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I was told that after about a year the type of light from your tube changes and starts to encourage unwanted algae growth. I kept an eye on this and bless my soul that's exactly what happened. New tube no worries.

soooooh...

Who does what:

a) change a tube when it goes bung

b) changes regularly



~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
~~~ My fish blow kisses at me all day long ~~~

wish-ga

My tubes both Sera I was told to change it after two years.
It all depends on the tubes. The cheapies can loose their useage under 12months.

I think you will find many will argue about this and only change when they go bung. If not using live plants some will just wait where as some will change their tubes regually.

Keith

Last edited by keithgh at 20-Mar-2005 21:41

Near enough is not good enough, therefore good enough is not near enough, and only your best will do.
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I change mine usually once a year or so

I just read that also when I got my new tank and was installing the lighting...Now that I think about it, it really makes sense, as to why I'm now growing algae in the 55 gallon, and why I have algae on the plexiglass hood between the light and tank on the 29:%)guess it's time to change the lightsheidi

"I've got a great ambition to die of exhaustion rather than boredom." Thomas Carlyle

Hi,
I change my compact flourscents every year. As the lights
age, they decrease in output, and in parts of the spectrum
that they emit. This change can, in some cases, encourage
algae growth.

If you have more than one bulb, there are two schools of
thought to the changing process. Some change one bulb,
and then 1 month to 6 months later change the other.
They claim that as the bulb decays & grows dim, that if
you change them all at once it is like stepping from a
dark cave into the bright sunlight, and "things" (plants,
fish, etc) need to adjust rapidly. Indeed, in some cases
if the difference is great enough, the fish will hide
under plants for a while, crypts, may melt, and so on.

Others pick a date, for instance their birthday or
Christmas day, and change the bulbs each year on that date.

Either way, flourscents, of any type, should be changed
annually.

PS. There are those who also run them till they won't light
any more and then change them.
Its your option.

Frank

-->>> The Confidence of Amateurs, is the Envy of Professionals <<<--

Great post Frank. The 1st para is a great explanation of why the light output changes (I didn't have the words to put it in my original post)

Having seen the proof that the output affects the algae in the tank I have been converted to the 'regular change' school of thought.

Last edited by wish-ga at 20-Mar-2005 21:13

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
~~~ My fish blow kisses at me all day long ~~~

btw you can write the date on them with a permanent pen. I have done that near the writing that is stamped on by manufacturer. Then you will always know when you put that tube in. (as mentioned above using a date near birthday or event is another good idea but if you have quite a few to do you may have to fork out all at once...not a good birthday present. I know about this sort of thing my car comprehensive insurance is due near my b'day...rats!)

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
~~~ My fish blow kisses at me all day long ~~~

wish-ga

Put a tag like small key tag on to the power cord easy to see and easy to remember.

Keith

Near enough is not good enough, therefore good enough is not near enough, and only your best will do.
I VOTE DO YOU if not WHY NOT?
VOTE NOW VOTE NOW