I'm New Need Help With A Biocube's Lighting.

[bigjoe200325]

Hello everyone one! I have been an aquarium hobbiest for over 20 years. I have a biocube 29g that I have modified the filter with popular intank kits. Now I want to get into the latest fad of LEDs. I have always had a freshwater unplanted tank but I want it to look really nice because I spend a lot of time keeping it clean and neat with nice decor and plants. I want to do something easy but I do want it to look nice. I want the light to be bright enough to show off my fish and my aquarium but I really don't have the funds for something super expensive either. I want to keep the hood on the aquarium and I'm willing to scrap the entire inside of the hood and maybe do a few cuts if I have too but I want to go the easiest route. I have been looking at waterproof led tape kits among other items. I'm loyal to Amazon but I'm willing to listen to all suggestions. PLEASE HELP!! I will provide a link to the item I'm looking into now below. Again I really need the help.

4pc Multi-Color RGB LED Strip Kit, 24-inch Pre-Cut Accent Light Strips for TV Home Theater Backlight and Kitchen Under Cabinet Lighting, Waterproof Silicone, 3M Tape, Power Adapator

This is the link below. THANKS IN ADVANCE!!!!

http/www.amazon.com/dp/B01EBB5LVG/ref=wl_it_dp_o_pC_nS_img?_encoding=UTF8&colid=3Q3CSEPFF51F6&coliid=I3ID0K27TDSCP6

 

[Chad]

The kit you list is for accent lighting. I doubt it has the power necessary to really do anything meaningful in terms of growth in the tank if you are going to do plants for FW or corals for Marine.
In my case I ditched the hood. I have owned two BioCubes and just find the hood holds in heat.

There are LED kits specifically designed for the BioCube which are fitted to easily replace what's there.

 

[StevenF]

If you want the fish to look there best I would not use RGB (Red, green, blue) LEDs.  The reason for this is that RGB lights have poor Color Rendering Index (CRI).  Depending on the settings you use the CRI might be between 20 and 70.  While 80 or more is generally recommended for room lighting.  Plants also do better under high CRI lighting.  Under low CRI lights the color of the fish may not look right or appear dull or washed out.  Under high CRI lighting the the color will look more like it should in a tank lit by the sun.  
 
I am working on a light for my Nano aquarium but due to a busy schedule it probably will not be done for about a month.  I will be using these LEDs:http/www.flexfireleds.com/high-cri-93-series-ultrabright-led-strip-light-by-the-foot-warm-white/ With a CRI of 90 they are about at about the maximum available for LEDs  These strips are more expensive but they also put out about 450 lumens per watt which is about 5 times higher than light output of typical LED strip lights so I shouldn't need as many LEDs  to reach my target light level.   Cheeper 12V white leds will work but you need to use more and you often don't know the CRI value. I expect I will need 6 feet of LEDs strip which looks like that will cost about $100 and a 50W 12V power supply (about $30). 
 
I have made a clear acrylic cover for my aquarium.  My LED strps about 6 will be attached to a piece of aluminum that will be bolted onto the top of the cover.  I will be uing a foam or rubber gasket to prevent water from getting between the acrylic and aluminum.  The Acrylic and gasket should keep the LEDs dry.  I did try waterproof LEDs in the past but those did experience some corrosion around the cut ends and solder connections. I did apply sealant to these ends but it still corroded.   By moving the LEDs to the other side of the acrylic no corrosion should occur.  Waterproof LEDs are typically designed for areas that occasionally get wet.  Not locations that are always wet.
 
From past experience i have found that thin plastic will warp from the heat of the LEDs.  For that reason I am using aluminum that is thicker than normal sheet metal carried by most hardware stores.  I think I paid $14 dollar for 0.080 thich 6"X24" piece of aluminum from mcmaster.com.  I went to Tap plastics and looking through there scrap plastic shelf I found a 3/8 inch thick piece of acrylic slightly larger than I needed. I was hoping for 1/4 inch thick but they didn't have any.  It cost me $12.  
 
It is probably not the cheapest way to go but it should last than my previous attempts.