Fluval 240L Leds ?

[wonkey]

What size strip of LEDs (output) do you need to replace the normal light tubes ?

I was thinking of getting some blue for evening and white for day light, however im unsure what i have to look for from the LED spec, I mean they need to be bright enough to still give the benefits of the normal tubes ?

also is it best to not get them to go across the full part of the tank and to then allow some shady areas ?

My tank is lightly planted so i dont need super strength.

ive seen some on e-bay but wondering what to look out for, also anyone used the aqua fx500s ? with the control unit etc it looks nifty but also looks quite small/short.

 

[doresy]

I use these in my Fluval 240

Blue Leds


If you want to know how I fitted them PM me and if interested I will post a photo of effect.

 

[wonkey]

PM sent

 

[Liam2368]

I'm interested in these, can you post a picture of them fitted?

 

[OBIE1]

I used these from ebay: http/www.ebay.co.uk/itm/290559685196?ssPageName=STRK:MEWNX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1439.l2649#ht_2912wt_1139&clk_rvr_id=264670623252

i like the way it looks althoe i guess if i wanted to make it a little darker i could of just brought the smaller length 76cm instead of 96cm. i let these come on just before the main lights go off then these go off a hour later. I just siliconed this onto bottom of lighting unit that runs across centre of tank.
effect:

 

[wonkey]

Yer that is what im after for the light at night for an hour or soo. but can the white ones replace my main tubes ?

 

[doresy]

This will give you an idea as to the effect although with camera settings it's hard to get the true colour. These lights I have been running for over 2 years now with no problems. They are completely waterproof although I wouldn't suggest running them totally submerged.

To fit them to my Fluval 240 I used this method.....

The tank, like many others, has a plastic rim around the top. I decided to mount my blue leds (5 capsules) along the front edge. I drilled 5 evenly spaced holes in the inner plastic rim which is just above the water line. There is a couple of millimeter gap between the plastic and the glass so be very carefully when drilling that you don't hit the glass!!! Once this has been done you simply thread a cable tie through the hole then around the middle of a light capsule and pull up the slack. A tip here is not to pull the cable ties too tight as this will enable you to direct the beam at any angle. Once all 5 have been attached in this way the rest of the lead can be threaded around the inner side and out when the filter pipe go.

I plugged my blue leds into a separate timer to the main white lights so that the blue lights come on 5 minutes before the white lights go out so it goes from white to 'moonlight' seamlessly. I also have the blue lights to come on for a while before the white lights come on in the morning to lessen the 'shock'

With my rock-scape I found that by having the blue leds pointing downwards it created black caves at the back which makes the fish disappear and reappear. The fish's behavior completely changes in this light especially when you turn off the room lights as well.

My tank, for me, has the effect that I have always dreamed of Hope this is of interest to those who read it.....D.

 

[OBIE1]

Yer that is what im after for the light at night for an hour or soo. but can the white ones replace my main tubes ?

I'm not sure mate but judging by how bright the blue ones were. I reckon 2x sets of the white ones would do a good job.

This will give you an idea as to the effect although with camera settings it's hard to get the true colour. These lights I have been running for over 2 years now with no problems. They are completely waterproof although I wouldn't suggest running them totally submerged.

To fit them to my Fluval 240 I used this method.....

The tank, like many others, has a plastic rim around the top. I decided to mount my blue leds (5 capsules) along the front edge. I drilled 5 evenly spaced holes in the inner plastic rim which is just above the water line. There is a couple of millimeter gap between the plastic and the glass so be very carefully when drilling that you don't hit the glass!!! Once this has been done you simply thread a cable tie through the hole then around the middle of a light capsule and pull up the slack. A tip here is not to pull the cable ties too tight as this will enable you to direct the beam at any angle. Once all 5 have been attached in this way the rest of the lead can be threaded around the inner side and out when the filter pipe go.

I plugged my blue leds into a separate timer to the main white lights so that the blue lights come on 5 minutes before the white lights go out so it goes from white to 'moonlight' seamlessly. I also have the blue lights to come on for a while before the white lights come on in the morning to lessen the 'shock'

With my rock-scape I found that by having the blue leds pointing downwards it created black caves at the back which makes the fish disappear and reappear. The fish's behavior completely changes in this light especially when you turn off the room lights as well.

My tank, for me, has the effect that I have always dreamed of Hope this is of interest to those who read it.....D.

looks really good

 

[wonkey]

yer it looks great m8, im deff going to get some of those blue ones.

I am set on replacing the tubes completly but i guess that can wait while until i can get some clarification on power etc.

you have the blue ones on in the morning ? my main lights dont come on until about 2pm and then off at 10pm coz I work until late.

im thinking though i may change this and have the blue LEDS come on longer and i can then have the main tubes come on sooner.

somthing like 11pm-4am Blue only -=- 4am-11am- all off -=- 11am-3pm Blue on -=- 3pm-11pm Main tubes -=-

anyway thanks for the advice m8s.

 

[doresy]

yer it looks great m8, im deff going to get some of those blue ones.

I am set on replacing the tubes completly but i guess that can wait while until i can get some clarification on power etc.

you have the blue ones on in the morning ? my main lights dont come on until about 2pm and then off at 10pm coz I work until late.

im thinking though i may change this and have the blue LEDS come on longer and i can then have the main tubes come on sooner.

somthing like 11pm-4am Blue only -=- 4am-11am- all off -=- 11am-3pm Blue on -=- 3pm-11pm Main tubes -=-

anyway thanks for the advice m8s.

I am a bit selfish with my lighting I like them on when I can see them. My tank has loads of ambient light during the day so lights are off day time also I am at work. My lights are Blue on 6am, White on 6.15am (blue off 6.20am) White off 7.45am (I leave for work and it's daylight now anyway) White on 5.30pm Blue on 9.45pm (White off 9.55pm) Blue off 11pm (bed time......well should be! )

 

[wonkey]

hehe yer I hear ya about late nights, I was up until 2am this morning as I decided at random to strip my fluval down lol ( nightmere to get them primed at times), im also sat looking at the tank now and I can already sense the need to dive in and mess with summit lol


back on the lighting,I was thinking more on the lines of a natural light cycle, I suopose I should consider the ambient light too.

 

[doresy]

hehe yer I hear ya about late nights, I was up until 2am this morning as I decided at random to strip my fluval down lol ( nightmere to get them primed at times), im also sat looking at the tank now and I can already sense the need to dive in and mess with summit lol


back on the lighting,I was thinking more on the lines of a natural light cycle, I suopose I should consider the ambient light too.

I am a bit of a non conformist Fish don't need the lights (unless in a windowless room, or in a cave!)Plants do, obviously which I do not have anyway! So the lights are for my benefit so that's when they are on.