One for the fishtank people...

[OscarG]

I have 2 tanks, both Juwels.

The larger tank is 5 years old and still using the original twin light tubes.

The smaller tank has a single 438mm tube and it seems to goes through them like a fat kid going through sweets.

My last little tube lasted just 5 months, the online place I bought it from isn't interested. I don't know if I have a duff light unit, unlucky with tubes being bumped in transport or maybe 5 months is about right with one of these, no idea?

I'm getting a bit fed up of shelling out £15 every few months for a replacement Juwel light tube. I've seen unbranded 438mm tubes on Amazon for fraction of cost, but there's no mention of aquarium in their description.

Is there any difference between an "aquarium tube" and a normal tube?

Do you think I'm risk of shorting/killing the fish if I use one of these cheapo tubes?

 

[will1983]

Hi I used to be a fishkeeper until we moved and didn't really have room for the big tank. I've only ever bought Juwel tanks and always found them to be good quality for a reasonable price, however the damp environment was always hard on the light units, I think I had to replace all of them over the years.

Are you also replacing the screw on white collar seals at each end of the tube? If not this is likely the route the moisture is getting into the contacts and causing them to corrode and then die. Alternatively have a look at making a whole replacement unit with LEDS and ditching the T5/8 tubes.

What sort of fish do you keep? I had a Malawi cichlid tanks for years, Pseudotropheus saulosi if I remember rightly, the males are blue/black and the females yellow.

 

[Phil Pascoe]

You can use ordinary tubes, but the colour temperature won't be the same - normally tubes for aquaria are designed to show off the fish or like GroLux to benefit the plants. You might see a difference in the overall colour. I have a nice corner tank coming my way - if it hasn't already got them I'll look for LEDs.

 

[OscarG]

Cheers chaps.

I've never had much luck with plant growth in this tank, even with something basic/hardy like Amazon swords, tried both "warm" and normal T8 tubes. I added a reflector to help boost light but still most plants tend to die in this tank whereas they thrive with zero effort in the big tank.

In terms of fish, nothing too exotic in there, a few cardinal tetras (one of them, a naughty one expelled from the big tank for biting my Betta's fins!) and a small clown pleco.

Good point about the rubber seals, I'll check those, perhaps that's the culprit.

Yeah, maybe I should make the switch to LEDs.

 

[sunnybob]

cant comment on LEDS (they are after my time) but to get good plant growth you need LIGHT. Lots of LIGHT. the average tank with its one or two fading tubes will never allow the plants to grow.

I use three full length tubes on a tank if i wanted plants to grow.
A grolux (reddish colour, use din butchers counters to make the meat look better)
A northlight (to take the dingyness of the grolux away).
And a white (to increase overall brightness).

Grolux especially start to fade after 6 months and should be replaced twice a year to keep optimum performance. the others should last a couple years each before going black at the ends and becoming dimmer.
If you want REALLY good plants, you need to up the stakes on the lighting. Remember, all those plants live naturally in tropical jungle conditions.

Lights failing before their time can be traced to either moisture on the terminals, or a loose connection in the mains supply chain.

 

[Robbo3]

We have a Juwel tank with a (now) solitary large goldfish. The tank was quite aged when we got it some 12 or more years ago & it still has its original tube. The previous owner said it was some 10 years old, making it at least 22, & he can't remember having to change the tube.

 

[E-wan]

I give up on having a light or a lid for my fish tank a while ago. Kept getting very mucky from condensation in the tank

I use a cheap IKEA uplighter with a bright bulb next to it

Have to replace plants every so often but mainly because they get eaten

The plants that I have found survive best are ones which grow from a bulb planted under the gravel. Not sure what it's called but it's the one with the large flat leaves in the photograph.

The tank in the photographs is Fluval 120L.

It originally came with a lid containing a couple of fluorescent tubes

No longer use anything except the tank that came with the setup.

I Use EHEIM filters and an air pump designed for garden ponds which seems much more robust than the fish tank variety

Ewan

Sent from my SM-G900F using Tapatalk

 

[Nikolaj33]

If you are going to switch to LED there is an IKEA aquaponics light which will work well in an aquarium, especially if you want to grow plants.

I got myself some Lidl led lights for £10, I haven't tried them yet, but I don't expect any problems.