best bulbs

[Tener ds]

hi guys ,when doin a water change today i noticed one of my bulbs in my 75L tank flashing,2 or 3 times a min.
i have 2 bulbs in the hood,the one that was flashing was a TL-D 15w/54-765 philips,T8 and about 16" long.
so it might be time to change them.whats the best bulbs i can get thats good for the tank size and the plants and fish?

 

[macvsog23]

Bulbs or to use the right term lamps are controlled by a ballast unit and a starter so the lamp must correspond with these. A 30 watt lamp will need a starter and a ballasts unit that are matched to it. Some units have the starter as an internal part.

When experiencing the problem you have, first change the starter a small plastic unit with two metal pins on it. You can get electronic starters that will last for years you will need TSr8.

Next if the lamp is still flashing replace it.
The choice is amazing in your LFS they will have lamps for plants lamps for saltwater fish ect ask and take advice but take the old lamp with you.
After all the question what size is the lamp sire is not going to be answered with" about 12" ish maybe"

 

[Tener ds]

cheers,whats the normal life span for fish tank lights?
10 mins after doin the tank it stopped flashing,checked all wires and plugs,seam ok.
ill get my dad t check and replace the starter.
ill keep an eye on it and will ask about new ones when im in my LFS next,and take the bulb with me.

 

[FF MkII]

Recommended changing of the tubes is every 12 months. Something to do with some technical stuff that i dont understand, as far as im aware if it lights the tank up its good to go. Thats not my advice for a planted tank though.

 

[dw1305]

Hi all,
Sounds like the 18" tube, these are a non-standard size, but you can get Grolux ones for about £8, they are good for plant growth, but appear both dim and pink to the human eye. You won't buy one of these tubes of the shelf, unless there maybe a "special" Aquarium bulb that fits, but they will be silly money.

The 54/765 means that is a "natural daylight" bulb (nominally6500K).

You could try BLT or Lampspecs to see what they have. Just had a look at "Lampspecs" <http://www.lampspecs.co.uk/Light-Bulbs-Tubes/860-and-865-Daylight> The Sylvania one is very cheap, I'd be tempted to buy a couple of these, if you intend to keep the fitting.

BLT also have one, but it is a bit more money.<http://www.lampspecs.co.uk/Light-Bulbs-Tubes/860-and-865-Daylight>

cheers Darrel

 

[FF MkII]

Anyway, LEDs are the way forward!

 

[macvsog23]

Anyway, LEDs are the way forward!

Totaly agree

 

[Lornek8]

Maybe not standard in the UK but pretty common in the US. If all else fails, Hagen, coralife & zoomed all have nearly all have full lines in this size.

 

[dw1305]

Hi all,
LED's are coming, but to get reasonable quality lights at an affordable price you need to be able to DIY the fittings. At the moment I'd still recommend electronically ballasted fluorescent tubes, T5's for choice.

Recommended changing of the tubes is every 12 months. Something to do with some technical stuff that i dont understand, as far as im aware if it lights the tank up its good to go. Thats not my advice for a planted tank though.

No, Steve you are right, the more modern electronically ballasted T8 and T5 tubes chuck out almost exactly the same amount of light until they expire, you only need to change them when they stop working. The technical term is that they have low "lamp lumen depreciation".

When I came back to fish keeping I was amazed by the range of fish and plants you could get, but because of my work I was pretty well clued up on grow lights. The first time I looked at the prices of aquarium lighting and the claims made for various tubes, lights etc, I laughed so much I spat my beer all over the computer screen.

Cheers Darrel

 

[dw1305]

Hi all,

Maybe not standard in the UK but pretty common in the US

Thanks Lornek, that would make sense of why there are this size of tube in the fitting.

cheers Darrel

 

[Tener ds]

right dad checked the fittings and replaced the starter.he removed the bulb and it was light brownish at one end :dk:
also the bulb is 17 3/4 inch long from end to end,end of the pins that is.
from where do u messure the bulb lengh?

 

[dw1305]

Hi all,

it was light brownish at one end

This shows that the tube is near the end of its life. Fluorescent tubes are "discharge lamps", just like MH or sodium street lights, and this dark deposit is from the "emission mix" on the cathode. The emission mix is bombarded by electrons and vaporizes the mercury in the tube when you turn the light on, over time it is deposited on the phosphor coating of the tube (as the brown marks). When all the emission mix is gone, the cathode cannot pass sufficient electrons to maintain the discharge, but when it is nearly all gone the tube will flash on and off etc.

also the bulb is 17 3/4 inch long from end to end,end of the pins that is. from where do u messure the bulb lengh?

The bulbs are standard lengths and wattages, your one is 18" and 15W. Any 18" 15W T8 (1" diameter) tube will fit the fitting and be fired by the ballast. Any other size or wattage won't fit or work efficiently (although depending upon the ballast it may light a tube of the "wrong" wattage)

cheers Darrel

 

[Tener ds]

Wow.. U know ur stuff darrel.cheers for all ur help.

 

[macvsog23]

Hi all,
This shows that the tube is near the end of its life. Fluorescent tubes are "discharge lamps", just like MH or sodium street lights, and this dark deposit is from the "emission mix" on the cathode. The emission mix is bombarded by electrons and vaporizes the mercury in the tube when you turn the light on, over time it is deposited on the phosphor coating of the tube (as the brown marks). When all the emission mix is gone, the cathode cannot pass sufficient electrons to maintain the discharge, but when it is nearly all gone the tube will flash on and off etc. The bulbs are standard lengths and wattages, your one is 18" and 15W. Any 18" 15W T8 (1" diameter) tube will fit the fitting and be fired by the ballast. Any other size or wattage won't fit or work efficiently (although depending upon the ballast it may light a tube of the "wrong" wattage)

cheers Darrel

A spot on explination.

Thanks

 

[Tener ds]

The bad lamp packed up last night so this morning I got 2 new ones.
Flora-glo T8 2800k
Life-glo T8 6700k
From one off the LFS.
£14 each.

 

[macvsog23]

get spare lamps also
I keep spares of every thing
never know when things will fail.

Bob