Proper Reef lighting for 46G Bow Tank<PLEASE HELP dying&g

[Casey_Lamm]

:?:
Please suggest proper lighting for a 46G bow tank that is being used as a reef tank. I had a JBJ 2x96W PC Setup which worked fine for a month and then the actinic bulbs started going. The local fish store said they stopped carrying jbj and wont buy from them again, which is nice cause they just sold me the darn lighting and told me how good it was. ARRRRR! What people will do for a sale! Anyway, I cant get new bulbs and even when I do they die on me (actinics) within 2wks. My live rock is dying, anomies are going as well, I need a reliable solution for this size tank, Hopefully not too expensive.!

Please help,

Casey

 

[LA-Lawman]

the JBJ bulbs aren't the best. you can try changing them with a hamilton or custom sealfe bulb. I would look them up on the web and inquire about a ballast replacement. i have seen a few of their fixtures and had to replace both the ballasts and the bulbs.

hope this helps

 

[trigger0214]

you should be able to use the JBL ballasts provided the they are rated for enough wattage. You will probably have to replace you end caps if you are going to custom-sealife type bulbs (japanese square pin versus linear)...

 

[trigger0214]

if you MUST replace your ballasts, get your local lighting store (or fish shop) to order you a fulham workhorse (fulham.com), it is the ballast that CSL uses, at a fraction if the cost.

 

[purplefirefish]

The lighting on my 46 gal bow is: 2x175watt 10k ushio metal halide, and for actinics I use a 2x55watt pc from ahsupply.

 

[ronhaake]

:?:
I cant get new bulbs and even when I do they die on me (actinics) within 2wks.

Casey-
It may be totally unrelated to your problem, but about six weeks ago I was ready to pull my (remaining) hair out over a bad batch of JBJ bulbs.
I went through 5 96w 10,000k bulbs. The first 4 bulbs that I brought back my LFS made me think it was my fault. They thought I was scamming them, I guess, but they lasted less than 2 days each.
I contacted JBJ, and they fessed up to having put out at least one bad batch of bulbs. They had me look at the code printed on the ceramic base to determine lot number. By the time I brought back my 5th bulb, the store had 15 other bad bulbs on the counter and I felt vindicated.

I'd start by contacting JBJ, but take the advice of switching the endcaps and using the other pin style if you can't get satisfaction from JBJ or your local store.

 

[LFS42]

Next I would look into selling the unit on E-bay and get some VHO's on the tank.
I ran into the same decision with setting up my 72 bow.
A guy I work with got the JBJ and I got the VHO.
He had the same problem, but his was a bad balast, and he's had to replace lights every 3 month since.
FWIW, his fans blew out also.

It cost me about double on the intial set-up (I had to have a canopy built for the ligths) but we've evened out after 1 year.

JBJ can make some pretty good stuf, but until I'm unhappy with my VHO's, I'm going to suggest them.

 

[LA-Lawman]

If you go with CSL bulbs be sure you get the german 2g11 pins. CSL now makes them.

I have part numbers if you need them....