Biocube Actinic Blew?

Fishfish0001 · 05/29/2011, 01:14 PM

So I got new bulbs for my Biocube about a month or 2 ago, and suddenly today my actinic won't work at all. I tried taking it out to see if maybe it had gotten wet somehow, but when I looked closely it had the little black streaks on it that usually signify a very old bulb or a burnt out one.

I assume this isn't normal? Will my tank be fine for awhile while I try to locate a new bulb? Should I return the bulb to the store?

LawmanRob · 05/29/2011, 06:43 PM

Take your white bulb and place it where the actinic goes. Just to be sure it is not the ballast. If the white bulb does not fire it's your ballast. As far as returning the bulb to the store you would have to check there return policy. If the store will not take the bulb back, contact Oceanic and advise them about the bulb or ballast.

sporto0 · 05/29/2011, 06:48 PM

need more info, what kind of ballast, did you reseat the bulbs & try again, flo bulbs usually won't bug out that fast, i know on my set up if the connection is not perfect, both bulbs go out & won't come back on again until the circuit is complete (icecap ballast)

EasyEd77 · 05/29/2011, 06:50 PM

Most likely it is the ballast. Switch the ballast plugs and see if it fires. They go out on biocubes all the time. I finally got fed up and bought the nanotuners.com custom biocube ballast. It was worth every penny, I went through three replacement ballasts before I made the switch.

Fishfish0001 · 05/29/2011, 07:32 PM

If it was the ballast would the light still come on very dimly nearest the plugs? Its a faint orange/purple glow within about 4cm of it.

EasyEd77 · 05/29/2011, 07:57 PM

The biocube come with 2 ballast. Disconect them where they attach to the hood swap them and turn the lights on. If the actinic fires and the white one doesn't its definitely the ballast.

jcolletteiii · 05/29/2011, 08:41 PM

What size? I just threw out 2 of them - can pick em out of the trash if you'll pay shipping. These are 24 w each I think. They came from a 14g. biocube.

Fishfish0001 · 05/30/2011, 10:34 AM

Its not the ballast luckily. Ill just go get a new one. They aren't that expensive if the store won't replace it.

Wayne@RC · 06/04/2011, 10:24 AM

can i get those ballast, please?

05/29/2011, 01:14 PM	#1
Fishfish0001 Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: USA Posts: 353	Biocube Actinic Blew? So I got new bulbs for my Biocube about a month or 2 ago, and suddenly today my actinic won't work at all. I tried taking it out to see if maybe it had gotten wet somehow, but when I looked closely it had the little black streaks on it that usually signify a very old bulb or a burnt out one. I assume this isn't normal? Will my tank be fine for awhile while I try to locate a new bulb? Should I return the bulb to the store? __________________ 14 Gallon Biocube - 1 Maroon Clownfish, 1 Fireshrimp, 1 Pincushin Urchin, GSP, BTA Current Tank Info: 14 Gallon Biocube; 1 Maroon Clownfish, a few small corals, Fire Shrimp

05/29/2011, 06:43 PM	#2
LawmanRob SPS Addict Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Knoxville, Tn Posts: 576	Take your white bulb and place it where the actinic goes. Just to be sure it is not the ballast. If the white bulb does not fire it's your ballast. As far as returning the bulb to the store you would have to check there return policy. If the store will not take the bulb back, contact Oceanic and advise them about the bulb or ballast. __________________ 60g Deep Blue Rimless, Ocean Revive Arctic LED, Synergy Sump, SPS dominant. Current Tank Info: 30 DB Cube OR Arctic LED Mixed Reef

05/29/2011, 07:32 PM	#5
Fishfish0001 Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: USA Posts: 353	If it was the ballast would the light still come on very dimly nearest the plugs? Its a faint orange/purple glow within about 4cm of it. __________________ 14 Gallon Biocube - 1 Maroon Clownfish, 1 Fireshrimp, 1 Pincushin Urchin, GSP, BTA Current Tank Info: 14 Gallon Biocube; 1 Maroon Clownfish, a few small corals, Fire Shrimp

05/29/2011, 08:41 PM	#7
jcolletteiii Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: 58703 Posts: 1,265	What size? I just threw out 2 of them - can pick em out of the trash if you'll pay shipping. These are 24 w each I think. They came from a 14g. biocube. __________________ T5-powered (ex-LED club member) SPS-dominant 50g. Cadlights CUBE. Current Tank Info: 16g biocube

05/30/2011, 10:34 AM	#8
Fishfish0001 Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: USA Posts: 353	Its not the ballast luckily. Ill just go get a new one. They aren't that expensive if the store won't replace it. __________________ 14 Gallon Biocube - 1 Maroon Clownfish, 1 Fireshrimp, 1 Pincushin Urchin, GSP, BTA Current Tank Info: 14 Gallon Biocube; 1 Maroon Clownfish, a few small corals, Fire Shrimp

05/29/2011, 06:48 PM	#3
sporto0 Moved On Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Pittsburgh, Pa. Posts: 2,924	need more info, what kind of ballast, did you reseat the bulbs & try again, flo bulbs usually won't bug out that fast, i know on my set up if the connection is not perfect, both bulbs go out & won't come back on again until the circuit is complete (icecap ballast)

05/29/2011, 06:50 PM	#4
EasyEd77 Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: San Ramon Posts: 437	Most likely it is the ballast. Switch the ballast plugs and see if it fires. They go out on biocubes all the time. I finally got fed up and bought the nanotuners.com custom biocube ballast. It was worth every penny, I went through three replacement ballasts before I made the switch.

05/29/2011, 07:57 PM	#6
EasyEd77 Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: San Ramon Posts: 437	The biocube come with 2 ballast. Disconect them where they attach to the hood swap them and turn the lights on. If the actinic fires and the white one doesn't its definitely the ballast.

06/04/2011, 10:24 AM	#9
Wayne@RC Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: Louisville, Ky Posts: 72	can i get those ballast, please?

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