Night Time Viewing and Moon simulation

[King Jason]

I'm working on the lighting for my 190g tank and am thinking of building in some type of night viewing system. I plan on using a Solar 1000 to dim my VHO's (always thought this would be cool), and use it's "moonlight" port and an incandescent light. I also want to create an easy way to "see what's clicking," or watch the nightlife of my inhabitants. So of coarse this brings up the red light theory.

Ok, there are two issues here.

1. Moon simulation. Basically to try to recreate or simulate the moon. I know I probably can't "trick" my inhabitants into thinking this is the moon, and the Solar 1000 doesn't simulate it perfectly. It's not perfect, but better then nothing. But with that behind us what and where do I buy the incandescent bulb/mogul? I'm thinking low wattage 1-15 watts of light. I was at home depot yesterday and there are way too many types of bulbs/moguls.

2. Night time viewing with red lights. These lights will NOT be on all the time. The only time they would be on is if I wanted to catch a glimpse of the tank or see what is going on during the night. Maybe for a short period of 15-30 minutes max. Again, the same question. What red bulbs/moguls, and where to buy?

 

[Anonymous]

Jason, I rigged up some blue leds and a few resistors in a rad shack plastic box for a DYI moonlight. Works ok. Assume you could build the enclosure into existing hood or use red leds for night viewing. The onlything is the LEDs I got were prety weak. There are some very bright ones that are on the market but I have not been able to find a source I can order them from. Take a look at this thread for someones DIY moonlight and another about the super bright LED's:


http://www.nano-reef.com/forums/showthr ... =moonlight

http://www.nano-reef.com/forums/showthr ... =moonlight


Also this company makes a moonlight using a single high output led nd what looks like a mylar reflector. Interesting but not 80 bucks interesting:

http://www.brightlights-tech.com/

Lastly Champion Lighting has some kind of 4 led moonlight for sale made by the same people that make the blueline ballasts I think:

http://www.championlighting.com/e/env/0 ... /moon.html

I have been goofing around with a few designs, I just need to find a source for some high reflective mylar and some superbright LEDs.

Have fun!

 

[Bill2]

i love looking in my tank at night. My wife thinks i'm nuts. I just use a flashlight if you want to get fancy you can buy a piece of red cellophane and put that over the flashlight lens.

 

[hurley675]

Hey King Jason

Do you have any pics yet cause your last pics of your plumbing were just awesome?!

 

[King Jason]

Thanks for the replies guys, Good info technoshaman. I've seen those LED moonlights but they are too expensive. I also wanted to be able to use it with the Solar 1000. So it has to be an incandescent bulb (whatever that means, can someone clarify that?).

Red LED’s would be kind of cool. I want to be able to flip a switch and the red “night time viewing lights” turn on. Right now I do the flashlight thing and it works ok, but I thought night time viewing lights would be a nifty little addition. Anyone know of a place to buy powerful red LED’s and balasts?

If I can't find powerful red LED's, could I just use a regular red lamp bulb? I have seen 13w red Power compact setups, but they are a bit pricy also.

Do you have any pics yet cause your last pics of your plumbing were just awesome?!

No pictures yet, I'm still in the "information gathering stage" of my lighting setup. But I'll be sure to post them once I get the project started.

 

[Anonymous]

Jason,

I bought a cheap incandescent socket and installed a cord and plug onto it. I mounted it to the back of the hood with a 2-hole pvc strap. For the lamp I use a blue 25W GE "party light". It is controlled by eLightMaster program. It is awesome. The blue light looks great over the tank. It kinda sparkles. Best $5 I ever spent. ( I already had the x-10 and eLightmaster, so the $5 is for the socket, lamps, plug, etc.) Keep in mind the moonrise/moonset isn't always at night. It rotates. Take a look at the moonrise/moonset tables and you'll see. Sometimes you have light at night, sometimes not. It's is still really cool.

If you think 25W is two much, you could always use a black marker to tone it down some.

