Tank Ligting

LadyLail

Large Fish
Dec 31, 2008
185
0
0
NC
www.myspace.com
#1
So the 55g I got for Christmas has a bad ballast on one of the light hoods. It will come on about 10% of the times we try to cut it on. Has anyone ever gone through this? Where can I find a replacement hood/ballast for a 18" flourescent? I want the hoods to match, and the other one works fine, so I really don't want to replace both if I don't have to. Any suggestions????
 

Macfish

Small Fish
Jan 27, 2008
46
0
0
#2
If I'm reading your post correctly, you have the common dual hood set up on your 55, when you turn on the one hood, the light sometimes comes on, sometimes it doesnt. The other hood works fine.

If so, it sounds like a bulb issue and not a ballast. Try swapping the bulbs in your hoods and see if the problem switches to the other hood, if so, replace the bulb. If it doesnt follow, try switching the ballasts, its the little round white thing near the bulb in the plastic molding, it turns out (has two prongs on the other end similar to the bulb setup.

As for replacements, its a common size, petco and petsmart both sell them as should any other fish store. Walmart might even sell them.
 

Macfish

Small Fish
Jan 27, 2008
46
0
0
#3
Your ballast might even be hidden under the plastic. Unplug the fixture, remove the bulb, remove the 4-6 screws holding the white (sometimes silver) plastic molding giving you access to the wire side of the fixture.

Again, the ballast on those standard hoods is a small white piece that unscrews (counter clockwise) about 1/4 turn similar to the light bulbs.
Simple and cheap to replace, common at most LFS.

Let me know if you have any other questions.
 

LadyLail

Large Fish
Dec 31, 2008
185
0
0
NC
www.myspace.com
#4
K thanks! Yeah, deff a problem with the ballast. That's how we found out it's not a bulb problem- we went to Lowes and bought two new lights because I wanted a brighter tank anyways, and the new bulbs wouldn't work either. I'll try your suggestion when I get home. Thanks! :)
 

no.1chuy

Large Fish
May 22, 2009
272
0
0
Las Vegas
#5
if you put in higher watt lamps then what the ballast is rated for will burn up your ballast just thought i would let you know in case you got higher watt lamps at lowes. i got the info from an electrican that was replacing some ballast at the building i work at.
 

stoddern

Large Fish
Jul 26, 2009
153
0
0
Vermont
#6
if you want to put in a higher watt lamp in your hood can you just throw in a ballaast rated at a higher watt or do you have to worry about the wirering not being rated for it and possibly starting a fire or shorting out?
 

no.1chuy

Large Fish
May 22, 2009
272
0
0
Las Vegas
#7
every ballast i have ever seen uses 18 gauge wire, i would stick to that. a bigger size wire (ex: 16 awg) is needed when something draws more amps and ballast dont draw alot of amps. anyways wires are always labled with their size so its easy to check and the smaller the number the thicker the wire. at homedepot they sell ballasts for cheap i think you can get one that will power two 24 watt t5 for under $15 i might be wrong. the ballast will be labled with what it can power and a little drawing of how to wire it up. tomarrow i'll ask my wife if she know how to post up pics and i'll show you my hood that i put together it has two 24 watt t5 in it. if you have any questions just ask me.
 

stoddern

Large Fish
Jul 26, 2009
153
0
0
Vermont
#8
thank you that helps alot, I do have another question, I bought my hoos seperate from the tank because I found a good deal on a 20g long for around $12 and figured this way I could get a decent filter and hood unfortanatly the place I went to only had 1 hood that would fit and the light fixture part of it only takes 1 bulb and was wondering if I could replace the fixture part for a dual bulb w/out having to replace the whole cover, it's a Marineland Perfect-a-light hood the light fixture part is a seperate piece and was wondering if there was a dual light fixture for it I could get
 

no.1chuy

Large Fish
May 22, 2009
272
0
0
Las Vegas
#9
sorry bro cant help you there i really wouldnt know. what i did was buy the light housing from a LFS (they sold it to me as a shell then they sell you the guts separate) then i just added my own ballast and tombstones, thats the little pieces where the flouresent tube slides into, i did have to make my own bracket to hold the tombstones but i just used a piece of pexiglass and some hot glue.
 

LadyLail

Large Fish
Dec 31, 2008
185
0
0
NC
www.myspace.com
#10
No, I'm keeping the correct wattage (15w) but going with a brighter, cooler bulb. The ones in there now are more yellow and dull. Thanks for the replies! Hopefully I'll have time to spare this wknd to fix it.
 

RyuKing

Small Fish
Sep 12, 2009
24
0
0
San Diego, CA
#11
Concerning lighting.. How often do you keep the lights on anyway? I've found they really heat up the water and for Goldfish that's no good. I'm wondering if I should keep mine on more and is one bulb good or should I use two like the hood is designed for?