DIY LED's for cheap!

[GraphicGr8s]

Sorry to resurrect this thread but how are the leds working with the plants?

[BallAquatics]

I was very pleased with the way they worked for me.

Dennis

[Mugwump]

I was very pleased with the way they worked for me.

Dennis

Ever end up using that light rope for anything, Dennis?

[BallAquatics]

Ever end up using that light rope for anything, Dennis?

I think it was Bill who had the rope.

Dennis

[Mugwump]

Ever end up using that light rope for anything, Dennis?

I think it was Bill who had the rope.

Dennis

oops...why yes it was....

http://www.mugwump-fish-world.com/index.php?topic=363.0

[BillT]

http://www.mugwump-fish-world.com/index.php?topic=363.0

That is EL wire (EL = ElectroLuminescent). I am not actually using this for lighting tanks. It does not put out that much light. However you can run it under water (at least for a short time). EL wire is used among other things for lighting up clothes (like in the movie Tron).

I now use a lot of the light strings like Dennis has, but mounted on pieces of metal frame for making screens (cheap, light, fairly stiff).
I am also using green lights since in some fish this seems to promote breeding. No great success on that yet though.

I had a concern that they might dim rapidly over time. I have not noticed that.
I have had an occasionally individual light go out, but these might have been damaged by the strip being bent too much when I was gluing them on to their supports.

[Mugwump]

http://www.mugwump-fish-world.com/index.php?topic=363.0

That is EL wire (EL = ElectroLuminescent). I am not actually using this for lighting tanks. It does not put out that much light. However you can run it under water (at least for a short time). EL wire is used among other things for lighting up clothes (like in the movie Tron).

I now use a lot of the light strings like Dennis has, but mounted on pieces of metal frame for making screens (cheap, light, fairly stiff).
I am also using green lights since in some fish this seems to promote breeding. No great success on that yet though.

I had a concern that they might dim rapidly over time. I have not noticed that.
I have had an occasionally individual light go out, but these might have been damaged by the strip being bent too much when I was gluing them on to their supports.

Thanks for the reply, and update Bill....green light/promote breeding....Hmmmmm

[BillT]

Here's a reference:

The environmental regulation of maturation in goldfish, Carassius auratus: Effects of various LED light spectra
Hyun Suk Shina, Hamid R. Habibib, Cheol Young Choia.  Comparative Biochemistry and Physiology Part A: Molecular & Integrative Physiology  Volume 168, February 2014, Pages 17?24

or
http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1095643313002687

Somehow I got a free copy of this, so if you are interested in getting a copy, let me know.


Another problem I have had with the LED tapes is their adhesive not working well. I use a micro-bead of gorilla glue on the adhesive, which works great.

[GraphicGr8s]

I was very pleased with the way they worked for me.

Dennis

Did you find it to be low light or medium? Curious because of all the 4' fluorescents I am running now and how much they cost to run.

[Mugwump]

I was very pleased with the way they worked for me.

Dennis

Did you find it to be low light or medium? Curious because of all the 4' fluorescents I am running now and how much they cost to run.

I'm in the progress of using Beamswork LED lights here....good lights, very good prices

http://www.aquatraders.com/SearchResults.asp?Search=beamswork&Search.x=22&Search.y=10

[BillT]

I'm in the progress of using Beamswork LED lights here....good lights, very good prices

http://www.aquatraders.com/SearchResults.asp?Search=beamswork&Search.x=22&Search.y=10

Wow, those seem like pretty good prices.
Free shipping on at least some too.

[BallAquatics]

Did you find it to be low light or medium?

Probably low light.  I don't grow anything demanding....  no ferts or special substrate.

I'd like to run the fish room with solar power sometime down the road and these look like a very good candidate for my lighting needs.

Dennis