Lighting problem

Ok, i went the weekend and got all the stuff to get my tank up and running. I bought a 30watt light fitting that goes into the ceiling of the tank and a 15watt light tube (I know now that these 2 doesn’t match but bear with me). Ok so everything is fitted and it looks amazing. Next morning the whole light fitting is at the bottom of the tank, melted of the tank cover.
So I went back and the friendly staff replaced the cover & light fitting, the light still ok.
So now I have 20watt fitting and a 15watt tube.
Is this ok? :wondering: I’m still a bit watchful and maybe overreacting but the fitting is getting extremely hot and don’t want another underwater light.

 

DontKnow... I have never had to make my own lighting setup, so I can only advise what I have heard on this forum.

As far as I recall, if you using a 30W ballast, then you will need to use a 30w globe. I stand to be corrected, but you might be able to use 2 x 15w globes too.

For the best response to this question, send a PM to Zafgak or Laure, they both seem to be our experts on the lighting issue. Try Zafgak first, but he isn't often on the forum, as his work ties him up quite a lot.

I would however advise you to turn that light off until you have got further clarity on the issue.

 

DontKnow can you maybe tell me what type of baluster you got is it the "big & heavy" or the small one? if it is the big and heavy one then yes it gets very hot and I would suggest you do not mount it on the lid of the tank it will probebly melt it again...
can you post a pic of it and I can tell you how to sort out this problem.

 

i stand to be corrected though, if you have a 30w ballast then wouldn't it be okay if you used a 20w globe and not 30w...wouldn't it be fine, as long as the globe wattage did not exceed the ballast wattage...am i right or wrong????

 

As far as I know you can go 10watts higher or lower so if you have a 30watt Ballast you can use a 20w,30w and a 40w but if you use a 30w the globe will not last as long as it should and if you use a 40w your ballast will not last as long as it should.
this is how I understand it to be but I can be wrong.

 

i'm using the big & heavy baluster, so if this wil melt the lid why would they sell it to me?

 

i have a wooden cover covered with fiber glass which can't cash fire.(i think)

 

Hi Dontknow

Ok first problem is your Ballast is the old electro/magnetic type, they always run hot..

There are two solutions :

1/. The old ballasts are actually quite nice in that you can run just about any tube off any ballast as long as the tube lights... What you do is extend the wires from the ballast long enough that you can mount the ballast on the wood underneath the tank..

2/. Get rid of the ballast and get an electronic ballast rated for your tube. Electronic ballasts require the tube to match or they will not work. The electronic ballast will stay cool...

If possible next time please quote tube type and ballast type as this makes it easier to faultfind

Oh and the reason they sold it to you is to make PROFIT - they don't care if your house burns down.......

Gareth this is almost true - the old ballasts will run just about anything, normally you would run the same or smaller wattage tubes than the ballast is rated for.

The electronic ballasts are not so forgiving, they actually check the current draw of the tube and reject any tube not in spec.. The plus side is they are very efficient

Hi JesseG : This is mostly true for old ballasts only...I am running 2x 54W T5'S off an 80W ballast.

BTW if the ballast is heavy - it is the old type
If it is light - it is electronic

That Zoom - is good advice :bigsmile:

 

I no I haven't been in this hobby long but I can give a little advice on what I have found to work well for me and cheaply. I have one 10w red boyu light and 2x11w cfl the normal buy anywhere kind the warm daylight or cool white etc I have had them running for for 3 weeks in my 72l I modified my roof so I could use the cfls and the ballast I no it might be a little out of the ordinary but my plants have never grown better and I haven't experienced any temp rises and the plastic roof just gets a little warm at the end of the day hope this helps

 

For those of you interested, you can also make your own. Get a balast from a light shop, as well as a starter unit and lamp holders. Then you all you need is to get long enough wire as well as a switch maybe