Aquarium lighting

[DaveAndLiz]

The light in our aquarium stopped working a few days ago, thinking it was just the fluorescent tube i bought a new one! However the bulb is now flickering very badly.
I was concerned that this may scare the fish so i have had to switch the light off while i figure out what the problem is.

Any ideas what may be wrong with the light? And will the fish be ok with no lighting in the meantime and for how long?

 

[Jchillin]

Are you hearing a buzzing sound coming from the ballast? It sounds like the ballast needs replacement.

 

[greenmaji]

The flickering alone tells me the ballast has gone bad. It will need replaced. What size is it so I can fetch a link to show you what the replacement ballast should look like.
In other words how long is it and what wattage tube(s) does it take?

 

[amitnarain]

check that everything is screwed tightly. loose things may cause flickering... i also got that prob;em once and tightened everything

 

[greenmaji]

check that everything is screwed tightly. loose things may cause flickering... i also got that prob;em once and tightened everything

are you talking about fluorescent bulbs? what the heck is there to tighten?
maybe with incandesents you can tighten in a bulb but not with a fluorescent tube.. if its flickering your ballast is going bad and will burn out new bulbs far before they should go bad..

 

[Felf]

i think he means loose as in the bulb isnt sitting in properly in the fixture because the contacts arent where they're supposed to be so spinning the bulb until it's tight means that the contacts are touching and in place

 

[greenmaji]

If a fluorescent bulb isnt on the contacts like it should be it shouldnt light up at all..

 

[greenmaji]

btw. Im not saying it never hurts to make sure things are put together correctly.. Im just saying the flickering bulb is a definate sign of a bad ballast..

 

[DaveAndLiz]

Thanks for all your help! I thought it may be sitting loose but i have tightened it so much i'm not sure i will be able to take it out

The tube is 15w and 18" long! Is it fairly easy to get a replacement ballast? how easy are they to fit?

 

[greenmaji]

http://www.prolighting.com/1f2f1f1maba1.html
HD and lowes sell an electronic ballast for around 8 dollars.. 1-2 F32T8 is what there rated. The ballast is normaly behind the reflector in the strip.. It would need to be taken apart and the new ballast wired in were the old one is.

 

[aqh88]

Did you put in a T12 or T10 bulb? If your ballast is for a T8 putting in a T12 which are quite frequently sold for aquariums will cause flickering and then blow the ballast. If I was replacing a ballast I'd try to find a T12 so I could use practically any bulb without blowing it. The link greenmagi had is a t12 ballast the one mentioned at hd would be t8.

 

[greenmaji]

I would just use both leads on the bulb.. unless you cant use the extra 50% lighting with little to no extra heat..