Ballast problem with t8 bulb

[Kris182]

So I have been fish keeping for over 10 years, but have had this tank since about 2013.

It's a 29 gallon tank, 36L, 12.5W, 18H.

It has a custom lid I think, with 2 large cutouts and one smaller cutout. I have an aqueon filter in it, the quiet flow 75-90, my fish do well with it, and I have foam on the bottom of the intake tube.

Anyways the hood for the lighting is from 2008, and has stopped working properly. At first I thought the T8 bulb had died, but after replacing it today, I realize that's not the case.

I used to have a custom piece of glass under the the light, but it broke and I never replaced it. I've had issues with glass cuts being inaccurate in the past.

So it's clear I need to replace the hood, but not sure what to use, a regular tank hood with the ballast or replace the entire lid.

This is not something I've ever had to deal with before so please don't rip my head off.

Thanks.

Ps. Sorry about the photos, I will try to fix them.

 

[Aiken Drum]

Or some light fittings like the fluval aquasky are compatible to slot into the T8 fixture, so you wouldn't need to replace the hood.

 

[Kris182]

I think the fixture is shot. I'll take a picture of what it does when the bulb is in and on.

 

[Kris182]

It's the same on both sides.

 

[Aiken Drum]

The aquasky will plug straight into your electrical supply, not through the fixture in the hood. The hood is just there to hold the light fitting, so it doesnt matter if the hood is faulty.

 

[Aiken Drum]

https://youtu.be/rB5lpyh89uU?si=6xipKpmSfKVoFy1Q

4.30 shows what im on about. Its just an adaptor that lets the light fitting fix into a T5/T8 fixture. The light is powered separately, not through the hood.

 

[Andy Sager]

IN picture #3, there's a small rectangular cutout with something that looks dark in color on the top. If that is a starter (https://cdn-tp3.mozu.com/24645-3713...-e89a89408b88?quality=60&_mzcb=_1677685580029 ) you should be able to replace that. If that doesn't solve your problem, at that point I would look into replacing the light. FYI, I have 30 year old light fixtures that still work so almost all of the old ones are fixable.

 

[Kris182]

IN picture #3, there's a small rectangular cutout with something that looks dark in color on the top. If that is a starter (https://cdn-tp3.mozu.com/24645-3713...-e89a89408b88?quality=60&_mzcb=_1677685580029 ) you should be able to replace that. If that doesn't solve your problem, at that point I would look into replacing the light. FYI, I have 30 year old light fixtures that still work so almost all of the old ones are fixable.

Is this what you mean?

 

[Andy Sager]

Is this what you mean?

Yes. That should unscrew with a 1/2 turn and be able to lift out. There are 2 poles that go in the slots then are turned to lock in.

 

[Kris182]

I never realized how difficult it would be to find these in Canada. I can't get a tank hood for my tank, so I think I'm going to wind up getting a new tank in a couple of weeks.

 

[Andy Sager]

I never realized how difficult it would be to find these in Canada. I can't get a tank hood for my tank, so I think I'm going to wind up getting a new tank in a couple of weeks.

You can get starters at Home Depot, Lowes or almost any lighting store or hardware store that sells electrical lighting parts, even in Canada. Then there is always Amazon. All these came up in a quick search I did for FS2 starters in Canada.

 

[Kris182]

Mines an FS 22. Not easy. They have a ton of FS 22 in stock, as well as the 25, but the 22 seems to be in bulk.

I had a hard time tracking down a t8 bulb because as of last month, they're banned in Canada.

 

[Andy Sager]

Mines an FS 22. Not easy. They have a ton of FS 22 in stock, as well as the 25, but the 22 seems to be in bulk.

I had a hard time tracking down a t8 bulb because as of last month, they're banned in Canada.

https://www.amazon.ca/ELECTRIC-FS22-10-22-25W-STARTER/dp/B003ZJ69D0

https://en.lumenco.ca/satco-fs-22.html

 

[Kris182]

https://www.amazon.ca/ELECTRIC-FS22-10-22-25W-STARTER/dp/B003ZJ69D0

https://en.lumenco.ca/satco-fs-22.html

Neither page found.

 

[Andy Sager]

Neither page found.

That's odd because I opened each page to copy the address. ( But I'm in the US. )
Try going to Amazon.ca directly and Lumenco.ca directly and search .

 

[huma-huma]

Since t8s are banned in Canada and the starter doesn't seem to be easily obtainable... if you are decently handy yourself why not just gut the hood and retrofit an led light in?

 

[Kris182]

Since t8s are banned in Canada and the starter doesn't seem to be easily obtainable... if you are decently handy yourself why not just gut the hood and retrofit an led light in?

Unfortunately I'm not very handy. I can't even troubleshoot my cellphone.