Intermitant Light Failure - Jewel Rio

[arcg1978]

I have noticed over the last month I seem to have an intermitant fault with the lighting system in my tank. I have a Jewel Rio 180 with the standard light fixture. It is on a timer and comes on no problem then after 15-25 minutes goes off, I then turn the power off for about 3 minutes and turn on again and it works. I have checked the timer and that works fine so I am guessing it is a fualt with the light.

Has anyone else had this problem, is it fixable or am I resigned to having to fork out £70 for a new light fixture?

 

[Essjay]

I had a similar problem recently with my Rio 125. A month or so ago, my light went out completely and wouldn't come back on. I tested the fuse and the timer, but they were both OK. I remembered another thread about a faulty switch, so I cut the cable and put a plug on without the switch. The light switched on and worked fine for about three weeks, then it started going dimmer, then brighter, and eventually cutting out completely for several seconds before coming back on again. This time I suspected the tubes and bought two new ones, but the same thing happened. So in the end I gave up and bought a new light bar.

You have the choice if you buy a new one - a Juwel T8, which comes complete with tubes, a Juwel T5, without tubes, or an Arcadia I bar T5 (they've stopped doing T8 according to my lfs). The Juwel T8 is obviously the cheapest option, and the only one if you want T8. If you want T5, the Arcadia seems to have a better reputation.

One other thought, is yours still under warranty?