Diy Led Strip Lighting

[paradiddle]

Has anyone here used these
 
http/www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Full-Kit-5M-10M-5050-RGB-LED-Strip-Light-Lights-44Key-Remote-Power-Supply-/190847507484?pt=UK_Home_Garden_Night_Lights_Fairy_Lights&var=490171170650&hash=item2c6f65dc1c
 
or similar LED strips for lighting?
 
I keep cichlids so im after something that doesnt have to be powerful, enough to light my tank well but i dont stock plants so all the hoohar on strength doesnt matter too much,
 
can anyone recommend a DIY build thats pretty cheapish? All LED kits i like that are premade exceed the £300 mark!

 

[DevotedToDiscus]

Sparked my interest there, but look at the specifications. It says "Protection Degree: Non-Waterproof", so it would need protecting from the moisture caused by evaporation me thinks! But you have still given me an idea for something

  

 

[fm1978]

I tried a very simple set of LED strip lights, basically just 30 blue LEDS on a bendy plastic strip which I super glued to the underside of one of my hood lids. It worked nicely for my 60L tank but made no difference at all in my 200L - could barely see it. Plus, the super glue just wasn't enough to mount it, perhaps the heat and the moisture had something to do with it?

 

[paradiddle]

Sparked my interest there, but look at the specifications. It says "Protection Degree: Non-Waterproof", so it would need protecting from the moisture caused by evaporation me thinks! But you have still given me an idea for something

  

there are strips that are waterproof that was just an example

 

[DevotedToDiscus]

 

Sparked my interest there, but look at the specifications. It says "Protection Degree: Non-Waterproof", so it would need protecting from the moisture caused by evaporation me thinks! But you have still given me an idea for something

  

there are strips that are waterproof that was just an example

 

This weekend I am going to install my lights. I am planning suspended units(which I have already seen), but was thinking about LEDs around the edge of the top lip of the tank to create a shimmer effect off the water. I will see what I can find, but I have seen those waterproof ones in the market for sure!

 

[gabriel.mihu]

I got the same lights from ebay.... remote and source. I used a profile like this from home depot to mount them on, and as a heat radiator:
http/www.homedepot.com/p/MD-Building-Products-1-3-4-in-x-36-in-Aluminum-Deluxe-Flat-Top-Threshold-11056/100169716#.UnMXaPm-1I5
 
I used all 5 meters (16 feet) on my 36 gallon tank. I have a black background on the tank, brown gravel, wood, rocks, plants. Not heavily planted, but there are some plants in there. However, I did not find the amount of light to be enough. All 16 feet are supposed do give around 4000 lumens, but I don't think they do, even at max output. I also use two PHILIPS LED bulbs, 10.5W (60 W equivalent), each of them with 800 lumens output. I took off the protective white plastic bulb, and I have only the mount and the LED module of the bulbs shining into the tank. My impression is that they are far more powerful than the entire roll of 5050 LED's, and I like the light they put out.
 
My conclusion: keep the LED's for red/blue lighting (useful for plant grow) and keep also the LED bulbs for strong lighting.
 
The LED's seemed to have the same intensity as the original 10W T8 neon the tank came with originally.
 
Recommendation: by the 5050 LED roll, definitely the one with more leds/meter (I guess it's 300), with the power source, or course. Buy some connectors (the 4 pins) and a couple of splitters. Buy an aluminium profile you deem fit from a hardware store (can be found in the "door steps" section - or something like that), about 4-5 inches wide, use the entire LED roll and you'll have a nice light in the fish tank.
 
NOTE: the LED strip won't stick, and the aluminium profile WILL be hot. I used some transparent polycarbonate (still from hardware store) cut strips to make a sandwich: poly strips across/LED strips/aluminium profile... otherwise they won't stick for a long time to aluminium.
 
I'll post some photos if I get the chance.

 

[Neo8223]

Hi, i did this a few months back.
 
Its not exactly been the success i was hoping for, so im going to do it another way. I do hope that this helps you however.
 
http/www.fishforums.net/index.php?/topic/420309-diy-led-lights-not-really-the-correct-way/#entry3546553
 
Cheers
 
Paul