Lighting Issue

[finalfantay85]

Ok firstly the light on my tank is semi broken, it comes on when it feels like so it's hit and miss. The fish had to spend yesterday in the dark which they didn't seem to like lol. Anyway i've changed the starter in the light but it's not made much difference. The tank is an AquaOne 50 if i remember rightly. So now to my questions...

1)Would it be ok to leave the light on for a few days til i can get a replacement bulb?

2)P@H reckon the bulb i need has been discontinued so does anyone know where i can get a suitable bulb?

 

[Truck]

your fish don't need artificial light, day light is fine, look at the broken tube and tell me how many watts it is, and how many inches is it in diameter (1 inch or less?)

 

[finalfantay85]

There is next to no daylight that gets in the tank cos of the way my room faces.

It's a T4 18W bulb and it's sorta like one bulb but is split into 2 prongs. It's about 6-8 inches i'd say at a guess. The connector is 4 prongs. Hope this helps??

 

[Truck]

is it an elongated U shape?

What tank do you have so I can find out more on the unit?

 

[finalfantay85]

No it's not a U shape it's more like 2 parallel bars that join at the end.

It's an AquaOne 50 from what i remember

 

[Truck]

try www.lampspecs.co.uk they're bound to have one.

 

[finalfantay85]

Thanks for that will have a look now

 

[OldMan47]

It is called a compact fluorescent. There are 4 pin arrangements that have all 4 pins in a line and others that the pins form a box shape. If you get the right pin arrangement and wattage, the new bulb will work, even if that specific tank manufacturer no longer carries them. No tank manufacturer is in the lamp manufacturing business, it is something they buy and put together in their package to make a complete tank.

 

[finalfantay85]

Thanks a lot for that info. All P@H had was either the tube type with the 2 pins or a 4 pin one that was too big. Will have a scout round some other places for the right type.