Who religously changes their T5 bulbs out?

[Ranchero]

Do you change your bulbs out every 6 months or do you do a few at a time

[syrinx]

On the tanks I care for out of the house, I keep a log and replace bulbs,pumps and heaters on a regular schedule to prevent any possibility of failures. As far as your situation- I would keep a log, and this first time change a couple only. In a month or two change a couple more and so on. Then you can budget for needing 2 bulbs every x months. The log will help you keep track of things.

[rtparty]

If T5 bulbs are cooled there is no need to change them out at 6 months. You can hit 12 months fairly easy and even extend it to 14-15 months on daylight bulbs.

[username in use]

Im at the 18 month mark, and am just ordering some fresh ones now.

[cubsFAN]

I change mine every 12 months. It'll be time come January.

[Mike31154]

I overdrive the two I use (10000K 54 watt T5HO), fan cool the ends and run 'em 'til they burn out.

[chris88]

every 9 months here, all the data i have read shows some pretty big par drops after 7 months. About 30% or more sometimes.

[1morecoral]

I have a 6 bulb fixture. I change mine out every 8-9 months. I change out one bulb every 5 days until all six are changed out so as not to shock the corals.