How Long Do Bulbs Usually Last?

[chardonnay1000]

Hi,

I came in tonight to find the front blue light on my tank has gone a funny colour as if its really low light. I have only had this tank since december. Do they normally only last this long. Its only on for 10 hours a day with 1 hr break? Thanks

 

[raptorrex]

Hi,

I came in tonight to find the front blue light on my tank has gone a funny colour as if its really low light. I have only had this tank since december. Do they normally only last this long. Its only on for 10 hours a day with 1 hr break? Thanks

sounds a bit quick. six months for best performance, but mine are 8 months at 12 hours a day, and still going strong. plant lights start to fall off in performance though at the six month stage, but still work.

 

[SkiFletch]

Hi,

I came in tonight to find the front blue light on my tank has gone a funny colour as if its really low light. I have only had this tank since december. Do they normally only last this long. Its only on for 10 hours a day with 1 hr break? Thanks

You'll typically fade to 70-80% light output by 12 months in operating conditions like you describe on most flourescent bulbs. After about 2 years you're in the failure range typically. That doesnt mean your bulb is typical though... Does the bulb flicker at all?

 

[raptorrex]

as a thought try cleaning the tube contacts.

 

[chardonnay1000]

Thanks for the replies, no it dosent flicker at all, it just looks really dim...a bit like myself

 

[Rooster]

Duffed by the sounds of it... you DID keep that receipt ?

Tubes should "last" years, that is to say LIGHT UP, but they tend to alter in colour which effects plant growth.... problem is your eyes cant detect this, so its a good idea to swap them once or twice a year.

Yours sounds more like faulty to me

 

[chardonnay1000]

Duffed by the sounds of it... you DID keep that receipt ?

Tubes should "last" years, that is to say LIGHT UP, but they tend to alter in colour which effects plant growth.... problem is your eyes cant detect this, so its a good idea to swap them once or twice a year.

Yours sounds more like faulty to me

erm of course i kept my recepit, ahem. Yes i thought it was duff 2, oh well just my luck . thanks for your replies.

 

[diet]

Duffed by the sounds of it... you DID keep that receipt ?

Tubes should "last" years, that is to say LIGHT UP, but they tend to alter in colour which effects plant growth.... problem is your eyes cant detect this, so its a good idea to swap them once or twice a year.

Yours sounds more like faulty to me

erm of course i kept my recepit, ahem. Yes i thought it was duff 2, oh well just my luck . thanks for your replies.

you dont need a recipt to return an item.

The law goes somethign a lil like this:

The selling regulations act (some year)

The item must last a reasnoable amount of time
The item must of good condition:

If ur unsure trading standards are wizards and can give you the gumf so u can walk in and seem to know what your talking about esp when u mention laws with years etc:

 

[Rooster]

What the law says, and what some shops do is another matter.....

 

[diet]

What the law says, and what some shops do is another matter.....

But then again its only a bulb:

 

[shrimply]

With tubes they don't blow like regular bulbs they just stop working after the gases leak out so in theory they can last ages I have had one since I got my tank 3 years ago and I don't know how long it had been used for before I got it ( go on everyone shake your heads ) And since I have not tried to grow plants until now I have not had any problems.

So yeah I would agree a definate dud and a good shop would refund you recipt or not.

 

[diet]

With tubes they don't blow like regular bulbs they just stop working after the gases leak out so in theory they can last ages I have had one since I got my tank 3 years ago and I don't know how long it had been used for before I got it ( go on everyone shake your heads ) And since I have not tried to grow plants until now I have not had any problems.

So yeah I would agree a definate dud and a good shop would refund you recipt or not.

esp seeing as they then get a refund back from the company who supplied them

 

[SuperColey1]

http/www.surreypetsupplies.co.uk/acatalog/Fish.html

 

[chardonnay1000]

Thanks again for your replies, i will ring the shop where i got my tank and explain that it is a dud and could i swap it for one that works, if he wont play ball over the phone, i will take the bulb back to the shop next week. I dont really think he has a leg to stand on cos he remembers me from when i bought the tank and spending LOTS in his shop

 

[Rooster]

Handy hint... buy a white, bog standard, flourescent tube... they only cost about a quid and are really usefull for testing suspect lighting gear (if you fit it and it lights the ballast etc is working !) also handy for emergencies, so you can have some sort of light when the old one pops.