Stupid Light Question

[abe]

My aquarium light burnt out today & I'm confused as to what replacement bulb I'm supposed to get. I have an incandescent fixture, I just got back from wal*mart & they only had fluorescent bulbs & I looked online & I can't seem to find an incandescent 'tube' light.

I just assumed incandescent fixture = incandescent light bulb, so do I have to get incandescent or will a fluorescent bulb work?

 

[Lateral Line]

You cannot put an fluorescent bulb in an incandescent bulb holder, they do not work in the same way. The long incandescent has a single terminal at each end, the fluorescent, 4 pins.

I haven't seen one of those incandescent "tubes" for a while thinking about it. Although I'd be really suprised if they weren't available with a bit of digging around.

Fluorescent lamps are much better than incandescents. They give out more light per Watt, the others give out a lot of heat as well - less efficient. Maybe time to change your hood?

 

[abe]

Thank you I do need a new hood, I upgraded from a 10 gallon to a 20 long, so its kinda just sitting on there sideways. But I'm going on vacation in July & gotta come up w/ at least $150, & eBay is my work

Hopefully I can find a bulb today when I go to an actual pet store, or if I'm really lucky perhaps my mum will help me out w/ a new hood. She is in love w/ my baby mollies...

 

[Lateral Line]

Post the details of your incandescent, there are many US side people on the board that may know where you can get one.

 

[flintstone]

A very good solution (much cheaper than buying a new hood), and available at walmart (in the aquarium department), is a compact flourescent bulb (made for aquariums & 10 watts), which screws into your existing incandescent fixture. I use one of these in my 5 gallon mini-bow tank. It is much brighter than a standard bulb, lasts longer & uses less electricity. I think it was around $3.50. B)

 

[abe]

ok i went to superpetz today, & i looked at their flourescent bulbs & they had 2 prongs just like mine. who knew that aquarium lighting could confuse me so much, hehe. I have a backup plan though, i figured out that i can use my black light as a fixture

can i use regular ol' bulbs?

I'm not sure of details, its just the cheapie variety you find at wally mart. I really must stop shopping there, their fish section was horrible today (it's usually decent). The price wasnt marked on the bulb size i needed, but if its 3.50 ill have to get me one.

Thanks everyone for your help

 

[Lateral Line]

Incandescent lamps are resistive, they work simply by passing mains voltage through them, they only need 2 connections. Fluorescent lamps work with either a ballast unit or electronic controller to reduce the voltage, they have 2 connections at each end.

If you do not have a ballast or electronic starter, then it sounds like you have one of those long incandescents that has a connection at each end. You can normally see the wire running through the middle of the "tube". Is that what you have?

I am a little confused because you say the fluorescents have the same termination as your incandescent.