10 replies to this topic

[Delapool]

I've been looking around at underwater lights and wondered if anyone has used them? I'm not sure how they would look and how best to place them.


Craig

[Mattia]

what is the purpose Craig ?<br /><br />There's plenty available, for ponds, aquariums, bubble led curtains etc...

[BengaBoy]

this is probably not what you meant but I have been using under water  all blue led tube lights (shaped like a heater) for night/moon lights - just a couple of hours at night.

you can get a nice effect with the rocks/outlines etc.

 

pretty happy with them.

they come in all white or blue/white too.

I got an all white one to use on a tank on a bottom rack where there wasn't going to be enough room for a light above, but in the end haven't used it yet cause I ended up with a shallower tank.

you can use them under water or out of water.

 

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http://www.ebay.com....=STRK:MEBIDX:IT

 

don't buy their heaters - they have very short leads  tho they have said they are fixing that, but the listings still have no lead length spec.

Edited by BengaBoy, 27 February 2016 - 09:05 AM.

[Delapool]

Gee - that's nice. Thanks for the link and photos.

Something like that (or maybe even that ).

I thought more on the question and I was thinking of something like a soft, wide-beam spotlight effect from the two front, bottom corners of the tank into the centre to shine on the central ornament of a sunken plane on rocks. Like when you see garden spotlights shining up towards a palm or er, something something. I was thinking if the lights shined towards the back it may be easier on the eye.

So I guess something that looks nice but I was also thinking may help plant growth as well. Maybe white light or white light with some reds.

I was thinking of a little spotlight in the gravel at each corner of front of tank but a strip light would also work as each tank corner has the black strip of sealant and would hide a thin light.

It would be for the 4ft x 2 ft x 2.5ft high tank. Many thanks!




Craig

[Delapool]

this is probably not what you meant but I have been using under water  all blue led tube lights (shaped like a heater) for night/moon lights - just a couple of hours at night.

you can get a nice effect with the rocks/outlines etc.

 

pretty happy with them.

they come in all white or blue/white too.

I got an all white one to use on a tank on a bottom rack where there wasn't going to be enough room for a light above, but in the end haven't used it yet cause I ended up with a shallower tank.

you can use them under water or out of water.

 

cube.jpg

 

6x14.jpg

 

6x18.jpg

 

http://www.ebay.com....=STRK:MEBIDX:IT

 

don't buy their heaters - they have very short leads  tho they have said they are fixing that, but the listings still have no lead length spec.

 

Thanks for the link again on this. I've ordered two of the 2 ft white LEDs to try out. Will try out the PAR meter when they arrive.

 

For that price they were too tempting. Will see how they go and if they make a difference. 

[Delapool]

White LED underwater lights are set up ok. Glare is reasonable. PAR is the same as the dual t5ho from a foot away. But these are a lot closer to the plants (with slow growth) and extend all the way to the substrate. So hopeful.

Only thing is they are very poor in red light. Might not be much difference between their blue and white led lights.

Will see how they go! Fingers crossed on algae.



Tank  - all lights


Tank - underwater lights only

[BengaBoy]

interesting experiment

wonder how you would go with them horizontal lower down in the tank?

[Delapool]

I think this would be doable as well. Especially at the back of a tank. From memory there was a metre of cord and the transformer was another foot which was pretty decent.

I rotated the lights to shine towards the back but I'm hoping as the plants grow the lights will be hidden.


Craig

[Delapool]

Well, sad news - one of the lights has a flicker on two of the LED bulbs. I fear that one will be in the bin soon.

Don't think I'll replace. Didn't make a lot of difference to plant growth.

[BengaBoy]

Well, sad news - one of the lights has a flicker on two of the LED bulbs. I fear that one will be in the bin soon.

Don't think I'll replace. Didn't make a lot of difference to plant growth.

 

my blue ones are still going fine after 7 months - not on as much as your whites tho I suspect as I just use them as night lights.

[Delapool]

So disappointing but oh, well - they looked nice. Still taken with the idea of underwater lights.

Popped over to Aquotix to get fish food and came away with a medium-power led light (I think, er maybe). Will see if I can get pics up later. So much for resisting buying more lights from this plant hacker lol.