[ctross09]

I change the bulbs each year. The spectrum breaks down from the heat on the coating that is on the inside of the bulbs. How long does that take. No one knows for sure.
I think most change them at one year but of course there are exceptions in both
directions.
Loew's or Home Depot have GE bulbs that are good for plants.
One says "Daylight" on the package and is 6500K.
The other says "Plant/Aquarium" bulb. Careful on this one. They have two of them.
The one I have that works good on plants says on the package that it has enhansed
blue and red spectrums. The other may even be the same bulb in another package
but it doesn't mention the blue/red on the package and I just avoid it.
I mentioned these because they are local and that means no shipping and they are less than pet shop bulbs.

Thanks for the reply. I actually included this same tank in a post about slow/no growth. I am getting new bulbs today- it seems to be the limiting factor.