Are broken compact fluorescent bulbs harmful? - Aquarium Advice

Talon242 · 11-20-2005, 01:04 AM

I just ordered a new bulb and it arrived broken. I'm wondering if they are harmful? I think I'm gonna put it in the garage for now just in case.

travis simonson · 11-20-2005, 10:00 AM

Nothing to worry about other than the sharp broken glass. Any gas inside the bulb has long since escaped. Sorry to hear you got a broken bulb

Talon242 · 11-20-2005, 03:41 PM

Okay thats good to know. It's okay I emailed the sender.

malkore · 11-21-2005, 01:32 AM

if its shattered, no good reason to keep it.

MikeyB · 12-09-2005, 11:11 AM

fluorescent bulbs contain mercury. At my work we have special drums we store all are old bulbs in till some one comes to recycle them. Well here is some info on the bulbs.

http://www.worldwise.com/recfluorlig.html

azn_fishy55 · 12-09-2005, 01:45 PM

I thought flourescent bulbs hold plasma which give off a brighter light?

BlazerFRS · 12-09-2005, 08:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by azn_fishy55

I thought flourescent bulbs hold plasma which give off a brighter light?

Nope- Not any that I know of anyway. Most hold a combo of argon and mercury gasses. When electricity is pass through these they produce ultraviolet light, which strike phosphors on the glass of the lamp. These phosphors use the ultraviolet light to make 'white' light.

BlazerFRS · 12-09-2005, 08:43 PM

On an OT note:

Actually, you are partially right azn_fishy55; after some more research I have found that flourecent bulbs can create plasma-any flourecent fixture that uses a starter switch will generate some plasma when the bulb fires up initially.

http://home.howstuffworks.com/fluorescent-lamp4.htm

Found it on how stuff works

11-20-2005, 10:00 AM	#2
travis simonson Hortipath Moderator Emeritus Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Englewood, CO Posts: 2,038 Images: 32	Nothing to worry about other than the sharp broken glass. Any gas inside the bulb has long since escaped. Sorry to hear you got a broken bulb __________________ “There is something in the quality of a good translation that can never be captured in the original.” -William Gibson

11-21-2005, 01:32 AM	#4
malkore Aquarium Advice Addict Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Nebraska, USA Posts: 6,540	if its shattered, no good reason to keep it. __________________ Visit my aquarium pages - see specs on my tanks, and photos of how they've evolved My other passion: TheNinja 500R - updated 9/18/05

12-09-2005, 01:45 PM	#6
azn_fishy55 Aquarium Advice FINatic Join Date: May 2005 Location: Sunnyvale,California Posts: 687 Images: 6	I thought flourescent bulbs hold plasma which give off a brighter light? __________________ =] ~:Andrew:~ [=

12-09-2005, 08:43 PM	#8
BlazerFRS Aquarium Advice Freak Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Rochester, NY Posts: 320 Images: 4	On an OT note: Actually, you are partially right azn_fishy55; after some more research I have found that flourecent bulbs can create plasma-any flourecent fixture that uses a starter switch will generate some plasma when the bulb fires up initially. http://home.howstuffworks.com/fluorescent-lamp4.htm Found it on how stuff works __________________ 10 gallon 2.6 [acronym="Watts Per Gallon"]WPG[/acronym], [acronym="Carbon dioxide"]CO2[/acronym] supplemented. 3 Dwarf Puffers, 3 Ghost Shrimp, 3 Otos Planted with Java Fern, C. retrospiralis, Java moss, chistmas moss, L. repens, R. rotundifolia, Wisteria, C. wendtii, C. lucen, S. subulata, M. heterophyllum, C. carolina

Thread Tools	Search this Thread
Show Printable Version Email this Page	Search this Thread: Advanced Search
Display Modes
Linear Mode Switch to Hybrid Mode Switch to Threaded Mode

12-09-2005, 11:11 AM	#5
MikeyB Aquarium Advice Regular Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Titusville FL Posts: 89 Images: 25	fluorescent bulbs contain mercury. At my work we have special drums we store all are old bulbs in till some one comes to recycle them. Well here is some info on the bulbs. http://www.worldwise.com/recfluorlig.html

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
FS: 4 Used 65wt Compact Fluorescent Bulbs	evercl92	Classifieds	2	08-03-2007 08:33 PM
Compact Fluorescent DYI	pairustwo	DIY Projects	13	02-25-2007 08:52 AM
Compact fluorescent light bulbs	An t-iasg	General Hardware/Equipment Discussion	3	04-06-2005 04:18 PM
Compact Fluorescent Light...	eykis9	General Hardware/Equipment Discussion	4	06-25-2004 01:16 PM
Compact Fluorescent Lights	rossmort	General Hardware/Equipment Discussion	2	09-17-2003 11:17 PM