jbharlan91 Posted February 24, 2012 Share Posted February 24, 2012 We have a biocube, 29 gallon, and the light won't come on. It's the main light, not the actinic. We switched the lightbulb, still doesn't work. Both fans still come on, and the blue light comes on. We went to RCA and got a new power cord, still doesn't work. The end of the lightbulb, where you plug it in, will look like it's trying to light up and turn pinkish yellow, but the rest of the lightbulb won't light. Has anyone had this problem, or know how to fix it??? Thanks!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
(Bio)³ Posted February 24, 2012 Share Posted February 24, 2012 When one of my BC's did this I swapped the ballast and found I had a bad ballast. I'm assuming you bought a new one at RCA when you said power cord. Perhaps the bulb is bad? If not there is a capacitor built inside the hood that could have failed. I gutted one BC and still have all the guts, Posted it in the for sale section awhile back and never re-bumped the thread. http://www.austinreefclub.com/topic/20955-biocube-29-hood-guts/ if you are interested. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jbharlan91 Posted February 24, 2012 Author Share Posted February 24, 2012 Yes, looked up the parts online and we replaced the ballast. I thought the ballast was the piece that the bulb plugs into, guess not. We switched out the ballast, and the bulb, and no luck. It's obviously getting power, and both fans come on. The weird thing is that the bulb looks like it is trying to come on, at the end where it plugs in it will start to light up and turns a weird yellowish pink, and it heats up. It just won't light up all the way. Can the capacitor be replaced? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
(Bio)³ Posted February 24, 2012 Share Posted February 24, 2012 I don't see why it couldnt just cut out the cables you cant detach then resolder them on. It sits under the little metal reflector shield and its crimped to one of the wires to the socket (part that bulb plugs in to) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
victoly Posted February 24, 2012 Share Posted February 24, 2012 Time to go LED.... Bio and I both did it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
victoly Posted February 24, 2012 Share Posted February 24, 2012 I've actually got a bunch of the guts as well, if you want to try and perhaps swap in a new pump connector. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jbharlan91 Posted February 24, 2012 Author Share Posted February 24, 2012 Hmm...not sure if this is getting beyond my abilites or not. I have a soldering iron, but haven't soldered anything but stained glass. Not sure if it's too big for little wires like that. I'd love to try to fix it though, I'm worried that my mushrooms and anemone will get upset fast without their light. What guts would you recommend trying? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
victoly Posted February 25, 2012 Share Posted February 25, 2012 Can you run over exactly what you've replaced? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bige Posted February 25, 2012 Share Posted February 25, 2012 I have my old guts as well. Your welcome to them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jbharlan91 Posted February 25, 2012 Author Share Posted February 25, 2012 @victoly - I've replaced the ballast with a new one from RCA. I've replaced the bulb. That's all I can find that I can actually replace without cutting wires. I checked both fans, both fans are working. The light is getting power, because it starts to light up at the end near the plug, but it just turns an odd shade of yellowish pink, like maybe it's overheating, and the rest of the length of the bulb never lights up, and it doesn't put out any light. The blue light still works fine. I do have a little time now to figure it out, a friend is letting me borrow a spare light that sits over the top of the aquarium. So we have that installed for the time being. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
(Bio)³ Posted February 25, 2012 Share Posted February 25, 2012 Take your hood apart and locate the metal spool/block inside it is your capacitor. Cut it out and install another one. It sounds like the issue, you need to dump a lot of electricity in the start up to fully fire the bulb. Without that it won't have the ability to get everything up and running. Easy fix about 40 min tops including learning curve. While your at it depending what guts you have you might also add in a second set of bulbs giving 72 total watts instead of your current 36. Just an option Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
victoly Posted February 26, 2012 Share Posted February 26, 2012 Seconded the capacitor. If the ballast and bulbs are new, the cap is all that is left really. --- I am here: http://tapatalk.com/map.php?lt1cco Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+Capt. Obvious Posted February 26, 2012 Share Posted February 26, 2012 If you need help soldering it, I can assist, let me know. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ckyuv Posted February 27, 2012 Share Posted February 27, 2012 i just switched to led on my biocube, totally worth it Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ckyuv Posted February 27, 2012 Share Posted February 27, 2012 but if you contact their customer support, they will pretty much replace anything but the glass for free if your able to figure out what it is Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Longnose Hawkfish Posted September 15, 2013 Share Posted September 15, 2013 Hey! Did you figure out the problem?? I have the same problem right now I need to get it solved ASAP! If you solved it can you please tell me what you did? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Longnose Hawkfish Posted September 16, 2013 Share Posted September 16, 2013 Can some one please help, don't want to buy new light fixture. Thanks Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ckyuv Posted September 16, 2013 Share Posted September 16, 2013 Did you already try the ballast? Try what bio suggested? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Longnose Hawkfish Posted September 16, 2013 Share Posted September 16, 2013 It's not ballast bought a new one. Not bulb either because it works in the other slot. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
(Bio)³ Posted September 16, 2013 Share Posted September 16, 2013 Is it the white or actinic that stopped working? If its the white light are the fans running when the switch is turned on? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Longnose Hawkfish Posted September 16, 2013 Share Posted September 16, 2013 It's the actinic one that's not working. But it's not the bulb. And also both fans work fine Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Longnose Hawkfish Posted September 16, 2013 Share Posted September 16, 2013 It's the actinic one that's not working. But it's not the bulb. And also both fans work fine Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Longnose Hawkfish Posted September 16, 2013 Share Posted September 16, 2013 The bulb is fine it's something else besides bulb and ballast Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Longnose Hawkfish Posted September 16, 2013 Share Posted September 16, 2013 It's the actinic one that's not working. But it's not the bulb. And also both fans work fine Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Longnose Hawkfish Posted September 16, 2013 Share Posted September 16, 2013 It is the actinic one that is not functioning. The bulb works though tried it out on another slot and my ballasts are both fine. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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