lighting a 72" tank ??

  • We are currently upgrading MFK. thanks! -neo
Chicxulub said:
I run a bare bottom tank. I'm encouraging the algae to grow on the bottom and THAT is gonna be my substrate. Nitrates? In my tank? I think not. lol
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that would be pretty darn cool with green algea thats couple inchs long or so, would love to see a pic when it all grown out
 
I have a 48" florescent triple light fixture that the starter went out on, so I pulled the starter out and put a couple LED rope lights in it, 1 white and 1 blue. The light in the tank looks much better than the flourescents, not as bright as the triple, but brighter than a single bulb. I don't get any of the spotlight effect because the rope lights have LEDs that shine in all directions and the reflector from the fixture redirects the light so it is a more even light.

Here is a picture to show it, the grey haze is because it is a long exposure picture and the fish, except for the pleco, kept swimming. Since this is to show the light and not the fish I am not worried about it. The slightly brown tint is that we recently added some more drift wood because that pleco sure likes to gnaw on it.

The tank is 72x24x29 (LxWxD)

light1.png
 
rob1984 said:
that looks really bright in the centre could be just the pic tho too, and i dont like the spotlight look form the led's ... is there a waya round having that ??
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Due to the black background I tiok the pic with the only light source being the led fixture to prevent glare. When the room lights are on there is still some spotlight going on but it is significantly reduced. I'll try to get a pic with the room lights on tonight.
 
theboomboomcars said:
I have a 48" florescent triple light fixture that the starter went out on, so I pulled the starter out and put a couple LED rope lights in it, 1 white and 1 blue. The light in the tank looks much better than the flourescents, not as bright as the triple, but brighter than a single bulb. I don't get any of the spotlight effect because the rope lights have LEDs that shine in all directions and the reflector from the fixture redirects the light so it is a more even light.

Here is a picture to show it, the grey haze is because it is a long exposure picture and the fish, except for the pleco, kept swimming. Since this is to show the light and not the fish I am not worried about it. The slightly brown tint is that we recently added some more drift wood because that pleco sure likes to gnaw on it.

The tank is 72x24x29 (LxWxD)
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That looks alright but it don't anywere near as bright as a reg LED
 
Heres a shot with some ambient light.

20121017_162830.jpg
 
I'd prolly do a double bright if I did LED's myself... I'd really like a light that I can just attach to the side of the tank, friend of mine Arkanas said he can get 72" LED's fixtures for 200$US here in canada a 72" light is like 1000$ at least... 48" fixtures are almost 300 plus tax
 
rob1984 said:
That looks alright but it don't anywere near as bright as a reg LED
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It isn't as bright but in this fixture I have room for 2 more ropes which would increase the lighting quite a bit. With any LED system if you place reflectors appropriately you can remove the spotlight effect. Although the pre-built systems would be harder to modify.
 
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