DIY Moonlight!

[tomm10]

I just rigged up some DIY moonlights for under $10!

I went to the local Advance Auto Parts store and bought some of their cheezy "As Seen on The Fast And The Furious" light accent kits. For $8 I got a little blister pack with 3 blue LEDs hooked up to a 12v lithium battery.

I scavenged a 12v ac/dc transformer and hooked it up to the LEDs.

Next I got a strip of clear acrylic long enough to fit over the window on the canopy of my 10g and drilled three holes big enough for the LEDs at even increment across the length of the strip. Fortunately these LEDs had little bezels that clipped them into the hole but you could use a little silicon if you need to.

I laid the light strip on top of the window and placed my light hood on top of it. (This is why the acrylic LED strip has to be clear, the light hood has to shine through it.)

I leave the lights plugged in all the time and when the flourescents go out I get moonlight. Its pretty sweet. Not bright enough to bug the fish but enough light so that I can see what's going on when all the room lights are off.

I can take some pictures of the set up tonight if there's interest.

[Captain Hook]

Nice! Now you have sparked my curiousity and I want to put a moonlight over my tank. So they are always but don't show up when the normal lights are on? Think this would affect plant or algae growth in any way?

[tomm10]

I haven't checked on what kind of spectrum the LEDs put out. In all honesty the only reason I've got them on all the time is that I haven't gotten off my butt to go to Wal Mart and get two more timers (I put the moonlights in both my tanks).

You can't "see" the moonlights with the regular lights on. Of course this doesn't mean its not affecting the plants at all.

[jeffro426]

I dont know if its worth anything, but i have a blue LED flashlight that ive shinned into my tank at night and my fish run, hide and dont come out again till i shut it off..maybe thats just mine though??

[Kanstar]

bright light often stops animals movements, maybe i could try red and see them in suspended animation.


but yeah show me some of those pics, i might want to rig that up.

[tomm10]

I tried taking pictures of the tank last night but it didn't work out. Not exactly the best camera in the world.

I'll take some shots of the setup though.