louis17

Hey guys,

I have had my tank set up for just under a year now and was wondering when I need to change my lights. They seem to be working fine but I had heard they need to be changed after a while no matter what condition and just wanted some more opinions on it. Thanks and Happy New Year all,

Louis

Goldwing_Don

Standard bulbs need changed ever 6 - 8 months...t-5 about ever 12 months

Meenu

why do they need to be changed if they are still functional? and does this apply even if you don't have plants?

David C

Not really as important if you don't have plants, but I change all of mine every year. Slowly over time bulbs will begin to dim so they are no longer giving out the proper amount of light. In SW tanks and freshwater planted tanks where light levels are important, they must be replaced.

Dave

Goldwing_Don

light spectrum can drop off and algae is more likely to grow, if you have Improper or insufficient aquarium lighting can causes fish stress and poor growth....JMHO

Meenu

thanks

louis17

Thanks guys,

I'm imagining I just need to get the same bulbs that came with the tank? Or does it not matter if there a bit different, As long as they fit I suppose that's ok right?
Thanks again

Louis

aquarist48

Good morning. All posts that were here concerning "bike riding" have been moved to a thread of it's own. Hi-jacking someone's thread is not good forum etiquett. These posts have been moved to here:
http://www.fishlore.com/fishforum/li...ke-riding.html
Thanks!
Ken

Hello louis. You can use any type of bulbs that you choose to use as long as they fit your hood. I like to experiment from time to time with different types. I try to find ones that show off the true colors of my fish. (I don't have live plants in my 265g). I change my bulbs every year.
Ken

louis17

Ok thanks Ken,

In that case I think I'll check out a few different types of bulbs.
Thanks again everyone,

Louis

Meenu

I didn't say it before, louis. Excuse my poor manners.

Welcome to Fishlore!

gunner13

Hi louis welcome to FL.
You have a juwel tank which means you should use the juwel bulbs, they have a good range of different lighting types. I see in your info it says they are T-8. The new ones are T-5 and you can upgrade to them which are alot brighter.
Hope this helps, Nick.

louis17

Thanks, you guys have been so helpful. Nick, will the T-5's still fit in my hood as on the Seapets page which I was looking at the only aquariums listed under 'can fitted to' are Lido 120 and Trigon 350 (both Juwel aquariums) and my aquarium is a Rekord.

Cheers, Louis

gunner13

Hi louis, I have a rio 240(juwel), and when you buy the juwel nowa days they come with the new T-5 highlite system. I don't think they fit them on the REKORD as standard but i do know you can upgrade the hood so as to use the T-5s. Here is a link to the juwel web site.
www.juwel-aquarium.com.
Nick

louis17

So would I have to change the hood or is it already able to use them? I have found Juwel
T-5 lights which are the same length as my current T-8's but will they fit in the hood (are they thicker for example). And how much of a difference is there between T-8 and T-5 as the T-5's are £14 more. Sorry for all the questions, just want to get it right and this seems like the best place for advice.

Thanks again, Louis

gunner13

Hi louis, The T-5s are now called highlites(juwel) they give 150% more light than the T-8s. I find they light up my tank alot more. I used to have the rio 125 which had T-8s but the new system is much better. I had a look on the web site(the link i gave you) and it seems they don't do a hood upgrade for the REKORD 60. The new bulbs might not fit,not due to the actual fitting but the length. The rio240 that i have is 4 foot long and the highlite fitting comes as standard now. Use the link i gave you and have a look, i may have missed something.
Nick