Is My Fluorescent Broken?

[miniman]

I currently have a sun-glo and aqua-glo on my tank and today I took the lid off with the lights still on. At first I thought the aqua-glo was off but then realised it was just not very bright compared to the sun-glo. Im not sure if this is just becasue of the colour of the light or if the aqua-glo is broken - its not very old at all!

Perhaps someone esle with similar bulbs (most likely the fluval duo too!) could advise ! Im juts not sure now...

 

[bogusmove]

I can't say if your tube has a problem, but Aqua-Glo will look less bright to you. Here is the spectrum for the Aqua-Glo:

It is relatively low output in the green frequencies, which is what your eye is most sensitve to.

Here is your Sun-Glo:

Much more green light, and surrounding frequencies.

 

[miniman]

they are very interesting- thanks for posting them

The same bulb is now starting to be temperamental in starting aswell (just what you need when you have your first new fish in the tank - trying not to stress them out with a stobe light show! ) - I have another on order as I was planning on replacing the sun-glo with another aqua glo to assist the plants and as I prefer the less yellow colour, so i can see whether they look any different when it turns up!

 

[loachman]

I currently have a sun-glo and aqua-glo on my tank and today I took the lid off with the lights still on. At first I thought the aqua-glo was off but then realised it was just not very bright compared to the sun-glo. Im not sure if this is just becasue of the colour of the light or if the aqua-glo is broken - its not very old at all!

Perhaps someone esle with similar bulbs (most likely the fluval duo too!) could advise ! Im juts not sure now...

It may be that they are just different colors, which the previous poster suggested.

You may also want to try flipping the bulb over. If you put fluorescent bulbs in backwards they will typically function, but will either be less bright or "flicker."

 

[bogusmove]

another aqua glo to assist the plants and as I prefer the less yellow colour

You might find 2 Aqua-Glo's to be a bit dim, but you'll just have to try it and see. If your priority is plant growing then I think that should certainly work for you.

If you put fluorescent bulbs in backwards they will typically function, but will either be less bright or "flicker."

Errr. How do you put a fluorescent in backwards?