T5 lifespan?

plancton · 07/25/2009, 03:08 PM

What´s the lifespan of ATI t5 bulbs?, I have a DIY cannopy with no ventilation, it puts to much heat on the tank cuz its so close to the water, 3 of this bulbs are driven by ICECAP ballast 6.5 hours a day, and the rest are driven 10 hours a day by cheap mexican ballasts that do not seem to overdrive the bulbs and seem pretty much ok(very stable, no flickering,etc.).

But right now I´m using JBL bulbs which seem to last for 6 months, don´t know if it has to do with the lack of ventilation, each bulbs is 80 watts.

I´m modifying the canopy to add vents. If I do that and add ATI bulbs what usable lifespan will I get (meaning corals won´t develop brown polyps after 6 months, like its happening right now)

07/25/2009, 03:08 PM	#1
plancton Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Mexico Posts: 1,866	T5 lifespan? What´s the lifespan of ATI t5 bulbs?, I have a DIY cannopy with no ventilation, it puts to much heat on the tank cuz its so close to the water, 3 of this bulbs are driven by ICECAP ballast 6.5 hours a day, and the rest are driven 10 hours a day by cheap mexican ballasts that do not seem to overdrive the bulbs and seem pretty much ok(very stable, no flickering,etc.). But right now I´m using JBL bulbs which seem to last for 6 months, don´t know if it has to do with the lack of ventilation, each bulbs is 80 watts. I´m modifying the canopy to add vents. If I do that and add ATI bulbs what usable lifespan will I get (meaning corals won´t develop brown polyps after 6 months, like its happening right now)