T5 Bulbs, do t hey go bad?

2 years with good results for my clones now they arn't doing very good. By the time I get roots the cutting is all brown. This winter I added a heat pad could that be the problem? I use a humidity dome and rapid rooters. Should I use nutes and if so what PPM's should I be at. I use Super Thrive an B1

Are my Bulbs bad?

Thanks guys this is the best site ever.
PEACE

superthrive is b1....

why dont you go back and see what changed between now, and when you were having success, and go back to your old method?

yes just like all bulbs they sould be replaced every year or sooner. i have a link for some very cheap bulbs if you would like it

on what basis do you make that statement, lowdime?

cloning does not even require t5's.. u can clone quite successfully under t8's, i do it all the time.
ive had the same lamps in my fixture now for.. let me think... 3 years. they still work just fine.

i have a t5 ho i was told by the company that for better results to change your bulbs every year or sooner. i have only used mine for veg and clones and i always see diff every time i change mine. and for a 8 pack of 4f shipped for like 70 bucks i dont mind it

so the salesmen told you, you need to buy new lamps every year huh?
did he tell you why?
do you own a light meter?

it could save you 100's on lamps...

no light meter but you have free electric???????

i see no diff if a salesman told me or i seen it on here.. i used to grow with a hps and i always change my bulb every two grows its just like my system i always change parts etc, pumps ever so often. ur saving money buy growing so why not keep your stuff up to par imo

no, i am a professional electrical kind of person and offer free advice during my spare time.

no excuse for burning your house down

IAm5toned said:

no, i am a professional electrical kind of person and offer free advice during my spare time.

Click to expand...

Been using the same 15 T5 bulbs on my fixture for about 2 and a half years now. I see no difference in inter node length, time of growth, etc...

huh......? u mean the salesman was wrong?

well doggone it

IAm5toned said:

superthrive is b1....

why dont you go back and see what changed between now, and when you were having success, and go back to your old method?

Click to expand...

I agree. My money would be on the heating pad that was added.

Wet

T5's are usually rated at 20,000 hrs or 2.5years at 20 hrs a day. They get brighter as temps climb to 95f. At $3.10 each from 1000bulbs.com replacement should not be delayed past rated life.