View Full Version : coralvue 250w retro with 12k bulb
jam_minn
02/25/2008, 08:58 PM
Ordered this kit from reef specialty. The owner of the store was featured on the tank of the month.266 dollars and a week and a half later my lighting system shows up...It does not work at all! Called the store owner Mike...He tried to walk me through various thing like connections and stuff...The reflux bulb that was sent out does not work at all and the ballast will fire up one of my old bulbs for abot 2 secs and fail. I told him I think the ballast and bulb are both junk...He said he'd make it right...Keep you all posted...I have read a couple of threads on coralvue that have been negative but ignored them due to the fact this guy was running the same lights and was on tank of the month...Any opinions?
jam_minn
dougchambers
02/25/2008, 09:07 PM
We've been running CoralVue ballasts and bulbs for years without any issues. I'm assuming you are running SE bulbs. Take a look at the center tab in the mogul socket and make sure it is extended enough to make contact with the bulb. Double check any wire nuts too. I had a problem with an IceCap intially because I had a loose wire in the wire nut.
-Doug
jam_minn
02/25/2008, 09:28 PM
Hey doug!
You are correct SE bulb and I did extend the tab you are refering to. It still would not fire my new reflux bulb and only fired my old bulb for about 2 secs...I've checked all conections multiple times.My old bulb is a 65k 250w and like I said will fire for about 2 seconds and fail.The new 12k reflux bulb won't even try.Mike thinks it's a ballast prob.I have spoken with him only a few times but he seems to be a stand up guy...Willing to let him make it right...after all he does not manufacture thesse things ..only sells them
jam_minn
02/25/2008, 09:30 PM
Oh yeah my new reflux bulb makes a jingle sound if you shake it lightly...just like a household bulb when it goes bad
JRaquatics
02/25/2008, 09:50 PM
Sounds like you have a bad ballast, and may not fire the bulb. The Reeflux bulbs take alot of initial energy to fire these bulbs. I wouldn't loose any sleep over this. I know Mike and I am a loyal customer to him because of the fact that he is all about helping other reefers.
Tagareef
02/25/2008, 10:28 PM
jam_minn,
I think it's the ballast too. Do you still have your old ballast to do a test fire on the Reeflux? Some of my bulbs, old and new, jingle due to small pieces of glass left over from the manufacturing process.
I just bought 4 Lumenbrights, 250w CoralVue ballasts and 12k Reeflux bulbs from Mike and am still blown away by the customer service I received before AND after the purchase. I have talked to him several times over the past couple of weeks and now consider him more of a friend than a vendor I do business with! Don't worry, Mike will take care of business, I'm sure of it.
You are going to love these lights!
Luis
jam_minn
02/26/2008, 05:17 AM
Thanks for the responses JR and Tag...I get the feelimg From talking with Mike that all will be well in the end. Just been burned b4 and had to post.(not by Mike). I will make sure to tell the world when this is corrected! He does seem to care about what happened and is doing everything he can at this point...(just got an email from him) Thanks for confirming my faith in people!
jam_minn
02/26/2008, 09:13 PM
Mike called me at work today and let me know that Dave from coralvue was going to contact me regaurding my prob. Wow...was not expecting that at all! Sure enough dave did send me an email asking about the length of the output cord and that it may be to long.He said 10' max and mine measured out to 9' 10 & 1/2 inches. I feel a solution coming on! Waiting for his reply
dougchambers
02/26/2008, 10:12 PM
David is a really good guy! I've talked to him a number of times and he's alway been very fair with his products.
Let us know how it turns out...
-Doug
jam_minn
02/26/2008, 11:23 PM
Yup Yup doug I will. Both Mike and Dave have been stand up guys so far...I almost feel bad about starting this thread...cause I get the feeling they will make it all good in the end...This may turn out to be a good example of custumer service in action! Like I said in my previous post...was very surprised to get a call from Mike...shows he's concerned! Just waiting on a reply from Dave now since I sent him the info he requested reguarding the lenghth of the output cord. Check back tomorow cause if this ends out well I want people to know...as of tonight I would say it will!
vBulletin® v3.8.4, Copyright ©2000-2024, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.