What to do with old T-5 bulbs?

[MrX]

So I just replaced the six T-5 bulbs in my RSM C-250 with some new ATI bulbs; the 'old' ones were used about 10hrs per day since May 2014.

Other than properly recycling them, do they have any use to others? Fish-only setups, work benches, etc.?

What do you all do with your 'old' lights? Seems a shame to just recycle them because the spectrum is 'off' for corals.

 

[this is me]

Depending on the length and the color temperature of the bulb, you can use them for lighting refugium. Or work bench like you said. But we go through these bulbs enough that they have to be recycled. Can't keep collecting them lol.

 

[dz6t]

T-5 bulbs can last at least a year to 1.5 years. Then you can recycle them.

 

[jdeb101]

This may be a dumb question... but can we just throw these into our recycle bins to recycle?

 

[dz6t]

No you cant, you need to bring them to the town.

 

[GobyWanKenobie]

Ace Hardware will take them, and I think Lowes does too. You can also check Home Depot, but I think they will only take the sizes they sell.

 

[MrX]

T-5 bulbs can last at least a year to 1.5 years. Then you can recycle them.

Dong, do you mean they last that long for general use, or over our reefs? I've had people tell me change them after 6 months, others said a year. Things were starting to look a little off in my tank (colors, algae, etc.), so I bought new ones.

Ace Hardware will take them, and I think Lowes does too. You can also check Home Depot, but I think they will only take the sizes they sell.

I tried to recycle them at Home Depot last night and the girl told me they only recycle the CFL-type bulbs.

 

[GobyWanKenobie]

Yeah, Home Depot is not that accommodating anymore. I take mine to the ACE Hardware store. So far, they have taken everything from compact fluorescents to T'5s. Occasionally our town will do a bulb recyle day, but you have to wait in line for hours until the guy with the hazmat suit takes them out of your car for you.

 

[dz6t]

Dong, do you mean they last that long for general use, or over our reefs? I've had people tell me change them after 6 months, others said a year. Things were starting to look a little off in my tank (colors, algae, etc.), so I bought new ones..

Over our reef.

 

[mnavick]

Most fluorescents have a small hole near the contact (s) to purge the gas. Some the size of an end of a paper clip others a common nail. A small tap and you'll hear the gas escaping. Then just hit the far end with a hammer and you can break it down to scrap

 

[Phinfan]

Don't flourescent bulbs contain Mercury? That is the last thing you want to do is break them.

 

[choff]

Don't flourescent bulbs contain Mercury? That is the last thing you want to do is break them.

Yes, they contain mercury vapor and it would be foolish to dispose of these as recommended above.

 

[Marshall O]

I was hoping that was a joke...

 

[toddhgr]

They can be used to grow plants still............ Ya know, tomatoes and such....

 

[JasonandSarah]

You could recycle them to me so I can get another 6+ months out of them? They should be good for up to a year so if I was you if put them back up and put the new ones away for a few more months. Unless you made some bulb spectrum changes?

 

[jamesdong009]

Unfortunately my shop lights are T12's, otherwise I would use them until they burnt out.. I just recycled around 15 T5 bulbs with various sizes at Lowe's.

 

[MrX]

You could recycle them to me so I can get another 6+ months out of them? They should be good for up to a year so if I was you if put them back up and put the new ones away for a few more months. Unless you made some bulb spectrum changes?

I am using new/different bulbs, so I'm sure the spectrum changed, but that's not why I got new bulbs. I thought 7 months was pushing it for the life-span based on what I'd heard. Guess I will swap them back for another 4-5 months and hold on to the new ones.

 

[PSU4ME]

Maybe it would be a good thing to do at club meetings, everyone bring old bulbs with month usage on it. People take what they want, the rest get recycled?

 

[P-Nut]

my T5HO always burnout at around 10-11 months. I use ATI --- But soon switching to MH only

 

[reefstarter]

Maybe it would be a good thing to do at club meetings, everyone bring old bulbs with month usage on it. People take what they want, the rest get recycled?

good Idea