Lighting The Tank At Night

[alex.wardle]

So its about 9pm and "click", of goes the timer and my tank falls into darkness. Any good ideas for lighting my tank after the plant lights have gone of. Dont want to increase the photo period by leaving the main lights on.
All ideas welcome.

 

[Timmy_Bee]

get it to turn on later? (and therefor turn off later)

 

[alex.wardle]

well i like it on in the morning so i can feed them and check their all alright b4 i go of to work ( so its on from 8-12) and then later in the evening (5-9) i was thinking along the lines of moonlights of mini spots. Cheers tho timmy

 

[Athena]

Alex - could you maybe just set the timer to switch the lights on a bit later in the day so that the lights then switch off later in the evening, say at midnight or roughly at the time you go up to bed. That way, when you're home from work you get to see the tank with the lights on until bedtime. So long as your plants are getting their required amount of light it doesn't matter what time of the day the lights are switched on, does it?

There are those "blue" moonlight tubes that some people have to light their tanks in the evening (or little blue LEDs) - maybe that's something to consider if you don't want to change the routine of your normal tank lights.

Regards - Athena

 

[justjon]

You could get a double timer, so that it'll switch on for a bit in the morning, switch off once you've left, then come on later perhaps?

 

[alex.wardle]

Alex - could you maybe just set the timer to switch the lights on a bit later in the day so that the lights then switch off later in the evening, say at midnight or roughly at the time you go up to bed. That way, when you're home from work you get to see the tank with the lights on until bedtime. So long as your plants are getting their required amount of light it doesn't matter what time of the day the lights are switched on, does it?

There are those "blue" moonlight tubes that some people have to light their tanks in the evening (or little blue LEDs) - maybe that's something to consider if you don't want to change the routine of your normal tank lights.

Regards - Athena

Thats the sort of thing i was thinking (regards to the LEDs) any one got any recomendations or past experiance with them?

You could get a double timer, so that it'll switch on for a bit in the morning, switch off once you've left, then come on later perhaps?

Thats what i already have 8-12 and 5-9

 

[justjon]

I'm confused... if you have a double timer, what's the problem?

Can you not shorten the morning time to 8-10, then make the evening 5-11 ?

I have blue LED lights, they are very nice.. got mine off ebay.

 

[kgthomas]

Hi I recently purchased a Hydor red led light and I currently have it inside an urn ornament with a bubble stream coming up through the light and it looks well but one on its own would not be enough to light my 3ft tank so it depends on your tank size, they really are just a series of 4 leds with a power adapter so they are expensive for waht you get, I am currently planning to make my own you just have to make sure that you seal the leds well.

Cheers Keith

 

[Timmy_Bee]

i have heard that any photo period under 4h is 'ignored' by the plants - so all your going to do is increase algae growth. So i wouldn't recommend the 2h morning + 6h evening idea. Don't know how much truth is in that though. Believe i heard it from Waterdrop so i believe it!

 

[justjon]

Hi I recently purchased a Hydor red led light and I currently have it inside an urn ornament with a bubble stream coming up through the light and it looks well but one on its own would not be enough to light my 3ft tank so it depends on your tank size, they really are just a series of 4 leds with a power adapter so they are expensive for waht you get, I am currently planning to make my own you just have to make sure that you seal the leds well.

Cheers Keith

I got a string of 30 LED's for £8 delivered.

 

[alex.wardle]

a 2 hour spat in the morning is a bit of a waste of time for the plants. Takes about 2 hours for plants to open up and for photosynthesis to start. What make do you have/ how many/ ease of insterlation etc...

 

[elisew]

I have my lights on a timer from 4pm - 10pm, then my led light comes on at 10pm - 2am.

The led is brill, 1Watt Arcadia blue and it gives off lots of light but it`s a nice subdued light.

http/cgi.ebay.co.uk/ARCADIA-AQUA-BRITE-AQUARIUM-FISH-TANK-BLUE-LED-LIGHT-/300420357165?pt=UK_Pet_Supplies_Fish&hash=item45f272dc2d#ht_1947wt_1139

 

[Twinklecaz]

Go with the moonlight idea. I have and not regretted it!

 

[alex.wardle]

just ordered my self some of good old t-bay
http/cgi.ebay.co.uk/WATERPROOF-24-LED-strip-light-AQUARIUM-FISH-TANK-/300469940819?pt=UK_Pet_Supplies_Fish&hash=item45f5677253#ht_3345wt_989

 

[rhian]

Thanks for asking the question & for the recommendations, I think my tank could do with a moonlight, the leds look great