Problem with T5 lights

[Reef Freak]

I'm relatively new to this wonderful hobby but experienced something pretty strange recently. I have an AquaMedic light above my tank that had two blue T5 lights and two metal halides. My controller runs my lights so that the blue lights come on for a few hours before my MHs and stay on for an hour or two after my MHs go off. About a month ago, once the blue lights shut off for the night, the blue lights would begin to flash on and off (sort of like lightening) in strange patterns. This would last for an hour or two each night. Now they won't come on completely. Do you think they just burned out due to the flashing or was that a warning sign of something else burning out. When it started happening I checked here and saw that generally it is an interference issue when that happens but since I hadn't changed anything in my system I wasn't sure what would be causing interference. Any ideas? Should I just buy new T5 bulbs and see if that is my problem? That doesn't really solve my overlaying issue though and the bulbs will likely just burn out again. HELP PLEASE

 

[solitude127]

Ballast for your T5s could be going out.

 

[ek9vboi]

I would buy new bulbs anyways, if they are bad then you have new bulbs... if not then you have an extra set for later. It can be a few things from my point of view:

Bulb
Ballast
Controller

Easy to trouble shoot everything. I would start off in the order that was listed. Once you buy new bulbs, install them and if it doesn't turn on they you found your problem. The ballast. If it turns on then your controller is having a problem, check the wires for any cuts along it.

 

[Reef Freak]

Thanks

Thanks

Ordered new bulbs yesterday and they should arrive Friday. Will try that. Just to clarify, the ballast is that large black box the lights are connected to, right? Not the ends that the bulbs go into.

 

[Peale]

Just curious if you have the lights plugged into a Reef keeper or other controller? Mine did the same thing everytime my ATO came on...my lights would also flick on! I just needed to upgrade the program on the RK, but it was super annoying!

 

[Reef Freak]

I do have them plugged into a controller. One day, they just started to flash like lightening after they shut off for the night for about an hour. Then they seem to stop. I'll check with the controller online to see if there is some programming I need to update. I'm not really familiar with the setup as I wasn't the one who set everything up.