Mainly per Sean's thread on PT I am thinking of trying this out. Here is a link that I found to some LED that are pretty inexpensivehttp://autolumination.com/fixtures.htm
click on the LED Light Fixtures & Strobes tab
I was thinking of getting 3 of the jumbo LED fixtures that have 24 LEDs each. My question is would this work for additional lighting? Is it powerful enough? I was thinking of either the red or the white lights. I assume that I would need to order the transformer 5 watt max, and the adapter to connect the transformer to the lights. Take a look at the site and see if there are any other lights that would work better. Its about 40 bucks to try this experiment. Any suggestions to this would be great!
LED lights.. Will this work
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Cristy Keister
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I'm thinking about adding "moonlight" myself. From what I've heard you only need about 2 LEDs (1 watt each) for every 2 feet. Marine Depot has a complete kit for $14.50.
http://www.marinedepot.com/md_viewItem. ... ct=CU01650
IMHO red lights would look strange. Blue or white is more natural.
http://www.marinedepot.com/md_viewItem. ... ct=CU01650
IMHO red lights would look strange. Blue or white is more natural.
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SCMurphy
- Site Admin
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- Real Name: Sean
- Location: Maryland United States
The LED's that SolarOasis uses are special made for them to be centered on the wavelengths of light that are considered the peaks of photosynthetic activity. I don't know if the LED's, in the lights you are looking at, will hit those peaks. LEDs are very good at being centered on a wavelength with out much 'spillage' to other wavelengths. SolarOasis just contacted me yesterday and told me that their new product , the AquaBar, is about to be released for sale. It turned out that I've been using a prototype of the AquaBar. I'm still trying to get them to put the bar into a fixture with a PC light so that you get all the benefits of the LED's with the needed whitelight source for viewing.
About the LEDs:
I can say that one 6 watt LED bar replaced 72 watts of PC light on the trial tank. The result is a huge difference in energy used and heat produced. The light is doing the job growing the foreground plants around 18 inches from the lights. I am not sure that the lights are strong enough yet to grow plants in tanks deeper than that. I'm planning on moving a condensed version of the PlantedTank thread here.
Is it worth $40 to try something? That's up to you, I spent $150 to try the SolarOasis light bar, the cost/benefit breakdown is pretty good btw. If you get a boost in growth for $40 then you are ahead. How much would you spend to add more 'conventional' light to the tank you are thinking of using them on?
About the LEDs:
I can say that one 6 watt LED bar replaced 72 watts of PC light on the trial tank. The result is a huge difference in energy used and heat produced. The light is doing the job growing the foreground plants around 18 inches from the lights. I am not sure that the lights are strong enough yet to grow plants in tanks deeper than that. I'm planning on moving a condensed version of the PlantedTank thread here.
Is it worth $40 to try something? That's up to you, I spent $150 to try the SolarOasis light bar, the cost/benefit breakdown is pretty good btw. If you get a boost in growth for $40 then you are ahead. How much would you spend to add more 'conventional' light to the tank you are thinking of using them on?
"したくさ" Sean
Aquascape? I'm a crypt farmer.
If you've got bait, I've got wasabi!
I wish I could be like Mr. Sarcastic when I grow up!
Aquascape? I'm a crypt farmer.
If you've got bait, I've got wasabi!
I wish I could be like Mr. Sarcastic when I grow up!
Here are the specs on the bulb http://autolumination.com/specifications.html
What wavelength do I need?
I may try it, hey if it fails I have very bright moonlights!!
What wavelength do I need?
I may try it, hey if it fails I have very bright moonlights!!
Go to http://fins.actwin.com/aquatic-plants/ and search on "LED" and you'll find a wealth of information on using LEDs on planted tanks.
John
John
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SCMurphy
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As to http://fins.actwin.com/aquatic-plants/
Most all of their arguments are proving false in my experience with LED's. I learned a long time ago that just because they discuss something on that mailing list doesn't mean they are right, or even have a clue. Just my personal observation/bias.
Kris,
Those lights require the track lighting fixture and the transformer. An open track light fixture over an aquarium sounds like a bad idea to me.
Most all of their arguments are proving false in my experience with LED's. I learned a long time ago that just because they discuss something on that mailing list doesn't mean they are right, or even have a clue. Just my personal observation/bias.
Kris,
Those lights require the track lighting fixture and the transformer. An open track light fixture over an aquarium sounds like a bad idea to me.
"したくさ" Sean
Aquascape? I'm a crypt farmer.
If you've got bait, I've got wasabi!
I wish I could be like Mr. Sarcastic when I grow up!
Aquascape? I'm a crypt farmer.
If you've got bait, I've got wasabi!
I wish I could be like Mr. Sarcastic when I grow up!
Sean said:
"I learned a long time ago that just because they discuss something on that mailing list doesn't mean they are right, or even have a clue."
Of course that is correct. But if you read the back and forth, the aruments, the discussions, etc., you learn about the topics. Like their discussions about phosphaes and algae. Most of what you would find on that list is wrong; but if you read it beginning to end you will understand that the conventional wisdom about phosphates and algae is incorrect. At the end you will know what is wrong, and why. And what is right.
John
"I learned a long time ago that just because they discuss something on that mailing list doesn't mean they are right, or even have a clue."
Of course that is correct. But if you read the back and forth, the aruments, the discussions, etc., you learn about the topics. Like their discussions about phosphaes and algae. Most of what you would find on that list is wrong; but if you read it beginning to end you will understand that the conventional wisdom about phosphates and algae is incorrect. At the end you will know what is wrong, and why. And what is right.
John
Sean said:
"I learned a long time ago that just because they discuss something on that mailing list doesn't mean they are right, or even have a clue."
Of course that is correct. But if you read the back and forth, the aruments, the discussions, etc., you learn about the topics. Like their discussions about phosphaes and algae. Most of what you would find on that list is wrong; but if you read it beginning to end you will understand that the conventional wisdom about phosphates and algae is incorrect. At the end you will know what is wrong, and why. And what is right.
John
"I learned a long time ago that just because they discuss something on that mailing list doesn't mean they are right, or even have a clue."
Of course that is correct. But if you read the back and forth, the aruments, the discussions, etc., you learn about the topics. Like their discussions about phosphaes and algae. Most of what you would find on that list is wrong; but if you read it beginning to end you will understand that the conventional wisdom about phosphates and algae is incorrect. At the end you will know what is wrong, and why. And what is right.
John
