Moonlights out of xmas lights?

[Todd2]

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

 

[Electrobes]

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

 

[Guest]

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 PC's or MH lights. Also, Cold Cathode tubes give off the wrong spectrum as well if you want to get technical...

 

[loganj]

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.

 

[Guest]

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 LOL... 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]

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]

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