cache.bandit.chris
Aquarium Advice Newbie
Hey everyone! I am in the process of acquiring the equipment I need to set up a 220 gallon FOWLR aquarium and due to the high initial setup cost I have been considering some DIY projects. I want to construct some type of LED lighting system to cut back on heat and electric cost but wanted to run it by you guys first. I know that it may sound a bit silly at first, but I have given this a lot of thought and really think it could work…I want to use LED Christmas lights!
What I want to do is get a sheet of pegboard and cut it to the size of the tank, in my case 72” x 24”. I would then surface one side (the side facing down on the tank) with some kind of reflective tape or even use aluminum foil and some spray adhesive. I then want to alternate two strands of pure white wide angle LED Christmas lights with a stand of blue wide angle LED Christmas lights in the middle, punching the LEDs through the holes in the pegboard and reflective surface from the top. Those Christmas LEDs are pretty bright, and I think with three strands, all the lights pointed down, and the reflective back would work out fine. I have even gone as far as thinking about hooking up all three strands to a different timer so that all three can be on during the day, then one will turn off around sunset, followed by the other leaving only the blue strand on till about midnight…then doing the opposite to simulate the sun rising.
Anyways, I am sure that most of you are much more experienced with aquariums than I, and I am sure my idea has flaws. I would love to hear what you all have to say.
What I want to do is get a sheet of pegboard and cut it to the size of the tank, in my case 72” x 24”. I would then surface one side (the side facing down on the tank) with some kind of reflective tape or even use aluminum foil and some spray adhesive. I then want to alternate two strands of pure white wide angle LED Christmas lights with a stand of blue wide angle LED Christmas lights in the middle, punching the LEDs through the holes in the pegboard and reflective surface from the top. Those Christmas LEDs are pretty bright, and I think with three strands, all the lights pointed down, and the reflective back would work out fine. I have even gone as far as thinking about hooking up all three strands to a different timer so that all three can be on during the day, then one will turn off around sunset, followed by the other leaving only the blue strand on till about midnight…then doing the opposite to simulate the sun rising.
Anyways, I am sure that most of you are much more experienced with aquariums than I, and I am sure my idea has flaws. I would love to hear what you all have to say.
