Flourecent Bulbs

[WyldFya]

I use the shields Doc's talking about on all of my tubes but it's NOT because of them breaking due to heat and water splashing on them. I do it because my wife and I are monster fishkeepers and as we all know...monster fish can and do jump on occasion.

Personally I like the piece of mind from knowing that even if the bulb shatters... for whatever reason...that my fish are safe.

This is a very good reason to use them. I however don't have a single T12 bulb in my house that is running.

 

[Wolf3101]

This is a very good reason to use them. I however don't have a single T12 bulb in my house that is running.

Thats how all of you plant people are.....LOL

On a serious note...My lighting is probubly our weakest link at the moment and I'm working on upgrading it a little at a time.

 

[WyldFya]

Hagen HO T5s use less energy, light up a monster tank much better, and cost a lot less than T8, T12, or CF lighting. They are also cheaper than the LED, VHO or MH.

 

[basslover34]

Even after a few hours you should not have a problem with your Florescent lights shattering with water splashes or anything, the safty sheaths that Dr.Joe mentioned are the best solution for ensuring that your bulbs don't shatter with some type of "misfortunate type situation" but even if they do... you've just saved your fish from chewing on glass as well as a hell of a cleanup job.

With your situation you are find either way ... water build up is usually more of an issue for the metal box that the light is housed in than anything else... Rust is a b!?@#

 

[duke33]

I have sheets of glass under the light fixtures. I had them cut at the lgs (local glass store). LOL As much as the monsters bounce off them it's a good thing.

 

[bmxer4ever]

I have long strip bulbs or whatever you call them on top of my tank. above a cover but i'm still of afraid of small splashed reaching them and shattering them.
can these types we use in aquariums shatter if water gets on them?

i had a friend who's heat lamp for a turtle break when the turtle splashed all over the tank. causing the bulb to instantly shrink and shatter

To get back to your original post, there are two differences between your and your friends situation.
Heat build up is one - flourescent tubes run a lot cooler then bulbs, so the likelihood of water splashing causing them to shatter is a lot less.
Glass type is another - the glass in a bulb is of a different type and construction to a flouro tube, again making the tube less likely to shatter with water splashing.

 

[pangasiusfan]

thanks to all of the above posts.

one thing though, IF it falls without guard and shatters, aren't there really toxic gases and powders inside flourescent bulbs? are the fish, as well as myself and others going to be all right?

 

[arkmann]

Oh if in case this helps I have regular twin fluorescent strips in my 60G 48" tank. Its the common fluorescent light you can get from home depot. It rests directly on the glass top for 10 hours a day maybe more and its fine. I have to say that it does heat up but not enough for it to shatter. There is constant condensation gathered on the side of the glass top facing the water and the light rests on the other side and it seems fine. It has been that way for 10 months.

 

[arkmann]

First of all, the light fixture should never fall in the water because any opening on top of the tank should not be big enough for any of your fish to fit in. A light fixture will be at least 12" long and 2" wide if its just the bulb. Thats a big opening on top of the aquarium and if you have that big of an opening, better do something about it before you regret it.

With regards to your question below, I've recently read that there are toxic gases inside fluorescent bulbs eventhough it is energy efficient and consumes less energy. How toxic, I don't know. I work in a chemical production company and anything that is toxic or has a toxic label on it stays away from me.

I read the information from Popular Science if it matters.

thanks to all of the above posts.

one thing though, IF it falls without guard and shatters, aren't there really toxic gases and powders inside flourescent bulbs? are the fish, as well as myself and others going to be all right?