Links for DIY Moonlights?

Pro_builder · 12-06-2003, 12:05 AM

Does anyone have some info on Moonlights? What is the best bulb? what wattages? How many to have in a 4' Tank? What hours to run them?
Thanks in advance.

Dennis7 · 12-06-2003, 02:34 AM

Troy,
I haven't jumped onto the LED bandwagon yet. I use a 25 watt incad. bulb. It's a blue bulb that I got at WalMart, call a party bulb.
It works out great for me on my 4' tank. I am using PFO's reflectors that really evens out the light. Bulb, sockect and cord less than $8.00.
I have my light turn on around 15 minutes before my last lights go off and 15 minutes after my first lights come on.
Here is a link of a photo of my moonlight: http://www.reefsanctuary.com/photopo....php?photo=536

NaCl-H2O · 12-12-2003, 05:35 PM

Here is what I did....

There are 6 LED's across the middle of the canopy.
(55 gallon tank)

The specs are....

The LEd's are 3.7V / 20mA / 2600mcd
They each have a 100 Ohm Resistor Soldered to them.
I then heat shrinked and "tied" them into a 6VDC/300mA AC-to-DC Adapter which I bought from Radio Shack.

I know this doesn't tell you a lot but if you have questions please feel free to ask.

Here For More Pictures

HAP · 12-12-2003, 06:18 PM

You can get a cool program here to have your moonlight follow actual moon phase.

jMoonlight

I wrote about my project in a thread located HERE.

hap

TDEVIL · 12-12-2003, 06:20 PM

i have 17 5000mcd LEDs on my 150

the reason i went with the LEDs and not the party bulb is w/ the LEDs you can pretty much aim them at any given point (a bit more $$$ but i like the look)

here is what i did, sorry no step/step pics

i got a 5' piece of raceway/hide-a-cord and the LEDs (mine are 5000mcd), 120v to 6v adapter and the resistors (1 pre bulb)

i drilled the raceway and installed the bulbs, saudered all the connections, pluged it in to test, and attached w/ the tape strip the raceway comes with. you can get a program to run these and simulate the moon (i think HAP has a post about this)
i will look for the diagram and post it

and will try to get a pic of the tank w/ them on if i have time

TD

edited to change adapter link

TDEVIL · 12-12-2003, 06:39 PM

for a 4' tank i would use 6 LEDs (your choice) and space them even across the tank( what ever you use to hold them)

and you dont need as adapter as large as mine you can use a 6v/300ma one

here is the diagram

SaltyQueen · 12-12-2003, 07:46 PM

I don't have a moon light yet, but I have heard of people using blue rope lights like the ones below as moonlights. Anyone familiar with this? Is this a good idea? Any input would be great.

TDEVIL · 12-12-2003, 09:43 PM

SQ, yes they do work, this is what HAP uses (blue), and i think he is satisfied with it

TD

HAP · 12-12-2003, 09:45 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by SaltyQueen
I don't have a moon light yet, but I have heard of people using blue rope lights like the ones below as moonlights. Anyone familiar with this? Is this a good idea? Any input would be great.

That's exactly what I've done. You can get them in short lengths like 3' and 6' for around 5 dollars at most home improvement stores. They are LED lights, usually water resistant for outdoor use and plug right into a timer or power strip.

HTH

hap

HAP · 12-12-2003, 09:50 PM

Here's a pic of my ropelight...I ran it from the back side of one end of my canopy, across the front and to the back side of the other end. It's a six foot rope light.

SaltyQueen · 12-13-2003, 08:16 AM

What an easy, cheap, & good idea! Thanks!

jks1 · 12-13-2003, 08:51 AM

i think ill go out and find one today! Thanks guys

wooddood · 12-13-2003, 08:51 AM

great info all thanks.

Pro_builder · 12-13-2003, 11:28 PM

HAP, Thanks for the info, I installed mine that way last night, I like the way it looks.
question though, does it have the same effect as the Expensive Lights that you can buy?

HAP · 12-14-2003, 10:00 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Pro_builder
HAP, Thanks for the info, I installed mine that way last night, I like the way it looks.
question though, does it have the same effect as the Expensive Lights that you can buy?

