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Discussions about fluorescent, LED and other types of grow lighting for Venus Flytraps and other plants

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By Bhart90
Posts:  729
Joined:  Mon Sep 07, 2015 1:38 pm
#288613
Curious, do you guys actually replace bulbs on recommended life duration? Do you write it down?

Or do you notice it's time when your turn them on and they are dim.
By Bhart90
Posts:  729
Joined:  Mon Sep 07, 2015 1:38 pm
#288619
My t5s have a "life span"
Don't remember how much, maybe 20k hours?
By SundewWolf
Posts:  2219
Joined:  Fri Mar 08, 2013 2:38 pm
#288636
Yeah the lifespan should be on all the packages I just haven't looked recently or calculated when they will start to loose strength. I've got t5's and CFL's, but the cfls are all mixed up now in a two tier 8-bulb set up, so I might just have to do a complete swap for next winter.
By Bhart90
Posts:  729
Joined:  Mon Sep 07, 2015 1:38 pm
#288639
SundewWolf wrote:Yeah the lifespan should be on all the packages I just haven't looked recently or calculated when they will start to loose strength. I've got t5's and CFL's, but the cfls are all mixed up now in a two tier 8-bulb set up, so I might just have to do a complete swap for next winter.

Thinking the same thing
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By evenwind
Location: 
Posts:  2160
Joined:  Sun Jul 07, 2013 4:16 pm
#288693
I try to always replace on time. To keep it simple, I mark the tubes and the fixture when I first install them. Happily, these Blue Max tubes are rated 34,000 hours, so I've got a bit to go before replacement...
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By Maiden
Posts:  1049
Joined:  Tue Sep 10, 2013 12:46 am
#288848
I change my tubes when they burn. It will lost like 5% of its efficiency each year in normal conditions. So in my opinion, thrashing a still working tube is a waste of money.

These heliamphora were grown in my greenhouse under very old t5s tubes. Around 3+ years old.

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