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View Full Version : Fluorescent tube safe for fish?

NickFish
02-17-2008, 01:02 PM
Ok, quick lighting question here.

The Fluorescent tube I have over my 55 gallon just fell off somehow. My brother jumped a little and the whole thing came right off and fell into the water. I unpluged it, dryed it off and put it back in the socket. It still works but after inspecting the light, I found that the part of my hold that holds the tube has broken off, and the tube is just barely hanging on.

I really don't know whats in those tubes so just to be safe I did a 50% WC and added some stress coat, but I think this may happen again. And what if it happens when I'm not there and the tube floats there for hours.

So I need to find a new hood, not too happy about that but I guess I have to.

So my question is,
Will a fluorescent tube, floating on the surface of the water, for anywhere from 1-60 minutes at a time, harm the fish? Is there any toxic coating on those tubes? Anybody know what they are made of?
sailor
02-17-2008, 01:26 PM
I don't know about the bulb in the water but in some fixtures you can replace the end caps. Is this one of them? Hopefully so then you will save big bucks.
NickFish
02-17-2008, 01:35 PM
I don't know about the bulb in the water but in some fixtures you can replace the end caps. Is this one of them? Hopefully so then you will save big bucks.

I don't think so Sailor... Unfortunately its not the fixture that broke its the whole part of the hood, the part that I use to hold the fixture in place.
I have a pretty strong bulb so it may have been too heavy for the hood, it was just a stock one.
gm72
02-17-2008, 02:50 PM
No problem with a tube floating the water. I imagine there must be a way to repair it though. Most everything can be fixed if you have the knowledge. Can you post some pictures of the damaged area? Maybe we can figure out how to repair it.
Adrian
02-18-2008, 12:28 AM
Wow, that sounds like a major bummer. I am surprised, however, because on my tanks, I have a glass hood, and the light is above the glass hood, so if ever such a thing would happen, the fail safe would be the hood. Are you running your light just directly above the water? I would hope that you remedy that, if that is the case, for it is extrememly dangerous. Water will evaporate, and condense on cool surfaces, and if there is salt, there would be corrosion as well.

Some florescent lights do have replaceable caps. If you are good at wiring, perhaps go to lowes or home depot, and purchase some to replace the old one.
NickFish
02-18-2008, 11:08 PM
No problem with a tube floating the water. I imagine there must be a way to repair it though. Most everything can be fixed if you have the knowledge. Can you post some pictures of the damaged area? Maybe we can figure out how to repair it
Wish I could but it actually ripped a hole in the bottom of the hood.
I could fix it but it might be cheaper to try and find a hood or canopy on sale somewhere. I'll keep my eyes open!
eriecb
02-21-2008, 08:20 PM
To my knowledge there are no coatings on the bulbs themselves its the contents that change the spectural output. Now if that bulb hits the water and breaks YIKES I think that the fish would not survive that.

Bob