As far as I can tell they do work as well, Troy. I haven't seen a downside yet. Hope your exp is as sweet....

hap

12-06-2003, 12:05 AM	#1 (permalink)
Pro_builder DIY Moderator Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Oxford, Iowa Posts: 1,746 View Gallery Karma Komment	Links for DIY Moonlights? Does anyone have some info on Moonlights? What is the best bulb? what wattages? How many to have in a 4' Tank? What hours to run them? Thanks in advance. __________________ -Troy 180 gallon Reef, 3- 250 XM 15K MH Electronic ballast, 380 watts VHO Actinics, 2- 5 watt LED Moon lights, 100 gal rubbermaid sump, 75 gallon Fuge, ETSS 600 Skimmer, 4700-5400 gph pump for return, Octopus 3000 controller, Iwaki 40 RL skimmer pump, 2- 65w PC 10K fuge lights, 2 55 gallon barrels, Custom light oak stand and hood, misc pumps, extra 600 gallon rated tank size protein skimmer. Purple tang, yellow tang, pacific blue tang, 2 green chromis, 1 Sand sifting star, snails, hermit crabs, 2 mated perculas, pulsing Xenia, Anenome, mushrooms, ricordia, zoanthids, kenya tree 1 1/2" tall, misc other hitchhiker stuff. DIY is my dream... ...well OK the only way I can afford this Addiction!! Just as the light goes on in my head... ... I break the bulb!!

12-06-2003, 02:34 AM	#2 (permalink)
Dennis7 Ricordea Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Chicago, IL Posts: 190 View Gallery Karma Komment	Troy, I haven't jumped onto the LED bandwagon yet. I use a 25 watt incad. bulb. It's a blue bulb that I got at WalMart, call a party bulb. It works out great for me on my 4' tank. I am using PFO's reflectors that really evens out the light. Bulb, sockect and cord less than $8.00. I have my light turn on around 15 minutes before my last lights go off and 15 minutes after my first lights come on. Here is a link of a photo of my moonlight: http://www.reefsanctuary.com/photopo....php?photo=536 __________________ Dennis 120 gal/tank, custom overflow in center, closed-loop on a Squid, custom sump,Reef Concepts skimmer, CA reactor, Refugium gravity feed into tank, Lighting: 2 - 250 watt MH's, 4- 55 watt PC's, and 110 watt VHO. 12 gal NanoCube, with 2-32 watt PC's and a 13 watt PC, in a custom hood. Last edited by Dennis7 : 12-06-2003 at 02:40 AM.

12-12-2003, 06:18 PM	#4 (permalink)
HAP Star Polyps Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Lewisville, TX...but my heart is in Chicago! Posts: 151 View Gallery Karma Komment	You can get a cool program here to have your moonlight follow actual moon phase. *jMoonlight* I wrote about my project in a thread located *HERE.* hap __________________ Definition: Aquarium (n) A hole in your living room in which you throw money. [And I thought this would be cheaper than going to Aruba to dive - Yeah! Right!!] Oceanic 75g Reef Ready, DIY stand and canopy, 50g sump/refugium with 125lbs+ Fiji live rock, Turboflotor Multi Skimmer, 2 – 250w Metal Halides running Ushio 10k lamps, 110w Actinic, DIY moonlight, several corals (mostly softies but a few SPS and LPS as well), a bi-color blenny (Benny), a yellow Tang (Jet), 2 percula clowns (Frick & Frack), a blue spotted jawfish (Spot), a red-lipped blenny (Red), a dragon goby (Puff), a psychedelic mandarin (Mandy), a diamond sifter (Jewel), a green bta, a rose bta, a couple serpent stars, a coral banded shrimp and several crabs and snails who will remain anonymous...

12-12-2003, 06:20 PM	#5 (permalink)
TDEVIL Elegance coral Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Marion, INDIANA Posts: 1,170 View Gallery Karma Komment	i have 17 5000mcd LEDs on my 150 the reason i went with the LEDs and not the party bulb is w/ the LEDs you can pretty much aim them at any given point (a bit more $$$ but i like the look) here is what i did, sorry no step/step pics i got a 5' piece of raceway/hide-a-cord and the LEDs (mine are 5000mcd), 120v to 6v adapter and the resistors (1 pre bulb) i drilled the raceway and installed the bulbs, saudered all the connections, pluged it in to test, and attached w/ the tape strip the raceway comes with. you can get a program to run these and simulate the moon (i think HAP has a post about this) i will look for the diagram and post it and will try to get a pic of the tank w/ them on if i have time TD edited to change adapter link Last edited by TDEVIL : 12-12-2003 at 06:27 PM.

12-12-2003, 09:43 PM	#8 (permalink)
TDEVIL Elegance coral Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Marion, INDIANA Posts: 1,170 View Gallery Karma Komment	SQ, yes they do work, this is what HAP uses (blue), and i think he is satisfied with it TD __________________ my web site <-- needs updated

12-12-2003, 05:35 PM	#3 (permalink)
NaCl-H2O Fire Coral Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Raleigh, NC Posts: 69 View Gallery Karma Komment	Here is what I did.... There are 6 LED's across the middle of the canopy. (55 gallon tank) The specs are.... The LEd's are 3.7V / 20mA / 2600mcd They each have a 100 Ohm Resistor Soldered to them. I then heat shrinked and "tied" them into a 6VDC/300mA AC-to-DC Adapter which I bought from Radio Shack. I know this doesn't tell you a lot but if you have questions please feel free to ask. Here For More Pictures

12-12-2003, 06:39 PM	#6 (permalink)
TDEVIL Elegance coral Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Marion, INDIANA Posts: 1,170 View Gallery Karma Komment	for a 4' tank i would use 6 LEDs (your choice) and space them even across the tank( what ever you use to hold them) and you dont need as adapter as large as mine you can use a 6v/300ma one here is the diagram

12-12-2003, 07:46 PM	#7 (permalink)
SaltyQueen Scopas Tang Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Wisconsin Posts: 400 View Gallery Karma Komment	I don't have a moon light yet, but I have heard of people using blue rope lights like the ones below as moonlights. Anyone familiar with this? Is this a good idea? Any input would be great.

