Tropiquarium 88 - replacement hood?

[ade]

Hi guys and gals,

Anyone know if it's possible to get a replacement hood for a Hagen Tropiquarium 88? The lights have packed up on mine and despite replacing both tubes & starters, and getting the accessible electrics checked, they're still not working - heater/filter work fine, it's just the lights.

So....

Looks like I need to try replacing the hood, but can't find anywhere online that do them. Have spoken to a couple of LFS's but still waiting to hear back.

Or do I just use it as an excuse to buy a new tank? ;-)

Thanks in advance...

Ade

 

[karrihug]

anything you can use as an excuse to buy a new tank is a good thing

sorry, don't know what to tell you about a new hood though. not to point out the obvious, but have you tried a different power outlet?

 

[ade]

Hi there, thanks for the reply.

Haven't tried a different power outlet - the 88 hood only has a single plug going into the hood and then supplies the power for the filter/heater etc from a central point, so the fact the filter/heater are working implies the power outlet is fine. Nice thinking though - please think of other crazy ideas, one of them may work I think I've tried all the obvious things, but shout them out just in case I haven't.

Only one thing stopping me rushing out to get a new tank - it'd have to go where the existing tank is and transferring over would be a bit difficult - not impossible, just awkward.

Rgds

Ade

 

[Erised]

Try http/www.aquatics-warehouse.co.uk/ they do sell hoods so maybe there will be anything there.

 

[clutterydrawer]

how long have you had it? no chance of getting a new one on guarantee i suppose?

or you could make one.

new tanks are always good though! i think it could be done with a little ingenuity. you could get some 1g plastic bowls to very very temporarily put your fish in while you switch the two tanks around.

 

[The-Wolf]

try this link
Hagen.com

 

[Dubby]

Since you have replaced the starters & tubes that leaves only two components - the ballast and the timer itself !! Is there anyway you can bypass the timer? You can buy a ballast separately at any electrical store, so you should be able to quickly get it back in working condition.

 

[ade]

Thanks for the Hagen link - had tried .co.uk didn't think to try .com!

What's ballast? I know nothing about how these things work - they either work or don't as far as I'm concerned. My Dad checked the electrics (or what he could see in there) and everything appeared fine. But he didn't take anything to bits...

I've not tried bypassing the timer either, tried setting it to manual and automatic but made no difference, but I guess if there's some problem in the unit anyway then it would affect both settings perhaps...

Still think the new tank is the way to go! lol

 

[ade]

Ok, just spoken to the helpful chap at Hagen who suggested pretty much what Dubby was suggesting...

New canopy (not hood as I've been informed) is a whopping £184! So going to check the timer unit tonight as follows (putting this here in case any one else ever has the same problems)...

1. Power OFF!
2. Remove the timer unit from the front of the hood (sorry - canopy!), remove the two wires that go into the back of the timer
3. Connect the two wires directly together
4. Power ON

If the lights come on, then the timer unit is the problem, and it's only £45ish to replace the timer.

He did mention ballast (which is something like a transformer I believe), but said to speak to an electrician about that.

I'll let you know how I get on tonight...

Rgds

Ade

 

[clutterydrawer]

there's some handy links here if you want to know how a fluorescent light works:

http/home.howstuffworks.com/fluorescent-lamp.htm
http/home.howstuffworks.com/question337.htm


not that you "need" to, but it might come in handy sometime

 

[Tropjunky]

Hay sorry but u've go no chance in hell the tanks and hood are a fitted unit i know lots about this tank cos i used to sell them and not a bad tank but i think it might be some of the wires or the controls they usually short out cos of the condensation but go c ur lfs they might help u by selling u a new tank and u might just get a new tank.

 

[smithrc]

having looked around for a 2nd hand tropiquarium 88, it seems the digital timer packs in on them - as you say the timer is a cheaper part to replace

BUT if it were me (an it may end up being as i still bought one) I'd just bypass the timer unit and run it from a mains timer - it'll mean another plug - but it'll cost a lot less to do that than replace bits.

 

[Tropjunky]

well the timmer goes awol cos of the condensation so i would recomend using some sillicone to seal up the circuitry. it's easy but u have to be very carefull not to seal the transistors in u just us a bit of a plastic bag and it works.

 

[ade]

Thanks for all the replies.

It turns out that it was th etimer that had problems, I unhooked the two wires and coupled them together to bypass the timer, and voila, the lights came on!

Thinking about either replacing the timer unit (easy option but more expensive) or another mains lead/mains timer which is more hassle to set up, but cheaper. Knowing me I'll go for the least hassle option, but main priority is to get the tank looking/feeling good again - it needs a damned good cleanup in there. Tests all ok (just), but needs a good clean & water change - then I'll worry about the timer.

Cheers

 

[Dubby]

If the plug is separate for the lights then it would be easiest & cheapest to buy an external timer (bet. £5 - £11) that sits between your plug and mains point.