Does anyone know?

[saltbubbles]

Hi, I need to get my light fixture checked and was wondering if y'all know who does it. It is burning two t5 very quickly. I recently bought replacement lamps/bulbs three months or so ago and one of them went out. We replaced it with one of the old ones and it's not that bright plus you can see the light kinda shimmers inside the tube. The other side does the same. My fixture is a t5 MH combo with moonlights. Don't know what brand fixture or how old. It came with the setup. Thanks in advance for your help

 

[jef4y]

The ballasts on a flourescent lighting system can (and do) go bad and cause the type of problems you're describing. Without knowing the mfr or some other info (size?) it would be tough to tell you what to try.

 

[sn4k33y3z]

saltbubbles;848647 wrote: Hi, I need to get my light fixture checked and was wondering if y'all know who does it. It is burning two t5 very quickly. I recently bought replacement lamps/bulbs three months or so ago and one of them went out. We replaced it with one of the old ones and it's not that bright plus you can see the light kinda shimmers inside the tube. The other side does the same. My fixture is a t5 MH combo with moonlights. Don't know what brand fixture or how old. It came with the setup. Thanks in advance for your help

Sounds like the ballast to me... However, the most common ballasts, when the fail they fail and nothing will work. If you have a "pulse start" ballast, I've seen those work off and on. Does the light work for a period of time then go out? Sometimes, the pulse start ballast will cool off and you can cycle power back to ON and the lamps will work again for a little while (till the fixture heats up).

 

[saltbubbles]

JeF4y;848661 wrote: Without knowing the mfr or some other info (size?) it would be tough to tell you what to try.

<span style="color: Blue">I checked and there isn't any labels or markings on it and it is about 3ft long for a 65g thanks </span>

Sn4k33y3z;848666 wrote: Sounds like the ballast to me... However, the most common ballasts, when the fail they fail and nothing will work. If you have a "pulse start" ballast, I've seen those work off and on. Does the light work for a period of time then go out? Sometimes, the pulse start ballast will cool off and you can cycle power back to ON and the lamps will work again for a little while (till the fixture heats up).

<span style="color: blue">There are four t5 in all. Two of the t5, the MH and moonlights are fine. I don't know, I guess it's time to buy a new fixture :sad:</span>

 

[rdnelson]

Got to home Depo, tell the guy in the electrical department you have a two lamp 36" T5 fixture and need a replacement ballast. No need for the supper high dollar "Aquarium" ballast. A ballast is a ballast. Then, just make sure you pay attention to the wires you disconnect from the old and connect to the new. There should be a diagram on the new that shows exactly how to wire it up.

 

[ichthyoid]

+1...

...as long as the physical dimensions allow it to fit in your fixture.

 

[rdnelson]

ichthyoid;848712 wrote: +1...

...as long as the physical dimensions allow it to fit in your fixture.

A concern but with the new electronic ballast it isn't as big of a concern as back in the dark ages when we used magnetic ballast. LOL


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[saltbubbles]

Thanks everyone and I will try Home Depot and cross my fingers Rich. I really don't want to upgrade. Unless....
I come across a MH/LED combo fixture :thumbs:

 

[jennm]

You need to make sure it will fire HO lamps, not regular T5s. You have 39 watt lamps. Regular output T5 lighting is 21 watts. That does make a difference when it comes to the ballasts.

The "super high dollar aquarium ballast" (cough) is $30 and I can order them in.

Jenn

 

[rdnelson]

JennM;849026 wrote: You need to make sure it will fire HO lamps, not regular T5s. You have 39 watt lamps. Regular output T5 lighting is 21 watts. That does make a difference when it comes to the ballasts.

The "super high dollar aquarium ballast" (cough) is $30 and I can order them in.

Jenn

LOL Ok, I stand correct. That is a good price for a ballast. May have to start ordering replacements for projects from you. How long would it take you to get me 500?

 

[fidofence]

$30.00 is more than Rich paid for his tank

 

[rdnelson]

Fidofence;849077 wrote: $30.00 is more than Rich paid for his tank

Hey, I told you that in confidance. I didn't want that whole world to know. :mad2:

 

[saltbubbles]

Jenn you're a bit of a drive from me but thanks for the offer. Rich probably spends over $30 a month on his bow front just to top it off. His display tank however, is gorgeous!

 

[rdnelson]

saltbubbles;849525 wrote: Jenn you're a bit of a drive from me but thanks for the offer. Rich probably spends over $30 a month on his bow front just to top it off. His display tank however, is gorgeous!

I spend $30 a month in mustard. Thanks for the compliment on the display. I not so sure it is gorgeous but it sure makes me happy. :yay:

 

[saltbubbles]

rdnelson99;849529 wrote: I spend $30 a month in mustard. Thanks for the compliment on the display. I not so sure it is gorgeous but it sure makes me happy. :yay:

The funny thing is I was cracking up as I wrote that and or got to write lol on it :lol2:. Your tank is already beautiful but you know how we look at tanks that are not ours and for some reason to our eyes they are prettier than our own? Well let me tell you your tank is very very pretty.

 

[jennm]

Rich really needs to take some lessons from me in couponing. Time a sale right, with a coupon, he could save the $30 and get the mustard for free.

Saltbubbles - I can mail you a ballast if you like. I'd have to order it in but priority mail to you would be overnight. Fits in a flat rate padded envelope... for $5 postage.

Jenn