Bulb Blown - Aquarium Advice

Lindsikins00 · 08-26-2005, 05:15 PM

I have had my corallife [acronym:16933587fe="Power compact fluorescent"]PC[/acronym:16933587fe] lights for 7-8 months (I guess) and I went to turn them on, and one just glowed orange/yellow at the end and made a buzzing noise. They are over the water, but Darin at Captive Reefs( where I bought them from) said that was ok, as many people do that. Is that what [acronym:16933587fe="Power compact fluorescent"]PC[/acronym:16933587fe] lights look like when they blow? I know I needed to change them soon, but I thought they would last longer. I turned the light off, because I didn't want to start a fire. Thanks

Salttanker · 08-26-2005, 05:30 PM

Generally, these bulbs should be changed out every 6 months or so. However, I haven't had one blow out on me though.

Mike

mp3z24 · 08-26-2005, 06:15 PM

i have always read that [acronym:01cf7b0ac6="Power compact fluorescent"]pc[/acronym:01cf7b0ac6] bulbs should be changed every 1 year. not 6 months. also, if you have multiple bulbs, you should only change 1/2 at a time...

maybe im wrong

~mike

Lindsikins00 · 08-26-2005, 06:40 PM

I guess what I'm asking is not when they need to be changed, but I want to make sure the orange glowing and noise is normal for a blown bulb. I will buy another bulb, but I'm more afraid the unit is defected and start a fire, just wanted to know if anyone else has seen this on a blown [acronym:fe0eceb8dc="Power compact fluorescent"]PC[/acronym:fe0eceb8dc] bulb.

**melosu58** · 08-26-2005, 06:42 PM

They need to be changed every 6 months.

Salttanker · 08-26-2005, 08:06 PM

Check your ballast. Perhaps that is where the problem exists. Have you tried to put another bulb in there to see if it does the same thing?

Mike

cmor1701d · 08-27-2005, 11:28 AM

Quote:

They are over the water

Are they directly over the water or do you have them raised an inch or two or is there a glass top under them?
I would guess that you have a blown bulb. If it was the ballast you would probably have smelled smoke and you would not see the glow. You should PM Darin to be sure. He's always been very responsive.

These bulbs do need to be changed every 6 months. At 7-8 months they have aged to point or being great for algae growth.

Lindsikins00 · 08-27-2005, 06:42 PM

Yea, I don't know why I didn't think to try the other bulb.....I guess the bulb burned out because the other bulb works fine in that socket. Will my colt corals, green star and button polyps be ok until a new bulb arrives? That leaves 65 watts for a 29 gallon tank. It probably won't be here till the end of next week. I'm going to order 2 or 3 so I have extra.

08-26-2005, 05:15 PM	#1
Lindsikins00 Aquarium Advice Activist Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Kentucky Posts: 120 Images: 1	Bulb Blown I have had my corallife [acronym:16933587fe="Power compact fluorescent"]PC[/acronym:16933587fe] lights for 7-8 months (I guess) and I went to turn them on, and one just glowed orange/yellow at the end and made a buzzing noise. They are over the water, but Darin at Captive Reefs( where I bought them from) said that was ok, as many people do that. Is that what [acronym:16933587fe="Power compact fluorescent"]PC[/acronym:16933587fe] lights look like when they blow? I know I needed to change them soon, but I thought they would last longer. I turned the light off, because I didn't want to start a fire. Thanks __________________ Go Big Blue!!

08-26-2005, 06:15 PM	#3
mp3z24 Aquarium Advice Freak Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Chicago Suburbs Posts: 317	i have always read that [acronym:01cf7b0ac6="Power compact fluorescent"]pc[/acronym:01cf7b0ac6] bulbs should be changed every 1 year. not 6 months. also, if you have multiple bulbs, you should only change 1/2 at a time... maybe im wrong ~mike __________________ 55gal [acronym="Fish only with live rock"]FOWLR[/acronym], [acronym="Do it yourself"]DIY[/acronym] stand and Hood, AquaC Remora, Coralife Lunar Aqualight (4x65W), 60 LB Hirocks Base Rock, 40 LB [acronym="Live rock"]LR[/acronym] 50/50 Keys/Gulf 150 LB Playsand (~3-4 in [acronym="Deep Sand Bed"]DSB[/acronym]) 2 x Blood Red Fire Shrimp, 2 x Cleaner Shrimp 2 x Black and White Percula Clown, 1 x Orange Spotted Blenny, 1 x Red Stripe High Fin Goby

08-26-2005, 06:40 PM	#4
Lindsikins00 Aquarium Advice Activist Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Kentucky Posts: 120 Images: 1	I guess what I'm asking is not when they need to be changed, but I want to make sure the orange glowing and noise is normal for a blown bulb. I will buy another bulb, but I'm more afraid the unit is defected and start a fire, just wanted to know if anyone else has seen this on a blown [acronym:fe0eceb8dc="Power compact fluorescent"]PC[/acronym:fe0eceb8dc] bulb. __________________ Go Big Blue!!

08-27-2005, 06:42 PM	#8
Lindsikins00 Aquarium Advice Activist Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Kentucky Posts: 120 Images: 1	Yea, I don't know why I didn't think to try the other bulb.....I guess the bulb burned out because the other bulb works fine in that socket. Will my colt corals, green star and button polyps be ok until a new bulb arrives? That leaves 65 watts for a 29 gallon tank. It probably won't be here till the end of next week. I'm going to order 2 or 3 so I have extra. __________________ Go Big Blue!!

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08-26-2005, 05:30 PM	#2
Salttanker Aquarium Advice Addict Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Prosper, TX. Posts: 1,282 Images: 12	Generally, these bulbs should be changed out every 6 months or so. However, I haven't had one blow out on me though. Mike

08-26-2005, 08:06 PM	#6
Salttanker Aquarium Advice Addict Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Prosper, TX. Posts: 1,282 Images: 12	Check your ballast. Perhaps that is where the problem exists. Have you tried to put another bulb in there to see if it does the same thing? Mike

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