Non-fluorescent lighting

[WateryWorld]

Due to medical reasons I may need to avoid fluorescent lighting (not sure yet). I have to also be in dim light a lot. Since I don't want to avoid spending time watching my fish tank, are there any good solutions? The main 125g tank has two 36" 30W fluorescents currently.

What I might end up doing is just letting the fish have hours of the fluorescent light on while I am not around, and then when I want to watch the tank, shine a couple dim LED or incandescent tiny desk lamps down in there or from the side? Maybe reddish lights.

BTW would the fish be okay with only one 36" 30W bulb for only a couple hours, or what is the minimum?

 

[Mgamer20o0]

fish really dont need light. i would try the led as your main source. you might have to build your own.

i kinda get how you feel fluorescent gives me headaches but now more and more places using only florescent bulbs.... good luck in what ever you do.

 

[WateryWorld]

Thank you.

 

[Cory Keeper]

check out the LED build threads around this forum, the good news that you wouldn't need that many to achieve a decent dim light level. the only problem is you may have to keep surface agitation down to reduce the shimmer effect, it might cause headaches, I'm not sure

but here are the threads for LED lighting

My build thread
http://www.aquariacentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=165345

My how to on LED lighting
http://www.aquariacentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=173181

Traelman's build log
http://www.aquariacentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=158749

As to how many? the way I see that question is using the footprint of the tank, I.E how many square inches on top? a good level for planted is 1 LED per 24 square inches, for you 1 LED per 48-60 square inches might be better or even 1 per 72 square inches.

 

[WateryWorld]

Wow... well I would probably just buy some LED strip light that's already kind of like the usual 10-20 gallon aquarium fluorescent little basic hood lights. I think two little ones (or just one) would be able to go on top of the aquarium.

 

[WateryWorld]

Oh... duh, I guess it's pretty hard to find any LED stuff besides the tiny ones that are night lights, small flashlights, or little push lights. My tank is typical size, approx 6 ft long by 2 ft wide. I would like to have only 20-30W in total. I saw this $25 clear flexible plastic tube strip of little LED's, meant to be christmas lights outdoors I guess. Maybe I should buy that and tape it up into my hood where the fluorescent bulbs normally go? Or else use like 2 or 3 of those little push lights ($15 or less for all three) stuck up in the hood? It looks pretty nice when I hold one of the push lights near the water above the tank. It looks even better when I hold one up against the glass on the side, so that the light is shining all down through the tank length. I need a solution which is easy to do and preferrably costs only $15 or $25, maybe a little more.

 

[OldMan47]

There are also the rope lights that can be draped inside the hood. They have an LED every few inches and impart a nice but dim glow to their surroundings.

 

[WateryWorld]

The rope LED lights were what I was talking about, it was $25 and maybe six feet long, not sure on length.

 

[6.5x55]

Have you thought about a mercury vapour hanging above the tank? I used to run a 125w Arcadia unit over a tank and it gave a lovely sparkling 'sunlight' coloured light .