent tube to a T5 LED tube without any modification?

Possible, you can check at the electrical/lighting shops at Sim Lim Square or Sim Lim Tower, they sell various T5 LED tubes that are designed to retro-fit directly into standard T5 light casings.