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I have CF tube that's been running for about 12 hours a day for 10 months. I've heard that they lose brightness over time. Does anyone know how long it takes for a CF to begin to lose its effectivness? Should I replace the tube I have?

Thanks

Eric

If it is used as a light source in a planted aquarium then it probably should be replaced every 12 months at the maximum as they will loose their effectiveness.

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Water, taken in moderation, cannot hurt anybody. -- Mark Twain

I hear conflicting information on Compact Flourescent (Power Compact) Lighting.

While some people say that they will lose enough light intensity over a period of 12 to 18 months to require a replacement others seem to indicate that this kind of light burns pretty much equally bright until it goes off.

Ingo

Last edited by LITTLE_FISH at 27-Dec-2005 16:21

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Proud Member of the New Jersey Aquatic Gardeners Club

"The Rated Life of a bulb, as supplied by the manufacturer, is an average of how long the bulb will light. About 2% light for 180% of the rated life, about 2% light for 20% of the rated life, though by far the vast majority fall close to the manufacturers' averages. The rated life of most tri-phosphor compact fluorescent bulbs is 8000 to 12000 hours. For an aquarium application, the effective life is usually about 12 to 14 months -- or longer if your total lighting is high relative to the needs of the species in your tank, especially for freshwater setups." - AHSupply.com

So, in a freshwater set-up that has bright lighting with plants, the life of a CF bulb may be more than 14 months. The best way to tell if you need new lights is -

o Your plants decline,

o Your tank is dark

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"To steal ideas from one person is plagiarism; to steal from many is research."
researched from Steven Wright