MH Light Question/Help

[jgiordano]

I have had the Cadlights w/ 25g with MH hqi since december with no problems regarding the light. Today when I came home the ballast was humming but the light was off, probably due to a brownout. (it was like this for about an hour) I have seen this before but usually I let it cool and fire it back up. It isn't letting me do that today? When I try to fire up the light there is a tiny flash in the bulb then just a hum in the ballast.

The thing that is really bothering me is that my controller that sits right next to it BUGS out when I try to fire it up. I have to recalibrate it and things go on that are not supposed to. So I am assuming it is a magnetic ballast and the not firing is causing some disruption.

Can anyone shed some light (no pun intended); could it be the bulb or the ballast?

 

[Justjoe]

I'm not familiar with your light but with metal halides, the ballast rarely goes bad, often its the capacitor. Easiest thing to do is to put a new bulb in, if it doesn't work then the capacitor is next to check. My guess is its the bulb in your case.

 

[jgiordano]

There is a faint glow in the bulb; while the ballast is on. The thing that makes me think it is the ballast is why would it be affecting my controller?

Anyplace I could get a double sided bulb 150K bulb on LI not too expensive?

How many days can I go with actinics? Some zoos, rics, some LPS (torch and Frogspawn) and (and a few rainbow monti, pavona cactus, bird's nest, blue tortosa) SPS

 

[Hogs]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=10917775#post10917775 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by jgiordano
There is a faint glow in the bulb; while the ballast is on. The thing that makes me think it is the ballast is why would it be affecting my controller?

Anyplace I could get a double sided bulb 150K bulb on LI not too expensive?

How many days can I go with actinics? Some zoos, rics, some LPS (torch and Frogspawn) and (and a few rainbow monti, pavona cactus, bird's nest, blue tortosa) SPS

Aquahut in Coram quoted me $50 for 175w HQI DE. He's open all day on Sunday. Maybe it's in stock. Don does stock alot of bulbs.



Another option;
Here's cheap but maybe not too fast. He's only in PA. Maybe he can overnight it.

http://cgi.ebay.com/150W-HQI-14K-DE...ryZ46314QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

 

[jgiordano]

Alot of people are complaining about their fixtures, even if they replace it I might not take it. I am considering buying an outer orbit from jcaquatics does he post here?

 

[cdamiano]

Based on what you are describing, it sounds like the bulb is bad. I had a similar situation with another fixture and replacing the bulb fixed the problem.

 

[chemisfun11]

I can loan you a 150 W DE bulb if you'd like to test your fixture. LMK

 

[jgiordano]

Thanks chemisfun11; I got another bulb and it isn't the bulb. I has to be the ballast. Now I just have to figure out If I want to get the company to replace it or go with a new fixture.