eepruls

I just set up my 10 gallon tank with the fluorescent light hood (18" tube) that I used about 9 years ago. The thing is noisy like crazy with a loud buzz. It's louder than the filter. I've read that the ballast needs to be replaced when a fluorescent light becomes noisy. Is this the case for an aquarium fluorescent hood? Is it cost effective to replace this ballast or just buy a new hood (although they are very pricey it seems).

Your thoughts on noisy aquarium hoods is welcome and appreciated!

Peterpiper

Think you will find that the buzzing is coming from the starter. Its small about 1 1/2" long and 1" dia with 2 conections on one end. If you take it to a lighting shop they can put a new starter in for you prity cheap.

eepruls

Everything I've read on fluorescent lighting says the starter is responsible for starting the light and isn't even used once the light is going (just like a car). If I were having problems with slow startup or weird flickers when starting, then I'd look at the starter. The ballast is the part responsible for noise since it controls the current once the lamp is going.

I opened up the light and it is the ballast making the noise. I tightened the screws and made sure nothing external was causing the noise. I'll have to get another ballast. Do they sell them at Home Depot or the like?

COBettaCouple

I think they probably would since I can get replacement ballasts at some of the online pet stores even.

eepruls

I'm sure they're overpriced at the Pet Store (everything is!). They know people will pay it because it's 'from the Pet Store'. Ooooh! It has to be better then, right?

I'll check out at few places and see what I can find.

COBettaCouple

That's why I like to shop online. It's usually a lot cheaper than stores.

eepruls

I was in Home Depot and the ballasts they had were big and heavy. They were $20 minimum. The one that's in my hood right now is small (<10cm). Petland had none - just new hoods which are so expensive. I'm just amazed at how expensive a fluorescent hood is at Petland. The cheapest they had was $80 for a simple 10 gallon one tube fluorescent.

I agree about online stores. You can find some really good deals. In fact, I found a nice fluorescent hood at PetSmart.com that would cost me a total (shipping included) of $43 to ship from the US to my home in Canada. It even includes a new bulb which at Petland cost $20+. Check out http://www.petsmart.com/product/inde...ductId=2754541

There is this one too:
http://www.petsmart.com/product/inde...amily&keepsr=1

I think it might be better to just buy one of these. I wonder if they are quieter than my current one? How noisy are aquarium fluorescent hoods usually?

COBettaCouple

Cool. None of our FL hoods make any noise.

eepruls

My current one that I need to replace is so loud that you have to speak louder if you're in the same room. You can't even hear the nice waterfall from the filter. It turns a peaceful hobby into an annoying one.

Would either of those two hoods be fine?

COBettaCouple

Yea, I especially favor the All-Glass one, since they're a brand I know to be good.

Trpimp147

go to walmart - i got a black one for 25 bucks its really not that much money... my light for my tank cost me $200 and that was the cheaper of the two i was going to get.

eepruls

The Wal-Mart's here don't have any hoods or lights (other than replacement tubes). I think the one I currently have was purchased at Wal-Mart about 9 years ago when they did sell them here. I wish they did still sell them here because I would definitely just buy one of those.

Trpimp147

i see that stinks do they do the order online and send it to the store you go to.... when i want somthing they always tell me to order it online and send it to them, then come look at it if we dont want it they will just put it on the shelf.

eepruls

They don't have any sort of ordering online for Canadians at their Canadian site (http://www.wal-mart.ca). If you search for aquarium, you get baby cradles! They only offer an 'add to shopping list to print out and take it to the store' which in my opinion is a complete waste of time. And they only seem to provide a very limited version of their product list to begin with so what is the point of that. There is not one product for pets. There is way more in the store itself.

To top it off, they only sell two fluorescent tubes - an 18" one and a 24" one. That's it for lighting (and I checked two Wal-Marts). No hoods, no strip lights, nothing. So Canadian Wal-Marts are a step behind in the aquarium lighting department!

COBettaCouple

Not that US walmarts are worth much in the aquarium department.

eepruls

LOL. I guess that's true. Our Wal-Mart came from yours many years ago! It's good for certain things though. I saw this one woman asking some Wal-Mart worker detailed questions about each fish in their tanks. I was this close to telling the woman, "lady, it's Wal-Mart! If you have questions, go online or at least go to a pet store who specialize in it". The Wal-Mart worker was this woman who was stocking shelves in another department and attempting to answer this woman's questions. The whole thing was just funny because neither knew what they were talking about.

Trpimp147

haha usly, i try to help people when im at them stores when no one has a clue, i had a girl tell me a cichlid goes fine with betas to one of her customers i just about died. our walmart keeps them hoods i would send you one but it would be just cheaper to buy on line any way.

eepruls

I ordered the All-Glass aquarium hood and a tree root ornament from PetSmart on Friday morning (Feb. 29/08). I cannot believe it but the box with the two items just arrived at my door and it's Tuesday March 4/08! That is the fastest I have ever received something online. And I live in Canada so I assumed it would take longer going across the border. UPS didn't even have a chance to list the tracking number on their site! Wow. Everything was packaged nicely and I'm gonna put the hood on in a little while. My current hood is getting even louder than it was before. You can hear the fish tank from everywhere in the house! Honest!

eepruls

I set up the new hood on my tank and plugged in the light. I hit the switch and thought it was broken because I didn't hear anything come on. Then I see that there is light coming out! I was actually expecting a slight hum and would have been fine with that, but this thing is silent. Wow! Finally the hobby can be peaceful and relaxing. Now I just need to get my betta in there (if my nitrites will ever go down)!

COBettaCouple

Glad to hear that you're NOT hearing your light!