Light Timings And A Second Question About Lights

[IanGenna]

Higuys,

read on here last week somehting about the light being on too long causes green algae type stuff to grow and noticed that happening in my tank so i put a timer on the light box and set it to 12 hours.

First question, is 12 hours too long or is it ok??

Also in that thread I read something about someone having a blue light to come on when the main light goes off at night so that they get to see the fish come out at night, and the nocternal fish do their thing.

second question, does this have to be a certain type of light bulb or can i pick up a light bulb from DIY store, making sure it is waterproof..

 

[Anguilla82]

First question, is 12 hours too long or is it ok??

i'd put it at 10 hours, though it depends on your system age and what you have in it.

second question, does this have to be a certain type of light bulb or can i pick up a light bulb from DIY store, making sure it is waterproof..

don't think it needs to be of a certain type, most people use a blue colour though some use red.
tends to be a marine thing to have a 'moonlight' effect before and after your main lights are on.
you can also get LEDs that do the same thing but don't cost as much to run.

 

[IanGenna]

First question, is 12 hours too long or is it ok??

i'd put it at 10 hours, though it depends on your system age and what you have in it.

second question, does this have to be a certain type of light bulb or can i pick up a light bulb from DIY store, making sure it is waterproof..

don't think it needs to be of a certain type, most people use a blue colour though some use red.
tends to be a marine thing to have a 'moonlight' effect before and after your main lights are on.
you can also get LEDs that do the same thing but don't cost as much to run.

where would i get the led's from? thanks for advice!!

 

[IanGenna]

just ordered this, is this the type of thing you meant?

http/cgi.ebay.co.uk/BLUE-24-LED-MOONLIGH...A1%7C240%3A1318

 

[Anguilla82]

Hi,

yeah thats the sort of thing.

one peice of advice: Keep the LED strip away from heat.
I had mine set up on my marine tank very close to some of my lights and i think the LEDs burnt out!
now only 3 out of 48 work!

Rob

 

[saltynay]

Leds produce a lot of heat themselves afterall its the conversion of electrical energy into light energy and a conversion is never 100% efficient, so they will have a heatsink or well ventilated if they were properly designed. Putting leds next to heat is a big no no.

 

[IanGenna]

cheers guys, hopefully they wont take too long to come and i can try them out!

really curious to see how they turn out in the night once main light goes out!