Company Must Be Liars

[JenCliBee]

Hey all, just thought someone may be able to help lol

I have a boyu mt40 fish tank as mnay know its planted, i need a replacement bulb ... well dont need one persae but the tank was second hand when i got it and i think it's about time the bulb was changed just incase it's a fair few years old.

Rite then to the strange part..... on there site HERE!! which is the tank in question it says the light is a 18watt bulb, ive checked the bulb etc etc and its one of these types HERE!!#

Strange thing is though no matter where i try the highest watt bulb is 11 watt in this type which is a single bulb... they do the 18watt which is what supposed to be in this tank but its a double tubed bulb.

Anyone know where i can get a replacement? or does it just sound like the company are telling a few porkies with the actual size of tube supplied with these tanks.

What you all think?

jen

 

[three-fingers]

Are you sure that's the kind of bulb you have?

So your tank has an 11w PLS bulb (as featured in the Arcpods), and the website says it should come with a PLL 18w bulb? (the same as the interpet compact T5 bulbs).

Since the tank is second hand so could be years old, maybe the newer models are just upgraded with better lighting?

If it was me, I wuld probably just DIY a better light into it.

But you will probably get along OK with the 11w bulb as long as you stick to easy plants and dont let anything other than moss, java fern and Anubias get too shaded.

I find 11w PLS bulbs to be OK on my 5gal planted as long as I keep trimming. As soon as I let stems like Rotala and hygro get to a decent length, the plants below started to suffer and show some etoliation, which just looked ugly. Adding another 11w PLS bulb solved that though, the whole thing turned into a jungle .

 

[JenCliBee]

Are you sure that's the kind of bulb you have?

So your tank has an 11w PLS bulb (as featured in the Arcpods), and the website says it should come with a PLL 18w bulb? (the same as the interpet compact T5 bulbs).

Since the tank is second hand so could be years old, maybe the newer models are just upgraded with better lighting?

If it was me, I wuld probably just DIY a better light into it.

But you will probably get along OK with the 11w bulb as long as you stick to easy plants and dont let anything other than moss, java fern and Anubias get too shaded.

I find 11w PLS bulbs to be OK on my 5gal planted as long as I keep trimming. As soon as I let stems like Rotala and hygro get to a decent length, the plants below started to suffer and show some etoliation, which just looked ugly. Adding another 11w PLS bulb solved that though, the whole thing turned into a jungle .

Cheers for the reply m8, i know the tank is no longer than 2 years old, the light in it may well be the 11w but the bulb that is in is exactly the same as the link i mentioned above so maybe yes they changed the lighting in the newer versions but on the other hand these tanks are sold as a nano marine tank so the 18watt i would have imagined would have been standard either way.

I wouldnt know where to start to add another light/bulb due to it been a completely enclosed unit and tbh there isnt any room for another bulb anyway.

One thing i am curious of is they do an 18w in the double tube would i be able to just use one of these instead ...i know i could get it to fit... but would the acual light system cope with an 18w bulb if indeed this bulb just happens to be the 11watt

jen

 

[SuperColey1]

Although it is a double turn tube that isn't what is important. The important thing is the number of metal pins on the end. If it is 2 pin or 4 pin:

 

[JenCliBee]

Although it is a double turn tube that isn't what is important. The important thing is the number of metal pins on the end. If it is 2 pin or 4 pin:

It's 2 pin but as you can tell i cant find 2 pin single bulbs larger than 11w, thats why i was asking if i could use the 2 pin double bulb which was 18w on this light system which may or is probably designed for a 11w single bulb.

 

[mike os]

no, if it is a 2 pin connector then only 2 pin lamps will fit, ditto 4 pin

 

[JenCliBee]

no, if it is a 2 pin connector then only 2 pin lamps will fit, ditto 4 pin

??? very confused now lol, yeh i know only 2 pin bulbs will fit but they do a double tubed 2 pin which is 18w i was wondering if i could use the 18w (2 pin/2 bulbed) even tho the light unit was probably built for an 11watt

 

[three-fingers]

I'd say no, it would burn out the ballast .

 

[JenCliBee]

I'd say no, it would burn out the ballast .

I suspected so , well then it may actually give me the reason why the HC isnt grwoing the best then. Will now have to think about rescaping me thinks just make the tank and plants get as much light as possible .

Anyways thanks all for the help

One more thing could HC work under a lower lit tank? like just the 11watt all info about tank and the rest is in the journal on my sig, if not any other carpeting plant which will work better and grow reasonably quick under thses conditions?

jen

 

[Davo86]

This tank is basicly the aquastart 320 just sold under a different name, this tank along with all of the other small aquaone tanks use the 11w bulbs shown in your second link

 

[JenCliBee]

This tank is basicly the aquastart 320 just sold under a different name, this tank along with all of the other small aquaone tanks use the 11w bulbs shown in your second link

yeh maybe but the website has a different bulb fitted ie 18w so as three-fingers said above they must of at some point after these "older ones" were produced they changed the light fittings.

Thanks for the info though davo

jen

 

[Smoothy]

I've got a little confused myself reading this lol

The bulb that you need to replace looks like the 2nd link you gave, 2 pin with the single tube bent round at the end?

