Light Bulb Problem?

[lil-x-me...x]

Hiya,

i have had my little 38 ltr hex aquarium for about 3 years now, no problems so far...however the light bulb that it came with has run out...lasted a while so im pleased...but we ordeard the same bulb (a fish r fun one) and its ok for about 30 mins and then goes dull and then light and then dull and its annoying! plus the fish must find it annoying too so i took it out put in back in the box and am sending it back. i have done my reserch...as usuall and i have found that 2 other people have had the same problem due to the tank!?

whats going on?

thanks x

 

[Truck]

does it have a starter? it might need replacing

 

[lil-x-me...x]

A starter?

 

[Truck]

its the internals of the light fittin, its like a giant battery (visually)

 

[lil-x-me...x]

Erm...do they all have one? my light bulb is fitted into the hood? does that make a difference? ???

i havent come across one, where abouts would it be?

 

[Truck]

its inside the hood, if you take a look at the insides you will see it, it is cylindrical.

 

[lil-x-me...x]

oh, ok thanks truck x

ill go and have a look now and let you now.

however when i find it what do i do then? shall i not wait untill we get another bulb, see if it was the bulb before any other conclusions?

thanks x

 

[Truck]

when the bulb flickers, it is normally the starter, wait for the new bulb then procede

 

[lil-x-me...x]

had a look and it doesnt seem to have one ??? what do i do nown if the next lightbulb doesnt work? ???

 

[onebto]

If its a LIGHT BULB then it would be the first one EVER I have heard of that has a starter and ballast to run it

Bulbs by design run direct from a power source so if its running then lowering in brightness it is a reduction in supplied voltage after a while probably a degradation in a peace of hardware like a switch or wire or the bulb is defective.

How ever if it is a tube and not a bulb then ignore everything I say

Its just you used the word BULB ?

If its a tube then truck is on the write track probably the starter or ballast and of note some tube systems I have worked on (non Aquarium) do not have a starter the electronic ballast deals with the job of the starter but being 3 years old I doubt this is the case.

 

[OldMan47]

Most modern fluorescent hoods do not use a starter, they use a ballast that has a starter feature to it instead. If you have a ballast that has degraded, it will be a box shaped thing in the hood and probably hidden from view behind a reflector, then replacing the ballast is about all you can do to deal with it. New ballasts can be had at home improvement centers in the US but I don't know where I would look in the UK.

 

[Rooster]

Sounds like a flourescent to me ! although a picture would sort this....