Do Actinics wear out?

[ginger7286]

I am just curious, do the actinic lights in a our tanks (T5's) wear out as quickly as the whites? I know they serve a function but do they have the same life times?

Thanks all,

[sirreal63]

They won't wear out per say, but they will lose intensity over time the same as any other bulb. When you change them is a personal thing but I would change them when you change the other bulbs.

[cfredallen]

All flourescent bulbs shift in spectrum as they age and the phosphors burn. I change bulbs every 6 months. The spectrum shifts long before the light output diminishes.