25w bulb in 5.5g tank dead

[Ellen4God]

I have a 5.5g tank for my betta, and I'm just using the hood that it came with. I have a 25w "long lasting" aquarium light bulb. I haven't had it but for about a month, maybe. Well, it isn't really a "long lasting" bulb, apparently. It's starting to die pretty quickly. It's gotten to where I don't even really notice it on anymore. It adds very little light, and I'm sure it's not doing any of my plants a lick of good right now.

My question is - what is a good bulb that I can get to put in the tank? Now, I realize that I was probably leaving it on way too long, but I will be getting a timer for this tank sometime soon hopefully, so I'll be able to better regulate the length of time that it is on. But, what is a good bulb that I can put in my 5.5g (it takes fluorescent bulbs) that will last longer than a month and will help with my plant growth? Any suggestions?

[ILuvMyGoldBarb]

Ellen, any fluorescent should last longer than a month. I'd be concerned that the problem is not your bulb but possibly the starter or ballast.

[Ellen4God]

Ellen, any fluorescent should last longer than a month. I'd be concerned that the problem is not your bulb but possibly the starter or ballast.

the what or what?

[Algenco]

I believe you have an incandescent bulb, replace it with a compact florescent.
Walmart has some in the fish dept. I think they are 12w, but they'll be much better for your plants

[ILuvMyGoldBarb]

ok, forget what I said. I mis read that first post. :14:

I thought you said the fixture was a fluorescent one.

[Ellen4God]

It is fluorescent. It's the kind that screws in, not fits in with two prongs or whatever....

or do I have the two confused?

[Algenco]

is it white in color? 25w is fairly high for a screw in CF, unless it is the spiral type.
post a pic

[LosC]

Checkout the plant department too, they should have some plant bulbs. I did the other day and the guy thought I was tryin to grow marijuana lol. Make sure your lightbulb isn't exposed to water vapor. Your hood should have a glass or some sort of protector where your light sits on top of.

[Halelorf]

It is fluorescent. It's the kind that screws in, not fits in with two prongs or whatever....

or do I have the two confused?

That sounds like incandescent to me. Regular flourescent strip light will have the two nipple prongs at the end that turn into the light fixture. Incandescents screw in like a normal house bulb.

[Incredulous_Ed]

Get a Compat Fluorescent bulb. It sounds like you are using an incandescent bulb, then one with the glass tube that has a wire in it. CF bulbs sgould have like a looping thin white tube. Or something like that.

[Ellen4God]

Okay. I'll get a picture of it tomorrow afternoon. I'm getting some things together for a big "Assessment Fair" that I'm doing with my 3rd graders tomorrow, and right after that I'm going to crash.

[Dsoto87]

Its not the starter if the bulb is getting dim. You could replace it with a CFL

[Ellen4God]

Well, I took a picture. Sorry it took me a little bit to get it. I'll attach it to this message.

I do not have a glass top to separate my light from the water. I just have the plastic cover thing that covers about 2/3 of the bulb.

I'm not sure about the type of bulb I have. I thought it was fluorescent, but not sure now. Any suggestions about what I should do now?

[Ellen4God]

Forgot to attach the picture, of course. I'll do that now.

Could I just get a new hood for the tank? It's only a 5.5g, so it'd have to be something smaller.

[Halelorf]

That is a incandescent bulb.

[Dsoto87]

Yea the bulb is burnt out...you could screw a CFL in there

[Ellen4God]

Really? Maybe I have the two confused then. Do fluorescent bulbs have the two little progged things on the end that you have to fit into a specific sized hood thing? Did that make sense? lol

[Ellen4God]

Could I get this for my 5.5g?

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[Halelorf]

I don't really like incandescent lighting, it gets way too hot. I would go for something more like this flourescent light.

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[Ellen4God]

If I stick with this hood, I should get something like:

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?

[Algenco]

that bulb is a 50/50 daylight/actinic. You don't need the actinic. Walmart has a similar bulb in the fish dept that is 6700k

[Ellen4God]

Okay. I think I'm pretty confused about all of this now. lol I'll go check out Wally World this weekend.

[Halelorf]

Actinic blue light is for corals and doesn't benefit freshwater plants. A 50/50 bulb have a combination of actinic and a white daylight of different kelvin ratings depending on the bulb. For your tank you would just want a bulb that has a kelvin rating of either 6700K or 10000K. The 6700k will give a yellow color to the tank while the 10000k has more blue in it's light spectrum so it isn't so yellow looking. Hope that helps a bit!

[Ellen4God]

Well, I got a bulb for my 5.5g. It's a compact fluorescent light. it's a 10w, which apparently equals a 40w in regular light bulbs. It's also 6,500K. They didn't have anything higher than that, so this will have to do. I put it in the hood a second ago and turned the light on just to see how it looked. WOW!!! Maaaaajor difference from what I had in there before.

Thanks for all of the help, ya'll. I know I ask a TON of questions and I'm probably to the annoying point at times - but I really do appreciate it. :)