Simple Lights

Rorie · Jun 3, 2011

Hi,

I posted before about rigging up a simple set of lights.... but i now have some slightly more direct questions.

I have a few clip on lights, but they dont seem to cover the tank so well. So for a tank with a footprint of just 10x18 inch, i have two compact floresent clip on lights....not every economical.

So i want to put in suspended florescent tubes. Can someone point me in the right direction of what to get? On ebay, i have seen some really basic units that have two tubes, and thats it. I guess i just need a starter and reflectors to make it work? So what should i look for?

micko · Jun 3, 2011

Looking forward to replies as I'm also looking to do this.

drobbyb · Jun 3, 2011

Rorie, also in the past I have used a simple double tube shop light with 6500k 4 foot T8 tubes. The whole setup including bulbs was $25. If you need more light, you can join the two reflectors with some bolts and nuts making a pyramid type shape. This would give you 4 32 watt T8 bulbs for less than $50. It won't be pretty by any means, but it will be functional.

Here's the lighting fixture I made out of clamp lamps and CFL bulbs. Ignore the red wires you see as they are part of my DIY moonlight system (cost me literally $6 to make). I still need to make a custom reflector for the middle light and waterproof everything:

It's a work in progress

Rorie · Jun 4, 2011

ok, so if i go for tubes, what all do i need? I need a starter for them of some sort? There 'controllers' seem really expensive....do i need one?

I guess after that i just need clips, a bit of wood to attach it to, and then some chain or something to hold the wood up..... but its this starter/controller/end attachments for the lights that are now confusing me....

Thanks!

StandbySetting · Jun 4, 2011

You could use an aquarium specific controller or you could just buy a transformer/ballast and wire it up yourself. With a tank of those dimensions I'd go the DIY LED route, Supercoley's journal is an excellent example of how LED's can be used.

Rorie · Jun 4, 2011

yeh, i was just having a look HERE as they are round the corner from me and do lighting really cheap.

Under controllers though, there are so many different types - electronic, ballast etc and i have no idea where to start haha!

LEDs could be good - got a link to it?

KkAaNnEe · Jun 4, 2011

I would recommend a bicycle hoist to hold up the lights, as they are adjustable. You can get one on ebay for about £9

KkAaNnEe · Jun 4, 2011

LEDS Would probably be more practical for a tank that size thoigh

Rorie · Jun 4, 2011

LEDs tend to be a bit more expensive though?

And what is a bicycle hoist?

I just went into B&Q and i can get a unit (which i assume has ballast in it) for £12 including a tube. Though they only had them for the larger T8's.

Rorie · Jun 4, 2011

ah, i see the bike hoists on ebay now. I was not planning on attaching it to the roof at all. I was just thinking about rigging up a frame for it to hand from.

What is a ballast anyway? Is it a different way of starting a light than a starter?

StandbySetting · Jun 4, 2011

A DIY LED set up will cost a few pounds, all you need are the LED's, wire, drivers and a transformer.

drobbyb · Jun 4, 2011

If you want to go the LED route you will need a transformer (I used an old cordless phone power supply), a resistor (.5 watt 560 ohm), a soldering iron and solder, some wire, some electrical tape, and of course the LED's. LED's have a polarity (one positive lead and one negative lead) with the positive being the longer lead, and you attach them positive to negative in series. The resistor does not have a polarity but it needs to be connected between the positive wire from the transformer and the positive lead of the first LED in the series. The negative wire from the transformer attaches to the negative lead of the last LED in the series. Solder all the components together and cover all the connections with electrical tape (or you can use electronics heat shrink wrap) and plug it in.

Of course what type of LED's you use dictates what kind of a driver you need. I only used 3.3v 5mm LED's for moonlight so a transformer like this works fine. If you are using CREE LED's or other high power LED's you will need a purpose built LED driver.

Shop lights come with the ballast already in place, so no worries with that. All you need to do with them is plug it in.