And you're asking if it is ok for the 2 pin but with two tubes bent round like this? ... http/www.litecraft.co.uk/Specialist-Ligh...-white-Lamp.asp

I've just bought a Superfish Clip on light for my small tank, it's 18w and the bulb looks the same as the 2nd link you gave (the actual picture of the tube, 1 tube bent round at the end)

You've got me worried that I'll struggle for a replacement now, but I have found a replacement for mine, it's the actual 18w one for a Superfish clip on light like mine ... one up from the bottom.
http/www.b-js.co.uk/acatalog/BJ_s_Pet_Su...erfish_835.html

Would this be any good for your light too?

 

[JenCliBee]

I've got a little confused myself reading this lol

The bulb that you need to replace looks like the 2nd link you gave, 2 pin with the single tube bent round at the end?

And you're asking if it is ok for the 2 pin but with two tubes bent round like this? ... [URL="http/www.litecraft.co.uk/Specialist-Ligh...-white-Lamp.asp"]http/www.litecraft.co.uk/Specialist-Ligh...-white-Lamp.asp[/URL]

I've just bought a Superfish Clip on light for my small tank, it's 18w and the bulb looks the same as the 2nd link you gave (the actual picture of the tube, 1 tube bent round at the end)

You've got me worried that I'll struggle for a replacement now, but I have found a replacement for mine, it's the actual 18w one for a Superfish clip on light like mine ... one up from the bottom.
[URL="http/www.b-js.co.uk/acatalog/BJ_s_Pet_Su...erfish_835.html"]http/www.b-js.co.uk/acatalog/BJ_s_Pet_Su...erfish_835.html[/URL]

Would this be any good for your light too?

If it's 2 pin then yes it would be fine ...but only if i could definitley find out if the light supplied is an 18w or an 11w as three fingers said if i buy a bigger bulb then it may well burn the ballest out but confsuion even more now is that youve found the one im looking for when others have said they only come in 11w lol

cheers for letting us know m8, think im going to have to email the company and find out if the older model tank(if thats what mine is) had a different bulb to the models been produced now lol.

Just curious though, is you light definielty the 2 pin bulb?

 

[Smoothy]

I've got a little confused myself reading this lol

The bulb that you need to replace looks like the 2nd link you gave, 2 pin with the single tube bent round at the end?

And you're asking if it is ok for the 2 pin but with two tubes bent round like this? ... <a href="http/www.litecraft.co.uk/Specialist-Ligh...-white-Lamp.asp" target="_blank">http/www.litecraft.co.uk/Specialist-Ligh...-white-Lamp.asp</a>

I've just bought a Superfish Clip on light for my small tank, it's 18w and the bulb looks the same as the 2nd link you gave (the actual picture of the tube, 1 tube bent round at the end)

You've got me worried that I'll struggle for a replacement now, but I have found a replacement for mine, it's the actual 18w one for a Superfish clip on light like mine ... one up from the bottom.
<a href="http/www.b-js.co.uk/acatalog/BJ_s_Pet_Su...erfish_835.html" target="_blank">http/www.b-js.co.uk/acatalog/BJ_s_Pet_Su...erfish_835.html</a>

Would this be any good for your light too?

If it's 2 pin then yes it would be fine ...but only if i could definitley find out if the light supplied is an 18w or an 11w as three fingers said if i buy a bigger bulb then it may well burn the ballest out but confsuion even more now is that youve found the one im looking for when others have said they only come in 11w lol

cheers for letting us know m8, think im going to have to email the company and find out if the older model tank(if thats what mine is) had a different bulb to the models been produced now lol.

Just curious though, is you light definielty the 2 pin bulb?

Now you've asked that I don't actually know

Apparently the new tube comes with a tool to replace it so I don't think I can even take a look for you without said tool

 

[JenCliBee]

I've got a little confused myself reading this lol

The bulb that you need to replace looks like the 2nd link you gave, 2 pin with the single tube bent round at the end?

And you're asking if it is ok for the 2 pin but with two tubes bent round like this? ... <a href="http/www.litecraft.co.uk/Specialist-Ligh...-white-Lamp.asp" target="_blank">http/www.litecraft.co.uk/Specialist-Ligh...-white-Lamp.asp</a>

I've just bought a Superfish Clip on light for my small tank, it's 18w and the bulb looks the same as the 2nd link you gave (the actual picture of the tube, 1 tube bent round at the end)

You've got me worried that I'll struggle for a replacement now, but I have found a replacement for mine, it's the actual 18w one for a Superfish clip on light like mine ... one up from the bottom.
<a href="http/www.b-js.co.uk/acatalog/BJ_s_Pet_Su...erfish_835.html" target="_blank">http/www.b-js.co.uk/acatalog/BJ_s_Pet_Su...erfish_835.html</a>

Would this be any good for your light too?

If it's 2 pin then yes it would be fine ...but only if i could definitley find out if the light supplied is an 18w or an 11w as three fingers said if i buy a bigger bulb then it may well burn the ballest out but confsuion even more now is that youve found the one im looking for when others have said they only come in 11w lol

cheers for letting us know m8, think im going to have to email the company and find out if the older model tank(if thats what mine is) had a different bulb to the models been produced now lol.

Just curious though, is you light definielty the 2 pin bulb?

Now you've asked that I don't actually know

Apparently the new tube comes with a tool to replace it so I don't think I can even take a look for you without said tool

No worries m8, i think ill just rescape and do the safer option and buy an 11w, just means ill have to rethink the plants to go in lol.

cheers for your help anyways m8

jen