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hello

Just wondering what the general advice is for replacing equipment such as light bulbs and heaters. Is once a year a good time frame? Are there any tell tail signs that they are on the way out?

Tanks for your help!

I always have a brand new spare heater in the house, just in case i lost a heater and the store was closed or something, but i dont think you need to change them until there bad. As far as light bulbs probley a good idea to change them once a year.

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Heaters don't need replaced unless they break and quit working. Normal fluorescents(the long straight tubes) start to wear out after 6months. After 6months any plants you have might not grow as well and you could get more algae. If you don't have plants and see no algae problems once a year is good. For compact fluorescents(screw in or bent tube) they don't really need replaced until they burn out since they don't slowly degrade like normal fluorescents.

With bulbs/special Aquarium tubes It will depend on their brand name (quality) from several months to two years. I replace my Sera tubes avery two years. Heaters always carry a spare, and replace it when necessary.
It is same with most filter material never replace it just top it up or replace a small percentage of it as required.

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Keith

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I've been getting a bit more algae than usual in one of my tanks so maybe the lights need replacing and I'll probably buy a spare heater while I'm there!

Thanks guys - that's great!