12-12-2003, 09:50 PM	#10 (permalink)
HAP Star Polyps Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Lewisville, TX...but my heart is in Chicago! Posts: 151 View Gallery Karma Komment	Here's a pic of my ropelight...I ran it from the back side of one end of my canopy, across the front and to the back side of the other end. It's a six foot rope light. __________________ Definition: Aquarium (n) A hole in your living room in which you throw money. [And I thought this would be cheaper than going to Aruba to dive - Yeah! Right!!] Oceanic 75g Reef Ready, DIY stand and canopy, 50g sump/refugium with 125lbs+ Fiji live rock, Turboflotor Multi Skimmer, 2 – 250w Metal Halides running Ushio 10k lamps, 110w Actinic, DIY moonlight, several corals (mostly softies but a few SPS and LPS as well), a bi-color blenny (Benny), a yellow Tang (Jet), 2 percula clowns (Frick & Frack), a blue spotted jawfish (Spot), a red-lipped blenny (Red), a dragon goby (Puff), a psychedelic mandarin (Mandy), a diamond sifter (Jewel), a green bta, a rose bta, a couple serpent stars, a coral banded shrimp and several crabs and snails who will remain anonymous...

12-13-2003, 08:16 AM	#11 (permalink)
SaltyQueen Scopas Tang Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Wisconsin Posts: 400 View Gallery Karma Komment	What an easy, cheap, & good idea! Thanks!

12-13-2003, 08:51 AM	#12 (permalink)
jks1 Achilles Tang Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Jacksonville, Fl Posts: 876 View Gallery Karma Komment	i think ill go out and find one today! Thanks guys __________________ John Tank: 29g glass Pumps: Mag5.0 return - (3) rio 100 PHs Lighting: (1) 150w XM 10K/(2) 30W actinics Equipment: Aqua C Urchin skimmer- CPR Fuge, Titanium Heater -Red Sea wavemaster Pro Tank: 210g 1/2" Acrylic, dual overflows, 75g glass sump w/ 20g fuge. Pumps: Mag24 return - (2) MAG24s running 2 closed loop systems. Lighting: (3) 400w XM 10K/(2) Custom Sealife 96w PC - 25w dimmable incandescent Moonlight Equipment: Aqua C EV180 skimmer - CR500 calc reactor - Titanium Heater - AquaLogic single Stage Temp Controller - Aquanetics 1/5Hp Chiller - Neptune sys aquacontroller

12-13-2003, 08:51 AM	#13 (permalink)
wooddood the wood dude Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: marion. INDIANA Posts: 3,457 View Gallery Karma Komment Add yours!	great info all thanks. __________________ 120 gal/in wall tank/starboard substraight/2 250 watt 10k xm metal halides/ 4 55watt 03 actinics/150lbs lr/scwd on return/scwd on a closed loop/aquaclear aquatics 200 pro wetdry w/skimmer. ask all the questions you have if we cant answer it we'll make up some thing. remember patience is the key to a kick ass reef. dave.

12-13-2003, 11:28 PM	#14 (permalink)
Pro_builder DIY Moderator Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Oxford, Iowa Posts: 1,746 View Gallery Karma Komment	HAP, Thanks for the info, I installed mine that way last night, I like the way it looks. question though, does it have the same effect as the Expensive Lights that you can buy? __________________ -Troy 180 gallon Reef, 3- 250 XM 15K MH Electronic ballast, 380 watts VHO Actinics, 2- 5 watt LED Moon lights, 100 gal rubbermaid sump, 75 gallon Fuge, ETSS 600 Skimmer, 4700-5400 gph pump for return, Octopus 3000 controller, Iwaki 40 RL skimmer pump, 2- 65w PC 10K fuge lights, 2 55 gallon barrels, Custom light oak stand and hood, misc pumps, extra 600 gallon rated tank size protein skimmer. Purple tang, yellow tang, pacific blue tang, 2 green chromis, 1 Sand sifting star, snails, hermit crabs, 2 mated perculas, pulsing Xenia, Anenome, mushrooms, ricordia, zoanthids, kenya tree 1 1/2" tall, misc other hitchhiker stuff. DIY is my dream... ...well OK the only way I can afford this Addiction!! Just as the light goes on in my head... ... I break the bulb!!

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