Life span of Radiums and T5s

[skip0211]

I have 3 400 watt 20k se radiums on my 265 gal SPS tank.. they are new to me and I’m wondering what the avg life span is... also have 8-80 watt T5s.. same question.. thanks in advance for you pr responses..

[takayan]

I usually replaced for both bulbs every year.

[ReefCowboy]

10 months to a year is safe to replace the MH's. T5's 10 months

[five.five-six]

Depends on how many hrs a day you run them but 9 months on teh T-5’s 13 months on the radiums.

It’s not like things are goign to die at 11 months on the T-5’s or 14 months on the radiums, it’s just that it will be more of a shock when you do replace them with newer brighter lamps.

[alton]

I did not have 400w, but on my 250w it was 16 to 18 months average. The longest being 24 months, the shortest 12 months. I checked them monthly with a Par meter and changed when they dropped 10%. They ran on electronic ballast. Without a meter you are guessing because friends/fellow reefers, including myself could not tell the difference between a new lamp and the 24 month old one. On the T5's I could never get one to last past 12 months, most of the time it was less, and why I switched to LED.

[biecacka]

agreed, should be able to get a year minimum on the radium

corey