Bulb removal

[VinceJE]

Just found this forum and it looks like there alot of good tips here, but I don't see one for this... Maybe someone can help me out...

I have a 2yr old, 48" Coralife Lunar Aqualight on my 72BF marine tank. One of the 4 bulbs has finally burned out, so it's time to change it, but I cannot get the bulb to unplug from the ballast socket. The bulbs are the 4 straight pin connector design. They all seem to be siezed by corrosion or something. I will definately break the bulb and/or the socket if I pry any harder.
:help:

I paid over $300 for this unit and really don't want to damage it. So... Any ideas? Anyone else here have the same struggle? What can I do to remove the bulbs and is there something I can do to prevent this from happening in the future?



THANKS!!!!!

 

[fsn77]

I'm not exactly sure what you can do to make getting the bulbs out now any easier, but I can provide some advice for the future as I have the same Coralife fixture (although slightly older). If you do end up breaking an endcap, they are pretty cheap and incredibly easy to replace, as the fixture I have we got used and I had to replace 2 of the endcaps before I could use it. Over time, the heat generated by the fixture caused the 2 endcaps to become brittle and they essentially crumbled in my hand when I went to remove the bulbs, although there was 1 bulb that was siezed and I ended up breaking it to get it out. I got replacement endcaps from hellolights.com -- but most aquarium lighting supply retailers should have them. You may want to also check the cooling fans in the fixture to make sure they are clean and running properly.

A quick trip to the auto parts store and about $1 will prevent the bulbs from siezing in the endcap. Pick up some bulb grease / light bulb grease (commonly used on car headlight pins to prevent this very same problem). It only takes a small amount to be effective, so the small packet will last quite some time. I just store the opened packet in a ziplock bag.

Otherwise, the bulbs themselves are not effective until they burn out. The color spectrum shifts and output intensity declines over time. Many places recommend changing them out every 6 months, however, I've gone 8 - 9 months before having noticable issues with our corals related to the aging light bulbs in our reef tank.

Have you been waiting to replace the bulbs in the fixture until they burn out?
Have you been able to do so without any problems with your corals? Or, is your tank FO or FOWLR?

 

[RONCGIZMO]

Try a little bit of WD40 and let it sit, you might have to spray it a few times but it should work. and don't for get to unplug it...lol

 

[VinceJE]

thanks...

Thanks... I'll try the tips.

My tank is FOWLR. I've not changed the bulbs yet in about 2 years and haven't had a problem due to light deficency (that I know of). I'm wanting to change the bulbs now because I know it's past due by the book. I'm really upset about this problem. If there is such an easy and cheap prevention, then I would think the manufacturer would put the goop on it at the factory.???