Do All T5 Tubes Rattle?

[blackers92]

Hi Guys

I have ordered a new twin HO T5 Ballast which should arrive in a few weeks, in the meantime I went to a LFS that had 20% off store wide so I purchased the correct tubes and some flourite gravel. When I got home I noticed the tubes sounded like they have a tiny piece of something that rattles up and down it

Should I be worried and take them back, because my ballast probably wont arrive for 2 weeks which could void the return policy.

Cheers

Adam

 

[Vin Swords]

Do All T5 Tubes Rattle?

no. take it back.

mind if i ask, how much u paid for the t5 unit anyways?

 

[Alasse]

My T5 tubes rattle...and they do work.

But dont take my word for it *L* Especially if you cant return them if they are faulty

 

[Ethan040]

Both of my juwel tubes have done this from new and there fine and my little cory fry tank (T8 i think) does his as well and that's got a juwel light in it.

 

[blackers92]

Vin Swords, the actual T5 HO Ballast cost about $75 and the Power Glo and Life Glo Tubes were $35 Each. I probably could have gotten a cheaper price online but I was a bit skeptical about posting tubes.

Well I took an old T5 out of my study that works and it does the exact same thing which is kind of re assuring, I hope they are alright

thanks for the responses

 

[Mikaila31]

HAHA they are going to rattle. They are mercury containing bulbs. The rattle as far as I know is mercury. Often you can even see the tiny mercury ball if you hold it up to the light. When the light heats up this vaporizes and reforms when it cools down. A florescent bulb like this should almost always rattle. T5, T8, Power compacts, spiral compacts, ect. Not all sound the same, some are much more noticeable then others. I would actually be slightly suspicious of a bulb that doesn't rattle.

 

[Vin Swords]

thanks.. t5 units r too expancive for what they r..
a good 2x54w HO diy unit cost £20 to build.

i never notice any sounds, i have 12 tubes in storage. i checked all... 8 of them rattles.