Exploding bulbs!

Achilles BC · 11/30/2009, 09:09 PM

In the last 5 days I have had 3 (se) bulbs break in half during the middle of the day some time. I thought the first one was just old. Then when the second one did it I thought maybe it was do to me not running the fans in the hood since it was colder. That let some condensation build up in the bulbs. Now I get home tonight and another one did the same thing. I just put this one in yesterday morning and ran the fans nonstop so condensation is not the issue either. The worst part is I think it fried most of the corals on that side that were up higher. The other side has never done this and the corals look fine over there. I think most of them are still alive but they are going to need a lot of recovery time to get back to normal.

I have a dual 400w PFO ballast. Is there something in there that could have gone out? I have a spare I can use but I need both eventually. Any other thoughts on what could be happening?

jayk198030 · 11/30/2009, 09:25 PM

i have heard of fish splashing water on to a hot bulb and then they have broken. i never had that issue and i know that my fish have splashed my hot bulbs.

What kind of ballast- Magnetic or electronic?

may be the ballast is going bad and your having some type of voltage spike.

may be the bulbs are going bad- how old are the bulbs?

just make sure its not your ballast before you put new bulbs in.

Metal Man 1221 · 11/30/2009, 09:38 PM

yes either your ballast has gone bad, or it was as surge

jayk198030 · 11/30/2009, 10:12 PM

not thinking surge so much as they would have other equipment problems.JMO

Achilles BC · 11/30/2009, 10:16 PM

Well now that I am looking at it closer, I have a korilia 4 in that corner that is breaking the surface water a little. I sat there and looked at it for a while and it seems to send up a little splash once in a great while.

The ballast is magnetic.

The bulbs are all about 6 months old(got them from a friend used.

The ballast is plugged into a surge protector. Does that not safe guard against the possible power spike thought?

jayk198030 · 11/30/2009, 10:28 PM

surge protector may work. a surge suppressor on your incoming electrical panel is the way to go for surge suppression.

if you had an incoming surge any other devices connected to that circuit would more than likely be affected to.

is the ballast getting unusually hot or making weird noises?
ballast may be the problem.

Achilles BC · 11/30/2009, 10:47 PM

No it's not any hotter then it has been ever before. It only happens to one side though. It is a dual 400w ballast. I'm gonna put another bulb in and put glass over the tank to see if water hits the glass and if the bulb survives. I should be home tomorrow so I can stay close to monitor the situation..

Achilles BC · 11/30/2009, 10:49 PM

nothing else on the circuit has been effected at all either. Can you guide me in the right direction to check out the suppressor you are talking about?

jayk198030 · 11/30/2009, 10:58 PM

you can check out this link. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Surge_suppressor

the best type are the ones you hook up directly to your main breaker.

Achilles BC · 12/08/2009, 02:38 PM

I put a piece of glass under the bulb and over the water. so far everything seems okay. The water is hitting the glass so I think that was the issue. Bummer is I lost a lot of frags and my big blue tipped tenius colony too

brdracing · 12/08/2009, 03:17 PM

I had an IceCap Ballast go bad and pop my SE bumps. I would try another ballast and see if that fixes the problem.
Brooks

11/30/2009, 09:09 PM	#1
Achilles BC Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Scappoose, Or Posts: 57	Exploding bulbs! In the last 5 days I have had 3 (se) bulbs break in half during the middle of the day some time. I thought the first one was just old. Then when the second one did it I thought maybe it was do to me not running the fans in the hood since it was colder. That let some condensation build up in the bulbs. Now I get home tonight and another one did the same thing. I just put this one in yesterday morning and ran the fans nonstop so condensation is not the issue either. The worst part is I think it fried most of the corals on that side that were up higher. The other side has never done this and the corals look fine over there. I think most of them are still alive but they are going to need a lot of recovery time to get back to normal. I have a dual 400w PFO ballast. Is there something in there that could have gone out? I have a spare I can use but I need both eventually. Any other thoughts on what could be happening? __________________ New to the forum, not to the game! Current Tank Info: 75AGA w/ 1200w of lighting (working on a 180 cube)

11/30/2009, 09:25 PM	#2
jayk198030 Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Tag, your it! Posts: 783	i have heard of fish splashing water on to a hot bulb and then they have broken. i never had that issue and i know that my fish have splashed my hot bulbs. What kind of ballast- Magnetic or electronic? may be the ballast is going bad and your having some type of voltage spike. may be the bulbs are going bad- how old are the bulbs? just make sure its not your ballast before you put new bulbs in. __________________ I feel like 1.025 and i look like skimmate. I eat crap and throw up! What am I? Current Tank Info: I need help!!

