new lighting idea, tell me what ya think - Aquarium Advice

tropicfishman · 12-02-2006, 02:34 AM

ok this is for those custom lighting needs: ok what i would like to do is take a plastic electrical box and put a dimmer switch and face plate in it, out of one end have a cord with a plug for the wall outlet on it, on the other have a plug in. plug the box thing in the wall, and the lights into the other end coming out from the dimmer switch, wouldn't this make a neat dimmer for your lgihting???? you could make one fo reach light or some how wire up one to control all them or something, how would it work for flourescent, would it dim them or justy turn them off?

Lonewolfblue · 12-02-2006, 02:54 AM

I don't think a dimmer switch will work. It's not something I'd recommend.

tropicfishman · 12-02-2006, 02:57 AM

really? anything that you know of that would work, I just think it would be cool to have a sun rise to sunset effect on a tank then have the moonlighting kick in and fade back out at morning, Iono if it can be done but it would be awesome if it can

**Fishyfanatic** · 12-02-2006, 10:01 AM

You can't dim florescent lights. They are either on or off.

cabezon · 12-02-2006, 03:56 PM

but you can use multiple small lights in differing temperatures to get the effect you are looking for.

GlitcH · 12-02-2006, 04:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cabezon

but you can use multiple small lights in differing temperatures to get the effect you are looking for.

Yep.......My schedule goes like this:

6am my 18w comes on.
9am my 96w fixture comes on.
10am two of the 96w bulbs in my 384w fixture comes on.
11am the other two 96w bulbs come on.
2pm two 96w bulbs shut off.
6pm my 96w fixture shuts off.
9:30pm the other two 96w bulbs shut off.
11pm the 18w shuts off and my moon lights come on.

Confused?

tropicfishman · 12-02-2006, 09:13 PM

slightly confused

fish_4_all · 12-03-2006, 03:16 AM

You could go one easier and build a fixture that has 6-8 bulbs in it. Wire the bulbs so they come on in pairs. Start with the front bulbs coming on first, then the next bank, and so on. Then the front one turn off, then the next ones, etc. Sunrise to sunset with the moonlights on a seperate timer and maybe even 2 banks of moonlights, one in front and one in back coming on before the front bank and the back ones coming on just before the last bank of lights go out.

12-02-2006, 02:34 AM	#1
tropicfishman Aquarium Advice Addict Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Ashland KY Posts: 1,890	new lighting idea, tell me what ya think ok this is for those custom lighting needs: ok what i would like to do is take a plastic electrical box and put a dimmer switch and face plate in it, out of one end have a cord with a plug for the wall outlet on it, on the other have a plug in. plug the box thing in the wall, and the lights into the other end coming out from the dimmer switch, wouldn't this make a neat dimmer for your lgihting???? you could make one fo reach light or some how wire up one to control all them or something, how would it work for flourescent, would it dim them or justy turn them off? __________________ I love my clown loaches and red tail shark!!! lol

12-02-2006, 02:54 AM	#2
Lonewolfblue Planted Geek Community Mentor Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Wenatchee, WA Posts: 7,871 Images: 7	I don't think a dimmer switch will work. It's not something I'd recommend. __________________ 26G Medium Planted Community - 65W CF Lighting - Emperor 280 Bio-Wheel - Established Feb 2004 55G Aggressive Community - Filstar XP3 - Established Dec 2005 75G Heavily Planted - Pressurized CO2, 520W Lighting, Filstar XP3 with spraybar - Established Feb 2006 29G Planted - 130W Lighting, Filstar XP2 with spraybar - Established May 2006 5 10G Tanks - Various setups - Tanks Established May-Sep 2006. 3 currently empty. 5.5G Crypt/Java Fern Tank - Established Oct 2006 My 29G Thread : http://www.aquariumadvice.com/viewtopic.php?t=78469 My 75G Thread : http://www.aquariumadvice.com/viewtopic.php?t=70764 My 75G Makeover Thread: http://www.aquariumadvice.com/viewtopic.php?t=87691

12-02-2006, 02:57 AM	#3
tropicfishman Aquarium Advice Addict Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Ashland KY Posts: 1,890	really? anything that you know of that would work, I just think it would be cool to have a sun rise to sunset effect on a tank then have the moonlighting kick in and fade back out at morning, Iono if it can be done but it would be awesome if it can __________________ I love my clown loaches and red tail shark!!! lol

12-02-2006, 10:01 AM	#4
Fishyfanatic Aquarium Advice Addict Community Moderator Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Illinois Posts: 10,303 Images: 15	You can't dim florescent lights. They are either on or off. __________________ Vote for Aquarium Advice 10 Gallon Lake Malawi Cichlid Fry 29 Gallon Community 55 Gallon Community 55 Gallon Lake Malawi Cichlid Fry 150 Gallon Lake Malawi Cichlid

12-02-2006, 09:13 PM	#7
tropicfishman Aquarium Advice Addict Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Ashland KY Posts: 1,890	slightly confused __________________ I love my clown loaches and red tail shark!!! lol

12-02-2006, 03:56 PM	#5
cabezon Aquarium Advice Activist Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Tampa FL Posts: 144 Images: 3	but you can use multiple small lights in differing temperatures to get the effect you are looking for.

12-03-2006, 03:16 AM	#8
fish_4_all Aquarium Advice Addict Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Aberdeen, WA Posts: 1,809 Images: 4	You could go one easier and build a fixture that has 6-8 bulbs in it. Wire the bulbs so they come on in pairs. Start with the front bulbs coming on first, then the next bank, and so on. Then the front one turn off, then the next ones, etc. Sunrise to sunset with the moonlights on a seperate timer and maybe even 2 banks of moonlights, one in front and one in back coming on before the front bank and the back ones coming on just before the last bank of lights go out.

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