Using LED as tank lights

[typezero]

I was wondering if using LED lights for fish tank light is 'bad'. The tank is 15 gallons long. I have on my hands a few strips of LED lights encased in plastic. They are exactly like the ones in the third pic but white.
( http://www.sloancorp.com/images/ChanneLEDInsetsSQ-0607.gif ).
For sure the tank is not going to be planted so are these LED's going to harm the fish in anyway? Also is using LED in a planted tank a good choice?

[silentskream]

keep them away from water so they dont short out of electrocute your fish.

lots of poeple use LEDs as extra light or to add extra colors in.


an LED wont hurt anything, but you've got to have better lighting than that to keep plants alive. so if you want to use the LEDs as extra light, that should be fine.

[SDRANGER619]

My light system includes some LED's to be used at night but they don't light up anything...I have 4 pointing down toward the tank and all I have is 4 blue dots...LED light doesn't spread throughout the tank well.

[Mgamer20o0]

you can try it. since its a small tank it should be fine.

[typezero]

I was thinking using the LED as the main light source for the tank. There will be at least 20 individual LED bulbs? Yea one of my concerns was how far will the light shine through the water. I will try it out and see how it works! Since on the light topic, i have just found out there are so much types of lighting for an aquarium, could someone point me out to a good website to get my basic knowledge on lighting more knowledgeable :P
Thank you all for the input!

[rwilliams254]

Lots of people use blue LEDs for moon lights.

[Jojoe]

I used LED UB as moonlight for my Nano Marine Tank... ( LED for a 1.5ft Tank )


Lots of people use blue LEDs for moon lights.

[UCF-Planted]

Fish won't care that the light is coming from LEDs, but plants will. LEDs are unlikely to be the right light spectrum. If you find a source for LEDs that are daylight spectrum, rated for 5000K - 10000K color let us know. I would be interested in playing around with an all LED lighted tank.

[Mgamer20o0]

well not everyone has live plants so that may not be a issue.

[vampie]

Fish won't care that the light is coming from LEDs, but plants will. LEDs are unlikely to be the right light spectrum. If you find a source for LEDs that are daylight spectrum, rated for 5000K - 10000K color let us know. I would be interested in playing around with an all LED lighted tank.

There's always the ultra-expensive Solaris lights http://www.marinedepot.com/ps_ViewItem.aspx?SearchStr=PFO%20Solaris&action=view&idProduct=PF8111&idCategory=FILTFILDTN&category=PFO_14_inch_13000K_Solaris_LED_Lighting_F ixture_%3C20in_Units&vendor=

[UCF-Planted]

Wow, that is pricey, but totally cool.

[loaches r cool]

There are white leds that produce daylight spectrum. There is just not a whole lot of them available, and it is rather expensive to setup. And if your doing it yourself its a lot of wiring. I think eventually they will become a lot more popular once there are more choices in higher powers that are more reasonably priced.

[thincat]

My light system includes some LED's to be used at night but they don't light up anything...I have 4 pointing down toward the tank and all I have is 4 blue dots...LED light doesn't spread throughout the tank well.
Your lights may be to close to the tank.

[Matt101905]

My light system includes some LED's to be used at night but they don't light up anything...I have 4 pointing down toward the tank and all I have is 4 blue dots...LED light doesn't spread throughout the tank well.

I have two Moonlight LED's over my 20gal. and they work great. I can see the fish swimming around and the white sand looks great! Plus you get a cool ripple effect on the substrate and on the ceiling. Thing is...I built a stand for my two that raises them about 6" above the aquarium. Plus I don't have glass between the lights and the tank. I love it!

[Sandman333]

Wow, zombie thread (almost 2 years old). LED lights are much more common now.