Help Finding A New Tank Light!

[chestnutree]

Hi All, Help please

I've just bought a new fish tank from Aldi. The light on it keeps blowing. i've had 3 lights in 3 weeks. The bulb hasn't gone black, but it won't turn on. Have changed the fuse. It's a sealed unit so the whole light has to be replaced (bulb, light holder, cable and plug), not just the bulb. The last one i had lasted 1 day, as soon as i turned it off it failed to turn back on again.

Aldi have no more left and the support people aren't getting them in for another 10 working days.

Went to local aquatics centre, they haven't seen one like this and said they don't think i will find many shops that will stock it

Please help, if you know where i can buy a light that matches the one below, or a light with holes in the same place that screw into the lid, please let me know! otherwise i can't find one to fit my tank and i don't want to give up the tank for the sake of a light!

Do the fish live ok without any light? i can't remember which sort i have, but they are the hardy ones that im suppose to have for a while as it's a new tank before i get any others.

Also, how long have i got to wait with these fish in the tank before i can buy any others? it's a 54L tank.

Many thanks all.

 

[ellena]

Right, to add a picture, you need the web address of the picture itself, not the page it's on. If you right click a pic and select properties, it should be there. Will end in .jpg or .gif.
Fish are fine without lights, they're only for aesthetics or live plants.
I take it you've bought the tank and put some hardy fish in to start off with? You are doing what's called a fish in cycle. A tank's filter works because bacteria grow in it which 'eat' the fish waste. A new filter has no bacteria and they take time to grow (up to 8 weeks) Meanwhile your fish waste just stays in the water, quickly becoming poisonous to fish. Although the species you have may be hardy, that only means these conditions will take longer to kill them, they will still be affected.
Ideally you need a test kit to monitor waste levels. (API LIQUID master, about £20 on eBay) Failing that you should just do regular water changes. I'd say at least 50% daily for about 4 weeks. How big are the fish and how many are there? What do they look like?

 

[chestnutree]

There we go i was using the wrong url, thanks,lol

Well now the pic is up there, hopefully someone can help find me one?

I've had the fish 2 days now and they still seem happy...hopefully they will last. I've got a picture here, not very good because of the glass, bubbles, light and the fish moving!

They are nearly an inch long. 2 are a light yellow/gold colour. the other 2 are black and silver striped from head to tail.

the 2 stripy ones always follow the yellow one around. The other yellow one is always hiding on his own somewhere!

Is the fish in your pic real? it looks amazing! is that something that i would be able to have in my tank eventually?

 

[chestnutree]

Anyone know where i can get this light please

 

[hamish]

Anyone know where i can get this light please

Hi,
My wife has just bought the same tank from Aldi and guess what? her light packed up after 2 days
She has a phone number for the company who supply Aldi
Pennine Products (Bolton, have address if needed)
Tel 01204 361547
She phoned them this morning and they took her details and they said they will send a replacement out and she should get it within 2 days, I will let youknow how she gets on.
Tis a shame as they are great value for money but useless if you cannot have a light on?
Ideally they should change design of the hood so you can get a more universal light fitting? I will cut the on/off switch off the faulty one and wire a plug directly to see if the fault is in the switch as like yours the tube isn't black anywhere and maybe its the switch?
Cheers
Brian

 

[VaegaVic]

You could always remove the actual light unit all together and replace it with a light "starter pack" which involves basically, 2 ends, a fuse and a bulb.

 

[hamish]

You could always remove the actual light unit all together and replace it with a light "starter pack" which involves basically, 2 ends, a fuse and a bulb.

Hi,
Would do that but the light is a sealed unit with the mountings moulded onto the tube in the middle (2 screws see Chestnuts photo above) and the lid is plastic with mounting holes moulded into it so standard fittings won't work.
Silly design, it sounds like they have been busy sending replacements out as the company didn't seem suprised when we called.
Cheers

 

[chestnutree]

I did call them, and no they didn't seem suprised,lol.

Im quite annoyed though... the reason i was trying to source somewhere else to buy one was because when i called the company on friday, they told me it wasn't due to arrive at their warehouse for 10 working days! And then had to be shipped to my house so would be even longer. She wasn't going to order it until i said well theres nowhere else i can get one so that will have to do!

Im also thinking it may pack up again as it will be my 4th, but kinda hoping it will be from a different batch which will be ok!

No my bulb also wasn't black. As each time.... it was fine until i turned the light off but wouldn't turn back on again.... im thinking it's the starter? I'm guessing it's the same as flourecent lights in houses where they have a seperate starter thing to turn it on? But this can't be gotten to as it's a sealed unit......

As you say, apart from this it's a very good value for money tank! heater and filter work well and the starter/hardy fish are doing great.

Please update this post and let me know how you get on when your new light arrives thanks

(im thinking i may never turn the next light off incase it also doesn't turn back on,lol)

 

[hamish]

Tried cutting the switch off and replacing with just a plug and still no joy so must be the actual tube.
Cheers

 

[Bebobb]

Is the fish in your pic real? it looks amazing! is that something that i would be able to have in my tank eventually?

Yes, that is a betta. They are extreemly easy to keep. The one in his/her picture is most likely ordered off of the internet. Aquabid has as vast variety of bettas for sale, although you are probally going to end up spending $50 with shipping for a betta like that.

 

[chestnutree]

Cool thanks for that, i will look into it in about 8 weeks time if i have a successful cycle

Never realised you could buy online and post fish out? Seems a little strange sending a fish through the post, is that not stressful for them?

 

[chestnutree]

any news hamish?

Anyone come accross where to get them from yet?

 

[hamish]

any news hamish?

Anyone come accross where to get them from yet?

Hi,
No news still waiting for new light to arrive, we contacted them and they said the replacement will be slightly different design and should sort problem
I'll let you know if we get anymore info
Cheers

 

[MrsJackson]

I also purchased one of the Aldi Starter Tanks at the beginning of Jan. Great set for beginners if the light worked huh? I have contacted Penine 4 times now and am still waiting for a replacement. They did send me one, it worked for approx 10 seconds, they sent it from the faulty batch. They seem completely unconcerned that they have all these customers waiting for products that never arrive. I was told 2 weeks ago that I would be sent one by the beginning of last week... nothing. Advised today that they are not expecting delivery until late next week.

Apparently no other light will fit, so we are stuffed, waiting on Penine. I have searched the net for an address for them as none on the instructions, all I can find online is stock list which now seems to have been removed (particular light wasn't even on it!)

If anyone has an address can they please pass it on so I can put in a formal complaint please. I have written to Aldi so will see what their response will be....

 

[hillbilly]

If anyone has an address can they please pass it on so I can put in a formal complaint please. I have written to Aldi so will see what their response will be....

I also bought one of these tanks and the light failed on me too!

After a wait of about a month Pennine supplied another lamp which they say was from a batch they had flown in as the regular supply route was taking too long.
This one lasted less time than the first!!

Am awaiting another, but this one was supplied with a note from their Managing Director, Mark Seddon and the address is:

Yorkshire Leather Co. Ltd t/a Pennine Products
Fold Mill,
Bradley Lane
Little Lever
Bolton BL2 6RR

Cust Ser dept. 01204 368050

Keep us informed how you get on!