Moonlights out of xmas lights? - Aquarium Advice

Todd2 · 11-08-2003, 05:46 PM

Would this work? Could you make moonlights out of blue xmas lights that you put around your xmas tree?

Electrobes · 11-08-2003, 06:10 PM

nonononononononononono! Those things produce a lot of heat, not fun for you or you fish. They usually give off the wrong spectrum anyway... if you want moon lights I would say either go for the cold cathode tube, which is easier, or go the blue LED method which is more efficient but harder to do

11-08-2003, 09:16 PM

Quote:

nonononononononononono! Those things produce a lot of heat, not fun for you or you fish.

Which Christmas lights are you talking about... I have a string of blue ones that barely get warm... Are you talking about the ones that are the size of night lights? I am confused. Because I seriously doubt they would put off near as much heat as [acronym:507bad5513="Power compact fluorescent"]PC[/acronym:507bad5513]'s or [acronym:507bad5513="Metal halide light"]MH[/acronym:507bad5513] lights. Also, Cold Cathode tubes give off the wrong spectrum as well if you want to get technical...

loganj · 11-08-2003, 09:40 PM

The old style Christmas lights...the big ones...do get very hot. I probably wouldn't try using them either...they would probably burst if they got splattered. The only problem I see with the small ones is that the connections might corrode quickly if not protected. From what I've seen, the LED's make the best lights.

11-09-2003, 12:34 AM

Quote:

The old style Christmas lights...the big ones...do get very hot.

Yes these are the ones I suspect that Electrobes was refering to. I know the very small ones that are out barely get hot at all because of their use on Real Trees...that is all I was replying for... The blue that I have is actually close to the same color as the LEDs.. Just takes more of them to get any kind of good light, and then using all of them is too bright [acronym:a3e5cd11e3="Laughing out loud"]LOL[/acronym:a3e5cd11e3]... It is better to use the LED lights since they heve become standard... I think you are right about the copper leads coroding..That would be a mess..

astride13 · 11-09-2003, 11:46 AM

You will be changing bulbs often if it doesn't corrode first. The reason LEDa are used because there life is around 10 years if left on 24 hours a day.

ken · 12-23-2003, 07:00 PM

I have done this, I cut up a strand of the small christmas lights and attached it to a 12 volt adapter and they work fine they will not be as bright as moonlights but it does give a cool look to the tank.... if you don't want to use the whole strand and decide to cut it you will need an adapter i used a cell phone charger that i no longer needed

11-08-2003, 05:46 PM	#1
Todd2 Aquarium Advice Freak Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Pennsylvania Posts: 408	Moonlights out of xmas lights? Would this work? Could you make moonlights out of blue xmas lights that you put around your xmas tree? __________________ 20G L planted - 6 Black Skirt tetras, 1 Dwarf Gourami favorite fish (King of the tank) Plants - java fern & moss, dwarf sag, money wort 10G - empty

11-08-2003, 09:40 PM	#4
loganj Aquarium Advice Addict Moderator Emeritus Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Chatsworth, GA Posts: 4,008	The old style Christmas lights...the big ones...do get very hot. I probably wouldn't try using them either...they would probably burst if they got splattered. The only problem I see with the small ones is that the connections might corrode quickly if not protected. From what I've seen, the LED's make the best lights. __________________ Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take, but by the moments that take our breath away. Logan J www.captiveraisedcorals.com

11-09-2003, 11:46 AM	#6
astride13 Aquarium Advice Freak Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Coral Springs, FL Posts: 214	You will be changing bulbs often if it doesn't corrode first. The reason LEDa are used because there life is around 10 years if left on 24 hours a day. __________________ Adrian

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11-08-2003, 06:10 PM	#2
Electrobes Aquarium Advice Addict Join Date: May 2003 Location: Greenwood, SC Posts: 1,076 Images: 7	nonononononononononono! Those things produce a lot of heat, not fun for you or you fish. They usually give off the wrong spectrum anyway... if you want moon lights I would say either go for the cold cathode tube, which is easier, or go the blue LED method which is more efficient but harder to do

12-23-2003, 07:00 PM	#7
ken Aquarium Advice Newbie Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: dallas Posts: 8	I have done this, I cut up a strand of the small christmas lights and attached it to a 12 volt adapter and they work fine they will not be as bright as moonlights but it does give a cool look to the tank.... if you don't want to use the whole strand and decide to cut it you will need an adapter i used a cell phone charger that i no longer needed