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Post by ontariotraps on Sept 12, 2014 23:53:08 GMT -5
Can florecent lights go bad if sitting on a shelf in the store, I just went & got new bulbs for my t5HO fixture & they don't seem as bright as the old ones I took out & there the same brand & colour temp 6400k?
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Post by ng on Sept 13, 2014 0:19:37 GMT -5
No, they don't go bad unless fired/used. They do loose lumen output over the life of the bulb when used though.
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Post by paulkoop on Sept 13, 2014 2:20:55 GMT -5
Yah but the lumen lose over time u cant realy tell. Untill u put a new tube in:p.
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Post by ontariotraps on Sept 13, 2014 13:20:17 GMT -5
Ya so they lose if used........ but what if they were sitting on a shelf for 2 years before I bought them would they lose the strength ?
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Post by ng on Sept 13, 2014 13:36:44 GMT -5
No, they don't go bad unless fired/used. They do loose lumen output over the life of the bulb when used though. ... Am I talkin' to a wall here rofl
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Post by paulkoop on Sept 13, 2014 15:30:39 GMT -5
"Hey guys whats wrong with ng ? Why is he talking to a wall"." I dunno man he seems a little weird"..."i know rightttt"
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Post by ng on Sept 13, 2014 15:52:34 GMT -5
A little weird! I'm all the way buddy! Gahhhhh gahhh gazoeeeeeee!
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Post by lloyd on Sept 13, 2014 16:03:40 GMT -5
I test my T5HO's with a PAR meter.
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Post by paulkoop on Sept 13, 2014 16:13:12 GMT -5
Guess its pretty weird typing a fake conversation with my self ...but
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Post by Maiden on Sept 13, 2014 16:53:44 GMT -5
I test my T5HO's with a PAR meter. Did you notice any drop of light strengh after a year or so? Some of my tubes have 20+ months old and my plants have still the same deep red coloration on the leaves. Edit: this is a post i found last week on a reef forum: " All T5 tubes are trisphosphur and run on electronic ballasts. This gives them very low lumen depreciation rates. Whilst their lifespan generally ranges between 15,000 to 45,000 hours depending on manufacturer, the loss of efficacy (ie, lumens per watt) after 15,000 hours is usually around 4-5% for most of the reputable tube manufactuers. In fact even after 25,000 hours the lumen depraciation is often in the order of just 5-7%. This means that there is barely any benefit in changing your tubes before 15,000 hours or around 4 years of planted aquarium use. In fact, most of the studies and literature I have seen from the likes of Philips, Osram, GE and others suggests that you could easily run them for 25,000 with only 5-7% lumen depreciation. " Not so bad !
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Post by lloyd on Sept 13, 2014 18:33:22 GMT -5
I did notice that the older tubes were significantly less on the PAR meter after a couple of years. I haven't checked recently. The succulents are still growing really well so they are still bright enough.
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Post by ontariotraps on Sept 14, 2014 14:25:34 GMT -5
I just bought 4 bulbs last week & replaced the ones I was using the new ones don't seem as bright as the ones I took out , but there both same brand & kelvin that's why I was wondering if there is a shelf expiry date...... That's all. I also did the BERRY RICE light intensity check & I'm getting 500%
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Post by ontariotraps on Sept 14, 2014 14:55:12 GMT -5
Maiden how close are your plants to the lights ?
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Post by ontariotraps on Sept 14, 2014 15:00:06 GMT -5
Thanks to all that have replied & had to reply more then once ! Sorry NG plant for no noticing your post & you repeating yourself......
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Post by ng on Sept 14, 2014 16:13:15 GMT -5
Oh, dont sweat it!
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