Thread: Amalgam UV not working

I've got an Aqua Air 42 watt Amalgam that has been running since October 2019.

It only runs for about 1 to 2 hours a day in spring, summer and autumn and turned off over winter, so not exactly used heavily.

I noticed the pond greening up and it seems the Amalgam is not working.

I'm trying to work out if it's the bulb or the ballast that is at fault?

When I turn it on, the bulb glows red??? momentarily and then goes off after a second or two.

Anyone have any ideas or experienced this themselves?

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Difficult to say whether bulb or ballast. My Amalgam bulb failed after just 10 months use. When it failed it was lit up a reddish violet colour at the ends and the glass looked smokey (like a normal bulb that goes black when it fails). Replaced bulb and it has worked fine since.

I found an amalgam UVC bulb supplier that was cheaper than all the Koi places - My bulb was £110 from Koi Dealers (now £150) but was around £60 from this site (now £65) and the fella was very helpful:

https://www.elclampsonline.com/

Originally Posted by RS2OOO

Difficult to say whether bulb or ballast. My Amalgam bulb failed after just 10 months use. When it failed it was lit up a reddish violet colour at the ends and the glass looked smokey (like a normal bulb that goes black when it fails). Replaced bulb and it has worked fine since.

I found an amalgam UVC bulb supplier that was cheaper than all the Koi places - My bulb was £110 from Koi Dealers (now £150) but was around £60 from this site (now £65) and the fella was very helpful:

https://www.elclampsonline.com/

they are a good price

i did notice coastal are doing amalgam bulbs £39 for the 40 watt and £59 for the 80 watt.
but i would have to measure mine up to make sure they are the correct 4 pin fitment and length...

https://coastal-koi.com/product/amal...lacement-bulb/

Originally Posted by davethefish1

they are a good price

i did notice coastal are doing amalgam bulbs £39 for the 40 watt and £59 for the 80 watt.
but i would have to measure mine up to make sure they are the correct 4 pin fitment and length...

https://coastal-koi.com/product/amal...lacement-bulb/

Getting the exact right bulb was a bit of a challenge to figure out. From memory my 4 pin 40w was something like 358mm long and the 4 pins were/are equally spaced.

I found others that were the same length but the pins weren't equally spaced, and others where the pins were right but the bulb was too long.
The ones where pins were not equal could be found quite a bit cheaper, from about £15, but I think they only fit certain filtreau drum UVs.

EDIT: Just clicked your link, I see the Coastal ones are measured from end of pins at 365mm. Possibly they are the correct size. Can't remember if my 358mm includes the pins or not, I don't think it does which would imply the coastal ones would fit, which makes them a great price. (They were not available when I searched a year ago). Only other difference is the Coastal ones are listed as 42w instead of 40w.

Originally Posted by RS2OOO

Getting the exact right bulb was a bit of a challenge to figure out. From memory my 4 pin 40w was something like 358mm long and the 4 pins were/are equally spaced.

I found others that were the same length but the pins weren't equally spaced, and others where the pins were right but the bulb was too long.
The ones where pins were not equal could be found quite a bit cheaper, from about £15, but I think they only fit certain filtreau drum UVs.

EDIT: Just clicked your link, I see the Coastal ones are measured from end of pins at 365mm. Possibly they are the correct size. Can't remember if my 358mm includes the pins or not, I don't think it does which would imply the coastal ones would fit, which makes them a great price. (They were not available when I searched a year ago). Only other difference is the Coastal ones are listed as 42w instead of 40w.

all the different sizes is a bit of a minefield... though my quartz tube would take a slightly longer bulb.
i'm quite surprised how well mine has lasted it's been in two years now...
and the green light on the ballast says it's not due for replacement yet until the light goes red, indicating performance has dropped. (or i get green water)

Thanks all.

I got mine from Coastal koi so might just buy a bulb from them and see if that fixes it. Looks like they sell them for a decent price too!

I'm thinking of getting a sack of saki Hikari so will chuck it in with that order.

My bulb has 4 pins equally spaced. Although not measured it yet. Think I got the 42watt version.

RS's description of his bulb going sounds exactly like what has happened to mine. So that seems the most likely thing that has happened to mine.

Weirdly, my pond has cleared up really well recently without my UV running for what must be months now.

Must be all that UV from the sun lol

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Cheers. I still haven't got round to buying it.

I think I still have my invoice in my inbox from when I originally ordered it, so I'm hoping that I will order the right one.

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