Night Viewing Question Idea

3vilPuffin · 11-30-2006, 10:52 AM

ok i was listening to the night viewing episode and had a strange idea i knew before that most aquatics cannot pick up red light(Kudos to Blue Planet Documentary) but moon lights as far as i know and have read about go off say 2 hours but could you install a red lighting system in say a t5 hood for nightviewings of the whole tank instead of using a flashlight. I've never read anything bout this before any input would be nice.

**JustDavidP** · 11-30-2006, 12:08 PM

Ben,

Yes, I've seen folks use red LED lights to view at night. Typically, they're not installed, but used as a flashlight. I have enough problems fitting everything I need under my hoods and wouldn't install red lights (though I have blue moon lights) but nothing says you can't do it.

Dave

3vilPuffin · 12-01-2006, 10:54 AM

well i dont think it would be that hard to do. But with moon lights you wouldnt use them all night correct.

**wwest** · 12-01-2006, 11:31 AM

I guess you could build something if you had the room, however i think most of interesting stuff in my tank is under the rocks on coming out of the side of the rocks. If you had red LED's in the hood im not sure if you would see the "money shots"

lol I do like the idea. though..

**JustDavidP** · 12-01-2006, 12:57 PM

My reef lighting scheme..for example:

11:00 AM - Actinics on
12:00 noon - Full spec lights on
10:00 PM - Full spec lights off
11:00 PM - Actinics off
11:00 PM - LED moonlights on
10:00 AM - LED moonlights off

Dave

3vilPuffin · 12-01-2006, 03:52 PM

So You do leave the moon lights on all night ok. i think the red would be really cool. and ya wwest red leds would be awesome i was leaning towards just adding a red bulb or making a cover that was plastic for the hood that snaps on. like if you were to take a 4 bulb t5 and put the cover over the lights to not loose space. im still in the concept stage but i want to start a new tank with some brain coral and i thought it would be awesome for night shots. and want to add it.

Warnberg · 12-04-2006, 02:42 PM

Humm red leds for moon lights..... Aren't we trying to avoid the red spectrum of lighting because of algae? If I remember correctly as bulbs age they start to shift toward the red lighting spectrum causing algae to grow...

I dunno, am I mistaken?

**Seahorsedreams** · 12-04-2006, 02:45 PM

The light from a couple of LEDS would not contribute to algae growth.

saxman · 12-05-2006, 01:51 AM

Quote:

most aquatics cannot pick up red light

interestingly enuff, for those who have attempted to catch a nosiy hitch hiker, mantis shrimp CAN see red light...they can also see 4 wavelengths of UV, and can discern 100,000 colors. for reference, the human eye can see about 10,000 colors at best. just a fun fact...

FWIW, we leave our moonlights on all PM.

veriann · 12-05-2006, 02:36 AM

grade 10 test~ split the light spectrum via a prism to see how much light enters the room. Then compare that to the output of the artifical lighting. Then compare the pissy LED totals & you have a simple realistic answer to what effect it really has on the tank.

3vilPuffin · 12-05-2006, 10:57 AM

well i havent found any real negative issues hitchhickers i can see that mantis shrimp are amazing ill have to look more in to it. with this i think im gonna try it over winter break or in early spring depending on my cashflow.

I want to try:
1) a red plasic cover for my hood.
2) and red Leds (anyone no a place to get cheap ones imma look but help would be appriciated)

-Ben

saxman · 12-05-2006, 01:50 PM

we have 3 mantis tanx...FASCINATING critters.

for your LED's, for just a few, your best bet may be to simply go to your local electronics store (Radio Shack, Fry's, etc). i know peeps that have gotten good deals on Ebay for larger lots.

you'll need a "wall wart" type DC power supply as well. look for a 4.5 or 5 volt model.

i also recommend adding a 100 ohm resistor to one leg of the LED's as a current limiter and to lessen the impact of switching them on and off.

wire the LED's in parallel. as a housing i used a piece of 1" PVC split in half and drilled to accomodate the LED's.

how many to use? i used 5 for a 55 gal (48") tank, and that's about perfect in terms of brightness.

3vilPuffin · 12-05-2006, 04:41 PM

cool Greg i see what your saying it doesnt seem that complicated ive done more in my classes at school..but i dint think of doing it in pvc and such. is there anyway i could see a pic of your handywork.

-Ben

saxman · 12-05-2006, 05:17 PM

OK...here's a view of the moons mounted in the canopy. the blue dots are the LED's. the pipe sits between the regular PC tubes.

i gave the PVC a "finished" look by sawing a 1" cap in half and gluing it to the ends of the half-pipe. the supply cord is threaded thru a hole in the end of one cap and knotted.

sorry i don't have a pic of the guts...

3vilPuffin · 12-05-2006, 11:58 PM

awesome man that looks sweet

**Seahorsedreams** · 12-06-2006, 12:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by saxman

sorry i don't have a pic of the guts...

We'll get a better pic tonight of the outside and the guts.

saxman · 12-06-2006, 01:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Seahorsedreams

We'll get a better pic tonight of the outside and the guts.

um...how are we gonna get a pic of the guts without removing the LED strip from the canopy?

how about you photodocument the next set i build? maybe the mantis setup needs moonlights...

**Seahorsedreams** · 12-06-2006, 07:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by saxman