CRAZY DIY MOONLIGHTING IDEA
- Thread starter FishNCash
- Start date
It`s been done.
Mixed results.
Some really like the effect, others think the light too dim.
They do add a good look to a tank in a dark room that otherwise has no lighting.
They are cheap, easy to stick under a hood.
Try them, see what you think.
Mixed results.
Some really like the effect, others think the light too dim.
They do add a good look to a tank in a dark room that otherwise has no lighting.
They are cheap, easy to stick under a hood.
Try them, see what you think.
Led's shouldn't use to much power. They should be the cheepest lighting around correct me if im wrong anyone. I have used the same thing on my hood. It does the job i want it to do.
It takes a LOT of christmas lights. Some people on the DIY board using 125 or more LEDs. Also, apparently (from reading those threads) there are 2 'strengths' of LED christmas lights. You'd want the more expensive higher power LEDs.
I used blue xmas light led's. Each strand was 25' (I think) and I bought two strands, which was around $10. It's not like you can see the colors in the fish, but you can still see the fish. My room is very dark. I've seen proper aquarium moon lighting and its much better/brighter, but this so far suits my needs until I can fork out another $100 for moon lights.
I have eggcrate for my top and I pushed the lights down into the eggcrate. If they just layed on top, I'm not sure how effective they would be. Also, I have about an inch of space between the water and the top of the tank and you can see the reflection of all the lights in the top. Once this gets covered by the canopy and you can only see the water, I imagine it'll look better - at least less distracting.
Personally, I say go for it. $10-$15 isn't bad and if you decide you like the look, you can always upgrade in time and use the xmas lights for...decorating during the holidaze.
I have eggcrate for my top and I pushed the lights down into the eggcrate. If they just layed on top, I'm not sure how effective they would be. Also, I have about an inch of space between the water and the top of the tank and you can see the reflection of all the lights in the top. Once this gets covered by the canopy and you can only see the water, I imagine it'll look better - at least less distracting.
Personally, I say go for it. $10-$15 isn't bad and if you decide you like the look, you can always upgrade in time and use the xmas lights for...decorating during the holidaze.
1 Proper 3watt LED moonlight is about equal to 12 x-mas LED's, but that light is concentrated by a lens in one direction. This makes the light much stronger & more efficient than a bunch of open LED's with no lens to direct the light. Like they said above, it just takes a lot more of the x-mas LED's to do the job, but its a lot cheaper.
LOL man where youve been? people have been using these for years, even i made one 
while they arent very bright, they do serve the purpose of "moon light" very well. afterall, if you want bright lights, thats what youre regular lights are for!
i used mine more for a "night light" effect
while they arent very bright, they do serve the purpose of "moon light" very well. afterall, if you want bright lights, thats what youre regular lights are for! i used mine more for a "night light" effect
Thanks for all the replies. I test it last night but did not like the results. The lighting was not blue enough for my liking. I have a salt tank and was hoping these Christmas light would give off the same acitinic lighting spectrum. I will be returning the Christmas lights tonight.
I'm thinking of getting one of these instead.
http://cgi.ebay.com/225-Blue-WHITE-...emQQptZLH_DefaultDomain_0?hash=item335834adfb
I'm thinking of getting one of these instead.
http://cgi.ebay.com/225-Blue-WHITE-...emQQptZLH_DefaultDomain_0?hash=item335834adfb
If you are looking for a specific color spectrum (like actinic) you have to get them through a specialty supplier. Walmart blue wont do it.