LED lights for an 8 foot tank.

[Polyaddict86]

If you use the strips like above you're going to need a LOT of them if you how to be able to grow even low light plants...
And with the amount of heat the produced, completely lack of heatsinking and not much airflow if you have a hood it would probably be a good idea to figure out a way to cool them. I've just checked mine depending on where I test, running at about 115°F to 150°F. Not hugely hot, but likely impacting output and longevity enough to be worth some simple changes to cool them.

For my setup, if I do the same again, I'm debating between a bunch of Aluminium U tubes, or getting a couple aluminum plates and spacing them out from the hood a little with the strips attached to them.

My build https://www.monsterfishkeepers.com/forums/threads/led-strip-lighting-build.704775/#post-7945007

I think I used 7 5 meter rolls, I can't remember. On a 4'X2'X2' I'd call that low-medium lighting.

Some ppl i know just tied them in eggcrate.

 

[Galantspeedz]

Is this inside the tank? Cause i bought this kind.

View attachment 1373512

View attachment 1373513

Yes mine is in the tank but not submerged in water... I just lower the water level enough to accomodate the strip without it being submerged in water

 

[Galantspeedz]

Ignore the language if not Chinese proficient lol

This is how mine looks like, as seen in the picture there is an additional plastic covering over the strip.... believe that's the only difference between mine and yours

 

[Galantspeedz]

If you use the strips like above you're going to need a LOT of them if you how to be able to grow even low light plants...
And with the amount of heat the produced, completely lack of heatsinking and not much airflow if you have a hood it would probably be a good idea to figure out a way to cool them. I've just checked mine depending on where I test, running at about 115°F to 150°F. Not hugely hot, but likely impacting output and longevity enough to be worth some simple changes to cool them.

For my setup, if I do the same again, I'm debating between a bunch of Aluminium U tubes, or getting a couple aluminum plates and spacing them out from the hood a little with the strips attached to them.

My build https://www.monsterfishkeepers.com/forums/threads/led-strip-lighting-build.704775/#post-7945007

I think I used 7 5 meter rolls, I can't remember. On a 4'X2'X2' I'd call that low-medium lighting.

I believe what you got is likely very low quality lighting based on current tech. Could see that number of LEDs per metre is very few... and likely not using a 5050 chip set

 

[Polyaddict86]

Yes mine is in the tank but not submerged in water... I just lower the water level enough to accomodate the strip without it being submerged in water

What tape or stuff you using to hold it in place?

 

[Galantspeedz]

What tape or stuff you using to hold it in place?

Not using any... my tank has 2 holes at each corner on top of tank with a centre euro brace so I just put the the strips through them... then at the euro brace I use fishing line and suction cup to pull up the sag...

Take a picture for you when I am back... overseas now

 

[TwoHedWlf]

I believe what you got is likely very low quality lighting based on current tech. Could see that number of LEDs per metre is very few... and likely not using a 5050 chip set

5630s actually, They're roughly twice the lumens of 5050s. 5050s

5050 LED	5.0 mm x 5.0 mm	25 mm²	16-22 lumens	60 mA @ 2.8-3.4 Volts
5630 LED	5.6 mm x 3.0 mm	16.8 mm²	45-50 lumens	150 mA @ 2.8-3.4 Volts

And the strips were 300 leds per 5 meters, that's basically the standard. Compared to Swampfinz link for example with 5050s and 300 leds per 5 meters, should be roughly twice the output.

Just checked, it's drawing 156 watts at 12.5v If they were all running perfectly according to specs that would put them at something like 14,000 lumens.

After a couple years of wear and heat I'd be surprised if they're at half that though.

There are some interesting COBs out now that look like they'd be interesting to try: Giant url from Aliexpress

 

[Galantspeedz]

What tape or stuff you using to hold it in place?

That's all I do... no knots , my tanks has 2 holes on each side of the corner

 

[Galantspeedz]

5630s actually, They're roughly twice the lumens of 5050s. 5050s

5050 LED	5.0 mm x 5.0 mm	25 mm²	16-22 lumens	60 mA @ 2.8-3.4 Volts
5630 LED	5.6 mm x 3.0 mm	16.8 mm²	45-50 lumens	150 mA @ 2.8-3.4 Volts

And the strips were 300 leds per 5 meters, that's basically the standard. Compared to Swampfinz link for example with 5050s and 300 leds per 5 meters, should be roughly twice the output.

Just checked, it's drawing 156 watts at 12.5v If they were all running perfectly according to specs that would put them at something like 14,000 lumens.

After a couple years of wear and heat I'd be surprised if they're at half that though.

There are some interesting COBs out now that look like they'd be interesting to try: Giant url from Aliexpress

So it means they over declared the spec of the LED or there were quality issues?

 

[TwoHedWlf]

So it means they over declared the spec of the LED or there were quality issues?

No reason to believe that.(Other than general skepticism of chinese specs) LEDs lose brightness over time and that's accelerated by high temperatures.