One Reason Not To Keep A 12" Plec

[LiveYourLife]

So, was re-scaping my tank ten minutes ago, when I had went to submerge a plant in the substrate and touched the Plec's tail ever so slightly and he absolutely freaked. Swam at speed at the surface of the water and suddenly flicked his tail to go back down vertically, but in the process he smacked his tail off of the light unit. Went to switch back on the lights and.....they flickered once and nothing. They wont come on. Neither of the two bulbs will come on, and he would have only managed to hit the one nearest the back. Iv tried tightening the connector etc but they still just flicker once and go off. I thought he had cracked the bulb but seen as both bulbs are doing the same Im wondering if he's knackered the unit? Soo annoyed as the unit was only bought last month and its a T5 unit.
Any suggestions?

 

[always4lora]

i've got dual light controller for t5's i had one faulty bulb and niehter would come on . replaced the one bulb and it works fine . Replace the one bulb and you should be fine

 

[LiveYourLife]

I wasnt sure if that was the case, just seemed a bit weird that they both flicker the same.

 

[Truck]

I wasnt sure if that was the case, just seemed a bit weird that they both flicker the same.

you ballast is buggered if thats the case

 

[LiveYourLife]

the whats buggered?

 

[Truck]

the whats buggered?

electronic ballast - the bit that strikes, so the tubes so they light...more or less the unit minus the bulbs

 

[LiveYourLife]

great, so I'll have to buy a whole new unit?
Or is it worth trying a new bulb?

 

[Truck]

great, so I'll have to buy a whole new unit?
Or is it worth trying a new bulb?

if both bulbs are flickering then they will work...is there any visable damage to the unit? if not just take it back

 

[LiveYourLife]

No, not that I can see..I would but I bought it online from somehere down in england & had a huge hassle getting it!

 

[BettaChick14]

How frustrating! I'm not very good at all with electricity so I have no idea what the problem is. I hope the Pleco didn't hurt it's tail...

 

[LiveYourLife]

No he hasnt, he was the first thing I checked.
Going to see if any of my LFS's will let me take the unit down and try new bulbs to see if that will work!

 

[LiveYourLife]

Sorted. Always4lora You were right, replaced the back bulb and its working perfectly

 

[BettaChick14]

Thats Great!