My Hagen Glowmat Double Starter Unit

[julsifer]

i could cry right now, so i read a thread on here saying it would be ok to use 25 watt bulbs with the 30 watt hagen double here but its not happening :'( i bought one from ebay (i know i shouldnt but hey)

Just wondered if anyone else had the same problem, i wont be asking for a refund coz obviously i have ot tried it with the appropriate wattage of bulb so am screwed basically, entirely my fault though

 

[Geoff1991]

Nope, sorry you cant use 25 watt bulbs with a 30w ballast. I don't mean to sound mean but i could've told you that before you bought it. Well when i say cant, you can under run ballasts, it doesn't always work as you have found out.
If you can find 30w bulbs the right length then do that, an extra 10w wont hurt as long as your nutrients are appropriate.

Does it just not light or does it flicker? This may be because they bulb isnt drawing enough current and the ballast is constantly restarting thinking the bulb has not lit.

Have you installed the bulb correctly?

Also does it just say 30w or 30w maximum? There's a big difference there.

 

[julsifer]

Nope, sorry you cant use 25 watt bulbs with a 30w ballast. I don't mean to sound mean but i could've told you that before you bought it. Well when i say cant, you can under run ballasts, it doesn't always work as you have found out.
If you can find 30w bulbs the right length then do that, an extra 10w wont hurt as long as your nutrients are appropriate.

Does it just not light or does it flicker? This may be because they bulb isnt drawing enough current and the ballast is constantly restarting thinking the bulb has not lit.

Have you installed the bulb correctly?

Also does it just say 30w or 30w maximum? There's a big difference there.

hi sorry about the wait. no it flickers when i turn it on and off for like a split second so atleast its showing signs of life but its probably the bulbs :'( as it just says 30w.

so now i have no lighting unit i was thinking of getting something like a twin strip light thingy but can these be attached under a hood?

would something like this work or can you recommend anything else?

T8 fluorescent ballast

 

[RadaR]

Are you sure you're putting the correct end caps on the light tubes? I made that mistake once.
25W bulbs do work with 30W starter, but they burn out quicker.

 

[julsifer]

Are you sure you're putting the correct end caps on the light tubes? I made that mistake once.
25W bulbs do work with 30W starter, but they burn out quicker.

yeh i had a 30w light set that my lfs sold me along with a 25w bulb and it did work, but i think these glomats are different, i dunno why.

But anyway i traded the single one for a double one and now i have nothing but as i mentioned thinking about a twin light strip, from a hardware store maybe, just nothing too expensive, just dont know yet. any help appreciated.