Please help im really worried and not sure whats wrong?

cinnomen

Hey guys, Im sorry to bother you and its nice to meet you!
Today I went to turn on my fish aquarium lights and they wouldnt work, there was a flash and then nothing, there are two bulbs in the tank and I cant get any light from either of them, A long time ago one bulb was flickering so we knew it was blowing and replaced it, but this time there is no flickering just a brief flash as I turn on the lights. The bulbs are in the pictures below and look a little dull on the ends, but would it be normal for both to blow at the same time? Im just worried as we dont have much money and I dont want to replace them to find theres another problem please help thank you xxx im sorry the pics arent clear its night time and the flash is so bright on the camera it makes it weird im sorry.

Attached Images

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	bulbs2.JPG (36.5 KB, 46 views)

nomel

It's probably your ballast...a component of the light fixture that the power goes through before getting to the bulbs.

If you're "lucky", it will be a small screw in ballast like shown here that cost about $6...although I think these might only be used in single bulb fixtures. If you don't see one like this, then it's probably one like this <- click). That site has instructions on the labor portion of replacing a ballast. To buy the actual ballast, take it to the lighting department of your local Home Depot or Lowe's...they'll help you pick the correct one. Last I looked, they were around $35 or so for a less efficient magnetic ballast, $40 or so for the more efficient electronic ballast.

...of course...this assumes that it is the ballast...maybe someone could verify that if one bulb goes out, it doesn't cause both to go black.

AlexisPets

Yes, it is normal for the lights to flash before they burn out. It is also normal for them to flicker and then burn out. It just depends on the manufacturer. If both burned out at the same time, either there is something mechanically wrong with the LS or somehow it got wet where it caused a short in the circuits causing the lights to burn out. It could be other things too, but from what you are saying.....that is the only thoughts I could come up with. :)

Twistersmom

Hello and welcome to the forum!

I think nomel is on to something. I have always called it the starter, but maybe I should start saying ballast.
I picked up one hood at a garage sale, at first the light was not coming on, gave the starter a little wiggle and its been fine since.

cinnomen

Hey guys. well what a nightmare today :( I took my bulbs to a fish place and they tested them both worked fine so they asked me to return with the set up, well there was no way this darn juewl light set up was gonna let anyone get into it to look for a starter or anything :( So the poor man in the shop pulled at the side and SNAP the light holder pulled off along with a wire too 0_0. We had a chat and realised that its gonna be hard to find a juewl light set up for the old style rio tank im not even sure what type it is but im using a jumbo filter and its pretty old..so I ended up getting a new tank filter lights and all! Now we have used money we were saving for a car but I couldnt have my fish without lights and when the man pulled a wire out my filter stopped working too, (the power head was in the same extension socket) I have my fingers crossed all will be ok I used some medicine for new set ups didnt have much choice...hope I did the right thing! PLEASE see my other thread to help me with my filter ty ty :)