Intrepidcub

On my 55 gallon aquarium i have a new lil problem one of my lights does not come on like it should. I have found that if i let the one that works stay on for a while then i swap light bulbs between fixtures and flip the switch off and on again it works. My guess is the transformer but i dont wanna start throwing money at guessing any tips?

pepetj

Hi Intrepidcub:

If the tube that's on without problems works OK in the other fixture, i figure the faulty fluorescent tube might be due and needs replacement.

Most guidelines I have read for lighting, call for changing tubes every six months. I am no expert, so maybe this is not all that true with standard lights but with others like compact fluorescents, high output, metal halide, etc.

By the way, standard day light tubes are usually way cheaper than Aquarium labeled, and are exactly the same thing. This might not be true for other tubes.

Bring the one that likely needs replacement to a hardware store so you get an idea of prices disparities and also to have it tested there (at least in Santo Domingo it's ridiculous!).

Hope you solve this easily.

Pepe
Santo Domingo

mitch

if the light has a starter check it you may need a new one. best place to buy is at LPS.

Intrepidcub

ive been rotating the bulbs so i think its the fixture. only thing i find is a black box with all the wires. behind the tube I assume thats the transformer? dunno what a starter is or how to find it

04_si

the black box is the ballast. the ballast is fine if it turns one light on.

maybe a wire has become undone going to one of the tombstones (little white end cap.. dont know the specific name, just what i call them at work) or maybe one of the tombstones isnt working at all.

or, its the bulb. flourescent bulbs are shady characters. take it to a larger LFS and they should have a place to test bulbs to make sure it works. but the bulb is my guess...