11/30/2009, 09:38 PM	#3
Metal Man 1221 FMMAS Executive Director Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Fargo ND Posts: 1,504	yes either your ballast has gone bad, or it was as surge __________________ "My advise is, always look at their aquarium before you take their advise. Because alot of people give advise and they havnt got a clue" ~David Saxby~ "Only after the last tree's cut and the last river poisoned only after the last fish is caught will you find that money cannot be eaten" ~Lamb of God~ Current Tank Info: 125g DT, 45g sump ---- 57g Illuminata, custom sump

11/30/2009, 10:12 PM	#4
jayk198030 Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Tag, your it! Posts: 783	not thinking surge so much as they would have other equipment problems.JMO __________________ I feel like 1.025 and i look like skimmate. I eat crap and throw up! What am I? Current Tank Info: I need help!!

11/30/2009, 10:16 PM	#5
Achilles BC Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Scappoose, Or Posts: 57	Well now that I am looking at it closer, I have a korilia 4 in that corner that is breaking the surface water a little. I sat there and looked at it for a while and it seems to send up a little splash once in a great while. The ballast is magnetic. The bulbs are all about 6 months old(got them from a friend used. The ballast is plugged into a surge protector. Does that not safe guard against the possible power spike thought? __________________ New to the forum, not to the game! Current Tank Info: 75AGA w/ 1200w of lighting (working on a 180 cube)

11/30/2009, 10:28 PM	#6
jayk198030 Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Tag, your it! Posts: 783	surge protector may work. a surge suppressor on your incoming electrical panel is the way to go for surge suppression. if you had an incoming surge any other devices connected to that circuit would more than likely be affected to. is the ballast getting unusually hot or making weird noises? ballast may be the problem. __________________ I feel like 1.025 and i look like skimmate. I eat crap and throw up! What am I? Current Tank Info: I need help!!

11/30/2009, 10:47 PM	#7
Achilles BC Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Scappoose, Or Posts: 57	No it's not any hotter then it has been ever before. It only happens to one side though. It is a dual 400w ballast. I'm gonna put another bulb in and put glass over the tank to see if water hits the glass and if the bulb survives. I should be home tomorrow so I can stay close to monitor the situation.. __________________ New to the forum, not to the game! Current Tank Info: 75AGA w/ 1200w of lighting (working on a 180 cube)

11/30/2009, 10:49 PM	#8
Achilles BC Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Scappoose, Or Posts: 57	nothing else on the circuit has been effected at all either. Can you guide me in the right direction to check out the suppressor you are talking about? __________________ New to the forum, not to the game! Current Tank Info: 75AGA w/ 1200w of lighting (working on a 180 cube)

11/30/2009, 10:58 PM	#9
jayk198030 Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Tag, your it! Posts: 783	you can check out this link. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Surge_suppressor the best type are the ones you hook up directly to your main breaker. __________________ I feel like 1.025 and i look like skimmate. I eat crap and throw up! What am I? Current Tank Info: I need help!!

12/08/2009, 02:38 PM	#10
Achilles BC Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Scappoose, Or Posts: 57	I put a piece of glass under the bulb and over the water. so far everything seems okay. The water is hitting the glass so I think that was the issue. Bummer is I lost a lot of frags and my big blue tipped tenius colony too __________________ New to the forum, not to the game! Current Tank Info: 75AGA w/ 1200w of lighting (working on a 180 cube)

12/08/2009, 03:17 PM	#11
brdracing Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Statesville, NC Posts: 299	I had an IceCap Ballast go bad and pop my SE bumps. I would try another ballast and see if that fixes the problem. Brooks