Can I have both Fluorescent & Moonlights/LEDs

LazyTimeGirl · 04-16-2007, 08:25 PM

Sunday I went to buy a new fluorescent lightbulb for the tank. When I got home, installed it and turned the light on, it was blueish. I immediately realized I had inadvertently bought a bulb for marine/reef tanks. I found that I really loved the way it made the tank look. Coincidentally, I've only recently discovered the moonlights/LEDs in an aquarium catalog and fell in love with the idea.

Are there hoods you can buy that let you install two bulbs (a fluorescent for daytime and a moonlight bulb for nightime)? My tank takes a 24" hood and an 18" bulb. Any info you could give on having both lights over a tank would be appreciated. I've never seen these moonlights in the pet stores that I buy my aquarium supplies so I am very unknowledgeable about them. I've only used the one fluorescent bulb and would like to upgrade a bit.

I have a freshwater tropical tank with no live plants.

Thanks in advance for your help.

gm333 · 04-16-2007, 09:20 PM

Yes, but they are a little on the expensive side. Here is a couple of led pc combos. http://www.bigalsonline.com/BigAlsUS...ripwlunarlight

http://www.bigalsonline.com/BigAlsUS...hirtsand1timer

88cupfan · 05-06-2007, 09:24 AM

I have found that most of my fish get stressed out when I even leave my standard florescent lights on for more than a few hours a day. IMHO, high output lights are for heavily planted tanks which will still allow for adequate shade in the bottom of the tank where fish that don't like bright lights can get away from it. If you don't have natural plants you can just add moon lights to your existing low output fixtures.

What I did was add some Led moon lights to my existing hood by drilling holes in the back of my hood that are just large enough to hold the Led connectors tightly while they are protruding in to the hood. Then I plugged the LED fixtures into the connectors on the inside of the hoods. This holds them in place and allows for adjustment in directing the LEDs. You still have to turn the LEDs on and off by plugging and unplugging them but I just leave the LEDs on all the time anyway. I still have a switch for the Florescent bulb and without natural plants in my tanks I don't need brighter lights that my fish really don't like. All you need is a drill bit that is just a tad smaller than the LED connector. If the hole is to small to get the connector into the hole just make the hole a little bigger by using the side of the drill bit as you swirl it around the hole a little more. This takes a little time but don't make the hole to large or the connector will not hold tightly in the hole.

If I was up to speed on computers I would send you a picture of mine, but for now this explanation will have to do.

The type of LEDS i used are at the DR Foster and Smith site and are just called Lunar lights. Each fixture cantains 2 LEDs and are connected by a wire with a connector at each end so that you can string them out as many as you want. I have the blue colored ones but I think they are a little dark so I would try the white ones.

Gods best, Kenny

penna32 · 05-06-2007, 09:43 AM

do you need a special fixture to use a moonlight and a florescent lights ? would it affect plant life ?

88cupfan · 05-06-2007, 01:27 PM

I used the standard hoods that came with my Top Fin Glass aquariums with one low output florescent bulb and installed the Lunar lights as described above.

DarkCreep · 05-23-2007, 11:16 AM

How are the LEDs powered? I would love to someday have extremely low light during night.

88cupfan · 05-25-2007, 07:27 PM

The LEDs are powered by a small transformer that plugs into any 120 volt receptacle. A wire then leads to the first LED in line that has a male connector at the end. Each small LED fixture has two female connectors. The wire that strings from one to another has male ends on both ends. It is these male ends that I stick into a tight hole drilled into the lighting hood. Obviously you need only one connector fitting tightly in a hole to hold the Fixture. You will have to drill an exit hole to lead the next wire toward the next LED in line. Once you get to the last Led there is no need for a second hole. The transformer converts AC (alternating current) into DC (direct current). Batteries, from car batteries to Watch batteries are DC. A batteries polarity never changes. Thats why there is a positive on one end and a negative on the other. Alternating current changes polarity 60 times per second in the USA. In 1/60th of a second the voltage across the outlet goes from 120 volts, down to 0 volts, and then back to 120 volts with an opposite polarity between the conductors. This is the kind of current that will shock you. Dc is often used for low voltage/low wattage applications. The lunar light LEDs are only 1 Watt each.