Louey

 

[Mogo]

Last week I took a christmas tree light string, unscrewed all the bulbs and put a blue bulb into the last socket on the string. Plugged it in. Presto. Moonlight. Looked a little too blue so I scratched some of the blue film off the bulb to make the light a little whiter. I made a cover for the bulb using a black film canister and cut a 1/2" slit in it. By twisting the slit I can regulate the amount of direct light into the aquarium, somewhat simulating the phases of the moon. A low tech solution that seems to work pretty well. After all, it was just an idea at the moment. Downside is that I have to twist the film canister "light hood" all the time to vary the amount of light. Upside is I can view the inhabitants at night without using a flashlight. Automatic system on the drawing board. Hmmmm...

 

[King Jason]

Anyone know what the difference is between the GE 25W Blue Bulb, and the GE 25W Blue Party Bulb?

GE 25W Blue Bulb:
http://www.cornerhardware.com/hardware/ ... cat_id=240

GE 25W Blue Party Bulb:
http://www.cornerhardware.com/hardware/ ... cat_id=240

From the pictures it looks like the party bulb is not as dark of blue, and the glass is still a little clear. The regular blue bulb seems to be very dark blue.

 

[Anonymous]

Simple, if there are open beverages, snacks, music and people putting lampshades on their head take the regular blue bulb out and replace with party bulb. Seriously I think it's just a slightly darker transluscent blue coating on the 'party' bulb.

 

[Reefguide]

I've seen ppl use the x-mas style lights that run through a blue hose, rop lights or something like that. they seem to work ok.

 

[Anonymous]

Jason, I'd go with the GE Party light. I bought mine a K-mart and they are cheap. You'll be very pleased with the look!

Louey

 

[King Jason]

Jason, I'd go with the GE Party light. I bought mine a K-mart and they are cheap. You'll be very pleased with the look!

Louey

Do you use a basic mogul? Any problems with moisture?

 

[O P Ing]

hi.
Just put a ring of silicon glue on the base before you screw it in. The bulb should last for years depends on your use, and if it starts to look bad, just yank the whole thing out and replace it. It is really cheap anyway.

 

[Minh Nguyen]

Don't try to simulate the moon too much. It may fool your coral. They will spawn then you are in deep doo doo. In large system, there is no way you can get enough water for water change quickly, if you know what I mean.
Minh Nguyen

 

[Anonymous]

What O P Ing said.

Louey

 

[King Jason]

hi.
Just put a ring of silicon glue on the base before you screw it in. The bulb should last for years depends on your use, and if it starts to look bad, just yank the whole thing out and replace it. It is really cheap anyway.

To Home Depot I go! I should invest in Home Depot...

 

[Anonymous]

We all should have invested in Home Depot 10 years ago.

They get their fair share of my money! :lol:

Louey

 

[krusty_krab]

Hey

Check out my FW light hood I built (sig link)

Those are 2 55 PCs for mains, the bulbs on the sides, are moonlight and amber lights. THe Blue moonlight works well, the amber, well it dont fool the fish. They see it 'n run. Same with shrimp. Freshwater mind you.

Got all that from ahsupply.com - put it together myself. 13 watt retro kit, blue moonlight bulb, red night viewing bulb. I recommend you look elsewhere for a red, or buy a filter. PCs are cool, but not neccessary.

Powerful LED's would be cool. Mind that you dont need a ballast for leds. (I think) Just power... Also- incandescent, means like a desk lamp bulb. Also dont need ballast there.

And keep it unplugged while you are working on it, and put a ground probe in your tank. Homemade lighting... yeah, get that ground probe. I have yet to drop lights in, but I have had a rio zap me up pretty good.

You arent a true DIYer till you got some 120volt flowing through your viens, heh heh. If you are on the american power system that is.

KK

 

[King Jason]

Thanks for all the replies guys!

Just went to Home Depot and bought 2 red incandescent 25w bulbs, and 1 blue incandescent bulb. It was really cheap, think the bulbs, moguls, wires, etc cost about 15 bucks. I bought all the misc. electrical stuff I'll need to wire them (including light switch). I just need to go to radio shack tomorrow to get the black cords that plug into the wall. I applied the last coat of latex sealant to my hood tonight and am going to start on the electrical tomorrow. I’ll post some pics once I get started.

 

[Leopardshark]

Ok guys, you got me confused now, why is the red lights for???
I think you want blue to simulate the blue hue of the ocean at night, but red??
TIA
Marco