Urgent Lighting Problem

[AwesomeHermit]

I noticed that there are 2 cracks on the top of my Aqueon Lid which is Incandescent, with 2 25Watt bulbs. I will pose a pic soon.

[AwesomeHermit]

I have had this since summer of 2017.

[wodesorel]

Hoods don't work well with hot lights, the plastic eventually breaks down from the heat. I melted out one of those overnight once!

Are you using the recommendee wattage?

Are they aquarium bulbs or heating bulbs?

[AwesomeHermit]

Hoods don't work well with hot lights, the plastic eventually breaks down from the heat. I melted out one of those overnight once!

Are you using the recommendee wattage?

Are they aquarium bulbs or heating bulbs?

I am using the recommended wattage, 2 bulbs which are 25 watt.

I never knew there were aquarium bulbs vs regular incandescent bulbs!

Should I not use it anymore?

[wodesorel]

Check the wiring and see how it looks. It should still be safe to use since heat rises and the most damage will be at the very top. Wiring and fixtures are made to hold up to more than the molded plastic. It should still be under warranty - contact Aqueon with photos and let them know what happened. So long as you weren't using a reptile heat bulb inside they should replace it. A reptile heat bulb should have acted the same as any regular incandescent but it would void any warranty given the implied heating aspect. These hoods are specifically made to be used with the tube incandescents sold for aquariums, desklights, and paintings.

I had a fluorescent strip go bad a few years ago and Aqueon was awesome about it, but it was before they merged so things may have changed.

[AwesomeHermit]

So I should ask for a replacement? To be honest after this I would rather go with a different heating source.

[AwesomeHermit]

https://amzn.to/2EMsiX7 This is the light

[wodesorel]

I would see if they would replace it since you bought it not long ago. I mean, I would not write them and go 'gimme a new one.' Just do like what you posted here. Bought it in August, it's cracking, is it safe to use? Is it still under any guarantee? I have always had great customer service with companies by being polite and never being demanding. Stuff happens sometimes, and good companies stand behind their products and want happy customers.

Even if you choose not to use it for heating, you could always get a good UTH for heat and use a much lower watt (cooler) incandescent OR go with some LEDs instead. I have the same hood for a 5-gallon fish tank and use a 1500 lumen chandelier LED bulb for great lighting but little heat.

[AwesomeHermit]

Yea, I looked through the light guide and I saw that the LED did not produce heat. I gave up on Uth’s because I got 3 and none of them did anything. I found a pretty good Flukers light I might get

[wodesorel]

What brands did you try, and what size? The only good ones are the Ultratherms that have to be ordered online, and Flukers which can be found in some stores. You want one that spans the entire length of the tank and often you can get away with one wide enough to sit at the substrate line. If you have very cold room conditions (mid 60s or lower) you may need one that spans top to bottom. Both brands I mentioned can also be insulated over, I have a Flukers that reaches top to bottom on my 10 gallon and is covered with a piece of cardboard with aluminium foil on it. My room is often in the 50s and the temp stays good all night.