Flora Sun bulb useful life

**gheitman** · 09-25-2009, 03:48 PM

I currently use the Zoo Med Flora Sun bulbs on my planted tanks that don't require a lot of light and just have the normal fluorescent fixtures. I've been happy with the results so far but want to know how long the bulbs are good for. I've had mine for a year now and Zoo Med claims that they are good for 10,000 hours which would mean about 2 3/4 years when turned on 10 hours a day. Does anyone out there have any personal experience with these and can tell me when they should be replaced?

eiginh · 09-29-2009, 10:40 PM

I read on different forums for regular flourescent lights only last 1 year. You can still use it to light your tank but I don't think the plants will nourish after that 1 year period. I would post where I got that from but I forgot where it's located and I didn't cite the sources so It may be wrong.

**legomaniac89** · 09-29-2009, 10:48 PM

Mine seems to lose a lot of their intensity after about 8 months. After that, algae seems to set in.

**gheitman** · 09-30-2009, 02:49 AM

I plan on getting new ones. I contacted Zoo Med and they recommended replacing them after a year as well.

09-25-2009, 03:48 PM	#1 (permalink)
gheitman Planted Member (View User Tanks) PTrader: (6/100%) Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Champaign, Illinois Posts: 197	Flora Sun bulb useful life I currently use the Zoo Med Flora Sun bulbs on my planted tanks that don't require a lot of light and just have the normal fluorescent fixtures. I've been happy with the results so far but want to know how long the bulbs are good for. I've had mine for a year now and Zoo Med claims that they are good for 10,000 hours which would mean about 2 3/4 years when turned on 10 hours a day. Does anyone out there have any personal experience with these and can tell me when they should be replaced? __________________ Gene Heitman 12 tanks, 201 gallons, 20+ species of fish/shrimp/snails, 52+ species of plants ... 9 years ago I just wanted 1 tank with some fish - what was I thinking

09-29-2009, 10:48 PM	#3 (permalink)
legomaniac89 Planted Tank Guru (View User Tanks) PTrader: (49/100%) Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Elkhart, IN Posts: 2,578	Mine seems to lose a lot of their intensity after about 8 months. After that, algae seems to set in. __________________ Proud Member of the Michiana Aquarium Society 20g long rescape --- Low Tech 20H --- Cacti and Succulents + Orchids 10G Carnivorous Plants Terrarium --- Emersed Cryptocoryne Setups

09-30-2009, 02:49 AM	#4 (permalink)
gheitman Planted Member (View User Tanks) PTrader: (6/100%) Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Champaign, Illinois Posts: 197	I plan on getting new ones. I contacted Zoo Med and they recommended replacing them after a year as well. __________________ Gene Heitman 12 tanks, 201 gallons, 20+ species of fish/shrimp/snails, 52+ species of plants ... 9 years ago I just wanted 1 tank with some fish - what was I thinking

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09-29-2009, 10:40 PM	#2 (permalink)
eiginh Algae Grower (View User Tanks) PTrader: (0/0%) Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: SoCal, USA Posts: 86	I read on different forums for regular flourescent lights only last 1 year. You can still use it to light your tank but I don't think the plants will nourish after that 1 year period. I would post where I got that from but I forgot where it's located and I didn't cite the sources so It may be wrong.

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