Change your lights

[ShinySideUp]

A few days ago I was fiddling about in the tank and pressed too hard on one of my four strip lights; almighty bang and a pair of lights went out after I shattered one. Not too much fell in the tank but obviously the light needed replacement. I thought I hadn't changed them in a while so while I was buying one light I might as well change all four.
Ok, they cost me fifteen quid each as being 5ft 80watt lights they are some of the biggest generally available but the difference from the old ones, and I can't stress this enough, is enormous. Everything is brighter, bolder, more 'illuminating' (pun intended) and I have resolved to change the lights every year now regardless of how I think the old ones are perfoming.

Flourescent lights deteriorate over time and you just don't notice until you get new ones.

PS I wonder if LEDs also get dimmer?

 

[**sarahp**]

Funny you should post this, I ordered a new light at the weekend because I thought mine was getting a bit old. It will be interesting to see what a difference it makes,

 

[Wills]

I changed from tubes to LED with a Fluval Aquasky and I have to say I am impressed! The tubes were very old, I didnt mind as I didnt have plants but now the lights are really good, much more atmospheric than the tubes were and the water flickers more in LED than tubes.

Might be worth looking at?

Wills

 

[ShinySideUp]

I changed from tubes to LED with a Fluval Aquasky and I have to say I am impressed! The tubes were very old, I didnt mind as I didnt have plants but now the lights are really good, much more atmospheric than the tubes were and the water flickers more in LED than tubes.

Might be worth looking at?

Wills

Not for another year. Just spent sixty quid on tubes so I'll wait for now.

Before I bought these new tubes I did look at AI Prime HD units but for my tank I would need five of them and at two hundred quid a throw it was a tad more than I could, or wanted to, afford. I did like the feature that allows one to link them all together and change the lighting levels throughout the day to simulate real sunlight. Just too expensive though but eventually they will drop a lot in price and become as cheap as tubes -- I hope.

 

[AbbeysDad]

I had always had fish only tanks with plastic plants, Two (or was it 3) years ago I came across an ad for an LED light for planted tanks that automatically simulated sunrise, midday, sunset, and moonlight. I thought what a cool way to further simulate nature in a natural aquarium. SO I took the plunge and got the 48" Finnex Planted+ 24/7. I planted the tank (low tech) and it looked kinda lame for a while, and there was an initial algae bloom, then the plants started growing well and now it's quite nice....and I quite like the light! I have it running in 24/7 mode on a timer, on at 6am and off at midnight. Nothing beats real plants in the aquarium and the gradient lighting makes it even more surreal.

 

[Byron]

Fluorescent tubes, in T8 or T5, do weaken as they burn. I don't know how much T5 weaken, but T8 (which I still use) should be replaced about every 12 months (1 year). Within the first three months they weaken considerably, and continue from then on. I let mine go on one tank once to see how long, and I found that with the very good tubes like the Hagen Life-Glo, about 14-15 months was it; less expensive tubes deteriorate more rapidly, and 12 months has worked for me. T5 also weakens, but as I said I don't know if it is the same time frame. LED I have no idea about.

 

[Colin_T]

Heat is what causes fluorescent globes to die. If you drill a couple of 6-10mm holes in the light unit above the ends where the fittings are, the heat can come out and the globes last longer.
Having the light units suspended or an inch above the aquarium allows air to circulate around the unit and keeps the globes cooler too.

LEDs are not meant to lose their intensity and should remain viable their entire life. They are a Light Emitting Diode (an electronic component like a resistor) and as such normally last until they short out or melt, and that is quite rare.

 

[**sarahp**]

[QUOTE="Byron, post: 3786742, member: 49218] T5 also weakens, but as I said I don't know if it is the same time frame.[/QUOTE]

Purely anecdotal but I would say about 24 months. That’s how long I had my old one and the new one arrived today so I fitted it this afternoon and the difference is amazing.

However, I should also say that I have not replaced like for like - I have replaced Juwel with Arcadia so that may have something to do with it also.