Biocube Actinic Blew?

[Fishfish0001]

So I got new bulbs for my Biocube about a month or 2 ago, and suddenly today my actinic won't work at all. I tried taking it out to see if maybe it had gotten wet somehow, but when I looked closely it had the little black streaks on it that usually signify a very old bulb or a burnt out one.

I assume this isn't normal? Will my tank be fine for awhile while I try to locate a new bulb? Should I return the bulb to the store?

 

[LawmanRob]

Take your white bulb and place it where the actinic goes. Just to be sure it is not the ballast. If the white bulb does not fire it's your ballast. As far as returning the bulb to the store you would have to check there return policy. If the store will not take the bulb back, contact Oceanic and advise them about the bulb or ballast.

 

[sporto0]

need more info, what kind of ballast, did you reseat the bulbs & try again, flo bulbs usually won't bug out that fast, i know on my set up if the connection is not perfect, both bulbs go out & won't come back on again until the circuit is complete (icecap ballast)

 

[EasyEd77]

Most likely it is the ballast. Switch the ballast plugs and see if it fires. They go out on biocubes all the time. I finally got fed up and bought the nanotuners.com custom biocube ballast. It was worth every penny, I went through three replacement ballasts before I made the switch.

 

[Fishfish0001]

If it was the ballast would the light still come on very dimly nearest the plugs? Its a faint orange/purple glow within about 4cm of it.

 

[EasyEd77]

The biocube come with 2 ballast. Disconect them where they attach to the hood swap them and turn the lights on. If the actinic fires and the white one doesn't its definitely the ballast.

 

[jcolletteiii]

What size? I just threw out 2 of them - can pick em out of the trash if you'll pay shipping. These are 24 w each I think. They came from a 14g. biocube.

 

[Fishfish0001]

Its not the ballast luckily. Ill just go get a new one. They aren't that expensive if the store won't replace it.

 

[Wayne@RC]

can i get those ballast, please?