sparkypenguin
Fish Fanatic
Hi all,
I'm hoping for some help with a lighting project that I want to start.
I have a 48 x 24 x 24" tank with limited live plants including some floating water lettuce.
It has 2 traditional bulbs that give sufficient light from a visual point of view but have a few drawbacks that I wish to address.
1. They are too close to the floating plants and get very hot so they can scorch the leaves and burn me if I accidentally touch them.
2. They are a simply on / off light so I have to switch on / off the other room lights to try and simulate a gradual light change.
3. They use a lot of electricity!
Therefore I ideally want to change to an LED set up with the ability to automatically gradually increase and decrease the light intensity.
This would involve making a new lid with the light fittings being suspended at an increased distance to the top of the water to reduce the heat on the floating plants.
I would also like the ability to change the light colour to one that is similar to moonlight.
As ever it needs to be done at a budget so I am hoping that I can just use normal, correctly IP rated, dimmable and programmable RGB LEDs rather then aquarium specific LEDs, is this true?
And whilst I am on the lighting topic...
What are peoples thoughts on underwater decorative lighting in aquariums?
And are they any colours of light that simulate darkness for the fish and therefore stimulate night time activity whilst still allowing me to view them?
Any thoughts much appreciated.
Kind regards,
Mark.
I'm hoping for some help with a lighting project that I want to start.
I have a 48 x 24 x 24" tank with limited live plants including some floating water lettuce.
It has 2 traditional bulbs that give sufficient light from a visual point of view but have a few drawbacks that I wish to address.
1. They are too close to the floating plants and get very hot so they can scorch the leaves and burn me if I accidentally touch them.
2. They are a simply on / off light so I have to switch on / off the other room lights to try and simulate a gradual light change.
3. They use a lot of electricity!
Therefore I ideally want to change to an LED set up with the ability to automatically gradually increase and decrease the light intensity.
This would involve making a new lid with the light fittings being suspended at an increased distance to the top of the water to reduce the heat on the floating plants.
I would also like the ability to change the light colour to one that is similar to moonlight.
As ever it needs to be done at a budget so I am hoping that I can just use normal, correctly IP rated, dimmable and programmable RGB LEDs rather then aquarium specific LEDs, is this true?
And whilst I am on the lighting topic...
What are peoples thoughts on underwater decorative lighting in aquariums?
And are they any colours of light that simulate darkness for the fish and therefore stimulate night time activity whilst still allowing me to view them?
Any thoughts much appreciated.

Kind regards,
Mark.