DIY Moonlight

[RayAllen]

Anyone have any plans/ideas on how to build a Led moonlight system? I want to put some on my 210g. I was thinking of somehow using a 6ft peice of pvc and putting 4 blue led lights at approx every 1'5" of pipe and hanging it in the canopy with brackets. The tank is 7ft long so I think that the spacing would look good. Im not sure on wiring though.........


Ray

[MissT]

Definately possible,and really pretty simple. you can get pretty much everything at Radioshack to put together something simple. Otherwise, get the parts online. I'd suggest 3/4 or 1 watt LEDs and alternate between white and blue... but that's just my opinion. I did some stuff with LEDs a few years ago, I'll try to find the website again for you.

[tomanero]

http://www.csd.net/~cgadd/aqua/art_nightlight.htm
http://www.kaotica.com/frag/diy/moonlight/

[TexasTodd]

Interesting. Anyone find any 420-460nm bulbs? Actinic range of 420 would be cool to add on nanocubes etc.

Todd

[ismvel]

I also have some instructions that I purchased from the Lebos last year along with DIY Auto Top Off, and DIY Rock (when I was trying to do this cheaply...LOL)...but the moonlight instructions are pretty good....anyone want me to send them a copy drop me an e-mail and i'll shoot it over really quick. It is too large to attach on here.

ismael.velez@bcdtravel.com

[Darth-Tater]

Ray, I have the DIY from Lebos. I will email them to you. just give me your email address.

David

[RayAllen]

Thanks DAvid but that the same one that Maelv has and I alredy got it. I dont have a soderer(spelling) so I dont think I will be able to make it.

[hobogato]

you can get a small soldering iron at walmart for about $10. i made my own and used them for a couple of years, but the salt air takes its toll on the wiring. i have now switched to the moonlights that are in the glass tubes (i think they are odyssea). they are much brighter than my diy ones and they are sealed in glass tubes (someone said you could even submerge them).

[TexasTodd]

Link to the ones you have Ace?

:)

Todd

[RayAllen]

yea im interested to.

[erikharrison]

Ray they are the same ones that I have in my tank. I have both of mine submerged and they come in 20 inch tubes. They are VERY bright, and AD carries them in stock. If he doesn't have them, ask him because the last time I was there and bought a second one he had to run and grab one out of storage.

I found a link...
http://www.tropicalfishencounter.com/store/index.php?main_page=product_info&products_id=196

Oh, I cannot completely state that they are submergeable, but I do have mine that way. They come with brackets that have suction cups, so I figured it should be submersible.

[hobogato]

thanks erik - they come in 20", 31" and 42" tubes.

[erikharrison]

np :)

[RayAllen]

sweet thanks guys

[Darth-Tater]

Ray here is another link that Big Bird found.

http://www.top-off.com/

They look ok.

D

[Submariner]

There is a great DIY plans database at aquariaforums.com (formerly king vinnie's marine pages). Maelv how did the auto top-off work out?

[ismvel]

There is a great DIY plans database at aquariaforums.com (formerly king vinnie's marine pages). Maelv how did the auto top-off work out?
It worked just fine, it was made out of a 5 gallon jug and used an air stone. I used it for a couple of months and then bought an auto top unit that I placed in a 32 gallon trash can that I used to store my water and pumped it out with a maxi-jet 1200. I personally wouldn't use the auto top off, but you are more than welcome to have the instructions if you'd like.

http://www.autotopoff.com/products.html

[Darth-Tater]

I also tried the auto top off. I used it for a couple of months then bout another version and use it with a 20 gallon tall next to the tankl for a top .

Tater