Moonlight?

[Oakley]

Hi guys, i would like to ask if there is a light that can be brought that acts like moon light, only giving off a gental dim blue light, that would only light up maybe the top half of the tank.

I was wondering if there is not such a light, weather a blue cathode (like the ones that light up the inside of custom pc's) would do the trick?

any suggestions would be great :)

Oakley

[LMOUTHBASS]

that is a sweet idea! but moonlight hits the water and really just makes a reflection - it really doesn't penetrate the water to much - water at night even with full moon is pretty dark - but i can picture a nice shadowy moonlight type of look it woul be nice

[Bwana]

I was just thinking of this idea too. Except I was planning on getting some LEDs. Maybe 2 or 3 wide angle blue LEDs (for 20g). It shouldnt be too hard to do, just solder a few wires, and drill a couple holes. I even put headlights on my R/C car, so this should be no problem.

If I go through with it, ill probably start this weekend, and if i get any progress, i'll post pics. :D

[fuddmain]

A commercial version for sale here:
http://www.coralreefsupply.com/index.php?table=lighting_moon


DIY setups here:
http://www.csd.net/~cgadd/aqua/art_nightlight.htm
http://www.kaotica.com/frag/diy/moonlight/

I believe there are a several commercial versions available if you do a search or look through a few fish mags.

~Brian

[caz]

you can buy them, but they are really expensive. im sure the led's would work though, as long as you protect them from getting splashed. you can also buy laser light kits. they seem kinda cool too.

caz

[Oakley]

Woot :) Thanks so much :) made my day.

Just have to find a Suppier in the UK or use the DIY method.

Be good to see your results too Bwana

[caz]

at the bottom of this page there are a few different types


http://www.championlighting.com/e/env/0001QfBGhcLJFB0S9E4q8W8/Products/products.html?link=/Products/Lighting/lighting.html

[Oakley]

Man that looks nice...

http://www.kaotica.com/frag/diy/moonlight/fc475fd8.jpg

[Bwana]

Originally posted by Oakley
Man that looks nice...

http://www.kaotica.com/frag/diy/moonlight/fc475fd8.jpg

my DIY vesion would probably look exactly like that. Unless i use different colored LEDs *thinks* red might look cool :eek: :D since most of my fish are red/orange

[tomm10]

I made some moon lights for my 10 and my 8 gallon tanks using LEDs from the auto parts store.

I went into Auto Zone or one of those places and bought a set of three blue LEDs that come in a kit ($7). You're supposed to mount them inside your car and hook them up to the cars electrical system. This would make you cool.

Anyway, all I did was take a strip of plexi (1/16 thick) about an inch wide and cut it short enough to fit under my 10g light hood on top of the plastic canopy. I then drilled three holes in the plexi at equal intervals across the strip. The LEDs in this kit had little plastic housings around them that snap fitted into the holes but you could just silicon them in place too.

I connected the wires to a old 12v AC/DC converter I had and had an instant moonlight. I just keep them on all the time because the things will run forever and you can't see them with the regular lights on.

The downside to these is that the beams are visible. It illuminates the whole tank but you can definitely tell where the three LEDs are. I suppose if I got more involved I could come up with some kind of diffuser but I've got other things I can do with my time :D All in all it took me about an hour to do both tanks and its completely worth it.

[Oakley]

Thanks tomm its another way of doing it, im gonna have to try it some way or another, as i am up for way more than 12hours aday, and like to be able to see in the tank in the evening when i am home from work and relaxing, im thinking that switching the tank to moonlight would if not help the fish, it would help the growth of my plants, by not giving them too much of the day light.

[tomm10]

Oakley, that's exactly why I did it. I only leave the plant lights on for 9 or 10 hours a day so the moonlight allows my to see into the tank in the early morning or late at night. Its also a really cool look when the room lights are off.

[tomm10]

I managed to take a half decent photo of the 10 with the moonlight on. The beams are quite so pronounced in reality and don't mind the ugly breeder net :o

http://home.earthlink.net/~mtbtom/sitebuildercontent/sitebuilderpictures/img_0977.jpg