Problems with Coralife bulbs..

[TOP TANK]

Sounds like a ballast issue to me. If the ballast cannot handle the wattage all it will do is try to turn it on until it burns out. Make sure the ballast can handle the wattage of the bulb.

 

[Adhlc]

Sounds like a ballast issue to me. If the ballast cannot handle the wattage all it will do is try to turn it on until it burns out. Make sure the ballast can handle the wattage of the bulb.

That's what I've been thinking based on what keeps happening. Like I said though, there's no difference in size or wattage between the new and old bulbs.

 

[zennzzo]

burnt smell in the air, a pile of prematurely burnt tubes,
Hmmmm
do you have tight fitting tops on the tank?
if not,
are the light fixtures equiped with sealed glass covering the bulb?

Have you had a look inside the light hood and seen any wires that might be giving off the burnt electrical smell?

Have you taken a voltage reading in the same plug-in that you had the light connected to?

I'd look in those areas and post the results...

 

[Egon]

If you haven't tripped the breaker, It sounds like an issue with the source not the fixture. After so many bulbs and fixtures I would be looking at the duplex or some connection betweem the outlet and the ballast.
My WAG is , none of the above, It feels like an issue with the ballast.
But if you changed the whole fixture ?
The old mechanic in me say's this feels like two problems.
Did I mention I hate coincidences ?

I agree. I think the ballast is bad. Possible it was shoddy when you bought it. It's new right? I have changed a lot of coralife ballast's, they only last a couple of years and sometimes they are bad right away

The Coralife bulbs aren't the best, go with ZooMed bulbs next time.

 

[Knowdafish]

I tried ordering one through our supplier after the first Coralife crapped out but they weren't in stock

ZooMed Store Finder. Just enter your zip code.

http://www.zoomed.com/cm/store-locator.html

 

[Magnumb]

Hi there,

You had mentioned that the fixture was 15w and then earlier in the thread mentioned you had tried an 18w bulb. This is why it was flikering. It couldn't ignite the bulb. This "might" have toasted your ballast. Also if you use a smaller diameter bulb than the fixture was made for that can also cause problems. A fixture that houses the size up from a T8 won't be necessarily be able to ignite a same wattage bulb from a T8 even though the pins look the same. Not to say you tried this, but if you have an older fixture it's likely not T8, most stores sell T8's max size so it's tempting to try them but if it ain't meant for them you get a light show...

Hope this helps.

Mag