i have bought a fish tank and the hood has a bulb holder attached to it, to provide the light. It is the normal type bulb holder, and not a tube light type. Is it ok, to connect a normal black/red wire to the bulb side and connect a plug at the other end for power? or is there anything special that needs to be done to make it safe possibly? Cheers
Connect it via a plug with a 30mA RCD capability so that if it gets wet for any reason, you won't die.
The wiring should be in flex with brown/blue colour code and the plug fuse no more than 3A.
It is also a good idea to get a drip tray to cover the tank, below the bulb and to prevent or at least reduce condensation.
.andy
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In message , One Man Show wrote
Are you sure that the tank was previously used for fish? The bulb may have been a heat or UV source for a reptile and as no water was involved this may have been a safe installation.
You need to prevent condensation and splashes from fish, the airstone or the up-lift pump soaking the connections - including the times where you may have removed the splash guard in order to clean the tank or feed the fish. The fittings for tubes are waterproof (or at least splash proof)
Use flex (brown/blue). If the hood or lampholder are metal they must be earthed.
I think Alan may be right. All the fish tanks I have seen have short tubes with thick rubber insulated connectors at each end, the choke, starter and switch are mounted remotely in a sealed separate plastic box. A standard tungsten bulb would have the wrong colour temperature for fish, you need something colder with a daylight coefficient giving a slight blue appearance.
Robin
Hi
Ordinary lightbulbs shatter when they get splashed, slicing your eyeballs and chopping up fish. Also bulb holders above water aren't too smart due to condensation and splashing overnight while off. Plus lack of what sounds like an essential earth connection. I wouldnt wire it up at all, least not without it being checked by someone qualified. Somethings wrong with this picture.
You could use a 12v halogen safely, as long as you _only_ use the glass fronted closed bulbs, and keep the mains well away from the tank.
Regards, NT
Agreed, this sounds like a fitting for a terrarium heat lamp. Aquarium bulb holder/controller sets can be had for not much money in many pet shops and they will also sell you aquarium fluorescent bulbs. You will not get any plant growth at all without the right bulb and your fish will look so much nicer too. Oh, and you can buy plastic clips that bolt through the hood to grip the tube. Your hood may have two small holes for them. If not it is an easy matter to drill new ones, you could do it with a hand drill or a punch and a reamer if necessary.
Peter
In message , N. Thornton writes
Heyy, graffik !
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