DIY moonlights for saltwater tanks - Page 2 - Aquarium Advice

malkore · 08-05-2004, 03:52 PM

yeah cold cathodes aren't designed to dim really, but an LED can dim. some install a dimmer switch even.

dustybrannum · 08-05-2004, 04:23 PM

you can also use a potentiometer in series with the led's to cause the dimming.

Mr Burns · 08-05-2004, 04:38 PM

would the zalman fanmate be ok though? dusty, any chance you could find a radioshack part number for the pot in case the zalman won't work? thanks

dustybrannum · 08-05-2004, 05:02 PM

I looked at the radio shack website and they did not have anything i would use. Of course the items they actually have at the store may be better. I will see if i can stop by there this evening and get you a number. I got my parts from my lab. As for the LED's I got mine from www.bgmicro.com . You want around 430 nm wavelengths. I have the circuit at home that I modeled my system from if you want to take a look at it.

Mr Burns · 08-05-2004, 11:16 PM

malkore - i may have overlooked it, but what size is that tank? thanks

malkore · 08-06-2004, 11:53 AM

40 gallon breeder: 36"x18"x16"

Mr Burns · 08-06-2004, 01:38 PM

does it look like the LEDs could be changed if need be, maybe to a different color?

JProx · 08-07-2004, 03:13 PM

Catalog #: 271-1716 is the number for a suitable 50k pot. it's a max wattage is a
.5watts so keep that in mind.

Burns to answer you question about the fanMate 1, i don't think it will work. it limits voltages from 12 - 5volts, and blue leds only operate at 4.2 and less. chances are the fan mate will not go low enough to effect the leds, unless you moded the fan mate, by replacing it's pot/rheostat. but to mod it you will need to get a smaller pot, and by then it would be easier to use a stand alone pot in the circuit and skip the fan mate all together.

perrymedik · 08-08-2004, 12:15 AM

I think this is a great find! I will definatly use it on my tank. I will probably need to use more then 2 units since I have a 125g tank. How far apart was the spacing with the two units you used?

As for dimming them with a fan switch, that sounds like a great idea. Any type of resistor based switch should do the trick. I don't know of LED's to be picky when you cut the power settings down.

As for those that didn't have nice things to say. Hush your mouths. Your mothers raised you better then that.

malkore · 08-09-2004, 11:38 AM

Yes LED's can be dimmed (if you've ever seen an iMac's pulsing apple logo...that's just an LED inside).

There's about 1 foot inbetween the two 'bricks'...and they're maybe 10" in from each end of the tank.

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08-05-2004, 03:52 PM	#11
malkore Aquarium Advice Addict Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Nebraska, USA Posts: 6,540	yeah cold cathodes aren't designed to dim really, but an LED can dim. some install a dimmer switch even. __________________ Visit my aquarium pages - see specs on my tanks, and photos of how they've evolved My other passion: TheNinja 500R - updated 9/18/05

08-05-2004, 04:23 PM	#12
dustybrannum Aquarium Advice Freak Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Sherman, texas-college in arlington,tx near Dallas Posts: 318 Images: 8	you can also use a potentiometer in series with the led's to cause the dimming. __________________ Dusty Brannum

08-05-2004, 04:38 PM	#13
Mr Burns Aquarium Advice FINatic Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: cincinnati Posts: 784	would the zalman fanmate be ok though? dusty, any chance you could find a radioshack part number for the pot in case the zalman won't work? thanks __________________ "If this were a dictatorship, it'd be a heck of a lot easier...just as long as I'm the dictator..." --George W. Bush, Washington, [acronym:3a5f9f69f4="Direct current"]DC[/acronym:3a5f9f69f4], Dec 18, 2000

08-05-2004, 05:02 PM	#14
dustybrannum Aquarium Advice Freak Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Sherman, texas-college in arlington,tx near Dallas Posts: 318 Images: 8	I looked at the radio shack website and they did not have anything i would use. Of course the items they actually have at the store may be better. I will see if i can stop by there this evening and get you a number. I got my parts from my lab. As for the LED's I got mine from www.bgmicro.com . You want around 430 nm wavelengths. I have the circuit at home that I modeled my system from if you want to take a look at it. __________________ Dusty Brannum

08-05-2004, 11:16 PM	#15
Mr Burns Aquarium Advice FINatic Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: cincinnati Posts: 784	malkore - i may have overlooked it, but what size is that tank? thanks __________________ "If this were a dictatorship, it'd be a heck of a lot easier...just as long as I'm the dictator..." --George W. Bush, Washington, [acronym:3a5f9f69f4="Direct current"]DC[/acronym:3a5f9f69f4], Dec 18, 2000

08-06-2004, 11:53 AM	#16
malkore Aquarium Advice Addict Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Nebraska, USA Posts: 6,540	40 gallon breeder: 36"x18"x16" __________________ Visit my aquarium pages - see specs on my tanks, and photos of how they've evolved My other passion: TheNinja 500R - updated 9/18/05

08-06-2004, 01:38 PM	#17
Mr Burns Aquarium Advice FINatic Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: cincinnati Posts: 784	does it look like the LEDs could be changed if need be, maybe to a different color? __________________ "If this were a dictatorship, it'd be a heck of a lot easier...just as long as I'm the dictator..." --George W. Bush, Washington, [acronym:3a5f9f69f4="Direct current"]DC[/acronym:3a5f9f69f4], Dec 18, 2000

08-07-2004, 03:13 PM	#18
JProx Aquarium Advice Freak Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Cleveland ohio Posts: 359	Catalog #: 271-1716 is the number for a suitable 50k pot. it's a max wattage is a .5watts so keep that in mind. Burns to answer you question about the fanMate 1, i don't think it will work. it limits voltages from 12 - 5volts, and blue leds only operate at 4.2 and less. chances are the fan mate will not go low enough to effect the leds, unless you moded the fan mate, by replacing it's pot/rheostat. but to mod it you will need to get a smaller pot, and by then it would be easier to use a stand alone pot in the circuit and skip the fan mate all together.

08-08-2004, 12:15 AM	#19
perrymedik Aquarium Advice Apprentice Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Jacksonville, NC Posts: 28	I think this is a great find! I will definatly use it on my tank. I will probably need to use more then 2 units since I have a 125g tank. How far apart was the spacing with the two units you used? As for dimming them with a fan switch, that sounds like a great idea. Any type of resistor based switch should do the trick. I don't know of LED's to be picky when you cut the power settings down. As for those that didn't have nice things to say. Hush your mouths. Your mothers raised you better then that.

08-09-2004, 11:38 AM	#20
malkore Aquarium Advice Addict Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Nebraska, USA Posts: 6,540	Yes LED's can be dimmed (if you've ever seen an iMac's pulsing apple logo...that's just an LED inside). There's about 1 foot inbetween the two 'bricks'...and they're maybe 10" in from each end of the tank. __________________ Visit my aquarium pages - see specs on my tanks, and photos of how they've evolved My other passion: TheNinja 500R - updated 9/18/05

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