DIY moonlights for saltwater tanks

[malkore]

I built my own canopy, again, with a little different design (mostly due to the desire for plenty of clearance for a skimmer and a hang-on fuge).

So, the canopy is built and [acronym:51f9f02b7c="Power compact fluorescent"]PC[/acronym:51f9f02b7c] lighting is all installed. Where to get 'moonlights'?
Well a lotta people seem to like the LED's you can get relatively cheaply...and blue is usually used.
So I found this: http://www.xoxide.com/bluledligkit.html
$4 for a little block of 3 blue LED's. I bought 2 of these kits.

These are pre-wired with Molex connectors, which are the little white power plugs inside a computer case. Luckily Xoxide.com also sells this: http://www.xoxide.com/miposunocone.html
plugs into the wall and drops voltage to 12v, and can power 7 of those Lazer LED kits.

I got my kit, and that adapter is nothing more than a cordless phone [acronym:51f9f02b7c="Activated Carbon"]AC[/acronym:51f9f02b7c] adapter, with the end cut off and rewired to a molex plug. (don't get me wrong, the workmanship is fine, it's just amusing to me).


And there they are...in all their glory.
Total cost for the 2 LED Lazer kits plus the adapter, and shipping, was $21. I made brackets to hold the LED lights from a scrap piece of thick aluminum (from a [acronym:51f9f02b7c="Power compact fluorescent"]PC[/acronym:51f9f02b7c] case).

[RogerMcAllen]

Wow, if I had a reef tank, I would definatelly give it a go for only $21. Seeing as I don't, you didn't really inspire me so I had to abstain my vote.

*edit
After looking some more, I would love to get some of those to play around with. To my dismay they are out of those power supplies, otherwise my wallet would be about $21 lighter. I change my vote to yes.

[WarOrks15]

is that too bright? my moon lights i cant take a pic with them to see the glow but i can see when they are one and not. it just cast a light light to the tank.

[dustybrannum]

I actually made the circuit for mine and they are not that bright but they are also adjustable

[stresco]

Ummmm, No. I made my own moonlights last year sometime. But you did a great job, just a little too bright for my liking.

[malkore]

honestly they are NOT that bright. my digital camera is several years old, and is a fixed shutter speed supposedly. when I shot the pic, the shutter was open for like 5 seconds, so it came thru much brighter than reality.
I also photoshop'd the image to add some contrast, which makes it look brighter since the darks are darker.
I'm gonna see how the fish like it...cuz I can always dab a bit of paint on the tip of the bulb to diffuse the light just a hair.

[Fishboy-from-NY]

you still don't get my vote since I have moonlights with less brightness.

[Atari]

Good job malkore. They look great

[malkore]

Originally Posted by Fishboy-from-NY

you still don't get my vote since I have moonlights with less brightness.

Do you want a cookie?

Besides I already told you they're not really as bright as the photo makes them look.

[Mr Burns]

hey, great find malkore! i may change my moonlights from the cold cathodes to these LEDs. the design seems to spread the light very nicely. i already have a 12V 1A power adapter that is wired for the cold cathodes, but if they are not the deep blue color that i want, i may have no choice but to go with these LEDs. does anybody know if they could be dimmed by regulating the voltage, say with a fan controller (zalman fanmate-1)? that would be wonderful

---
edit
---
i may switch to the LEDs anyway since one of the cathode tubes doesn't take well to dimming. as i'm slowly decreasing the voltage, it goes to half-lit much sooner than the other tube.