- Replace the fluorescent tubes with new ones.
- Make sure that the fluorescent tubes are firmly seated in the sockets.
- Make sure that the switch or timer is in the "on" position.
Make sure that the circuit you have it plugged into can handle the amount of amperage on it. Keep in mind that while you may have 13 amps on a 15 amp circuit the start up requirement can be higher. For example your chiller, heater and pumps will draw much more power upon initial start up.
Aquatic Life utilizes grounded plugs in all of our products. Sometimes another productthat does not have a ground and is malfunctioning will ground through our fixture. Check your heater and/or powerheads as these are the likely culprits.
HID lights need a few minutes to turn on once they have been turned off. You can not turn them off and then immediately turn them back on.
Most T5HO lamps come with a mercury pellet or two inside. If you take a new bulb and tilt it you can hear the rolling sound it produces. Once the bulb is lit the pellets will dissipate after a few hours.
Many Lamps have a “burn in” time when they are new. It can take up to 100 hours for the phosphorus in a lamp to completely mix and the lamp to achieve its true color.
- Insure that the fixture is plugged into an electrical outlet.
- Hit the reset button to restore the factory default settings.
- Did the timer get wet or has salt creep built up around it? Keep up on regular cleaning on your Aquatic Life fixture.
- Check to make sure that the timer is set correctly.
- Did the fixture get wet? Water damage inside the fixture can affect the performance of the 4 volt transformer.
- What happens in shipping is often out of control of you, the store and Aquatic Life. If a fixture was handled roughly by a carrier, the low voltage wires may have come loose. Contact Customer Support for advice on servicing the modular components in Aquatic Life fixtures.
Aquatic Life does not recommend placing the fixture underneath a canopy. The fans keep the internal parts cool, and cannot do so if in an enclosed environment. We recommend more of a decorative “skirt” rather than an enclosed canopy. Another alternative is to install Retrofit Kits into your canopy.
Depending on what your goals are and what animals you are keeping will determine this.
- SPS- replace every 9-10 months
- LPS, Softies etc- Replace every 12-14 months.
- Planted tanks- Every 12-14 months
- Fish Only- Every 12-14 months
Aquatic Life products use modular components and are easy to service. With the main power cord to the fixture unplugged, locate the ballast that needs to be replaced. Remove the screws on both ends of the ballast. Unplug the ballast from the quick connections. Plug the new ballast into the quick connections. Screw down the new ballast. Individual instructional videos are available for many of the Aquatic Life fixtures. Locate your fixture on the Aquatic Life website and follow the links to the video.
On both sides of the LED, you will see little white tabs. Squeeze both tabs toward the middle and the LED module will pop out from the reflector. On the back of the LED is a quick disconnect plug. Simply unplug the old LED and plug in the new LED.
Check to make sure the bulbs are correctly inserted and the twist locks are engaged. If the flicker is isolated to one bulb then swap the bulb positions around. If the flicker follows the bulb then you may have a failing bulb. If the flicker stays with the socket then check to make sure that the ballast quick connections are secure.
If you are searching for the legs on a dual lamp then open both ends of the box. They are in the enclosed compartment in the box. All other legs will be in the main part of the box with the fixture.
The linking hardware comes attached to the dual lamps. To access the hardware simply remove the endplates and you will find the link bars screwed into the housing.
The clock and timer use a 24 hour time format (Military Time). For example, 1:00 PM will show 13:00 on the display. Verify that the correct START/END times are set according to the 24 hour format.
- If the light fixture was unplugged or encountered a power loss for an extended period of time, the timer might need to be reset. There is a small reset button on the front of the timer panel. Use the end of an ink pen or paper clip to press the small reset button. This will restore the light fixture to factory settings.
- Did the timer get wet or has salt creep built up around it? Keep up on regular cleaning on your Aquatic Life fixture.
- Insure that it is plugged into an outlet.
The PROG and zone (WHITE, BLUE, NIGHT, 700+, 420/460, HID, LED) buttons must be pressed at the same time to initiate the programming mode. When in the program mode, three arrows will be displayed pointing to the zone being programmed.
- Verify the lamps are in the sockets properly and the lamps are not broken or damaged.
- All Aquatic Life fixtures use ballasts that contain an end of life protection circuit. The ballast will shut down if one lamp is not firing properly or has reached the end of its life. This safety feature prevents the ballast from continuing to try and start the lamp and possibly overheating.
The six lamp fixture has two lights connected to the blue channel. The reason for this is that most hobbyists prefer two slots only for a dusk/dawn affect. When the white lights come on the third blue slot will come on in conjunction.
Aquatic Life fixtures come with a one year limited warranty. If warranty work is needed, please contact Customer Support.
Aquatic Life fixtures should be operated using the supplied lens covers. The lens covers are a protective barrier between the lamps and the water and salt.
Aquatic Life fixtures are designed to be used with Aquarium Frame Mounts (sometimes called legs) or suspended using optional suspension hardware. Placing a fixture directly on top of an aquarium will not allow the fixture to cool properly and could cause damage to the fixture and/or aquarium.
Fluorescent tubes contain mercury, which is a hazardous waste. Please check with your local authorities if you are disposing of fluorescent tubes or HID lamps. Visit www.lamprecycle.org for additional information.
Unplug the fixture immediately. Let it dry out for a day before starting the fixture. If it is not working, contact Customer Support at 1-888-548-3480.
Unplug the fixture immediately. Let it dry thoroughly before starting the fixture. If it is not working, contact Customer Support at 1-888-548-3480.
