Low Wattage Spotlighting?

[MermaidMel]

I have a fab dresser unit with strong shelves that I want to use for my betta display

I'm having the tanks made next week, which are just the tanks, no lids because they are being made so they fit the height of the shelves, bar enough space to get my fingers through to take the tanks out and clean them, or slip my fingers in to feed or a pipette to feed or suck out debris in between changes, oh and just enough space to let the leads into the tank for the heaters/filters... anyhoo, the gap at the top isn't big enough for a fish to jump out of

I would like to install waterproof, low wattage maybe fluorescent lights above each tank (underneath the shelf above each tank) but have no idea where to start. I'm no electrician so I don't even really know what lights I could use... would be good if they could all be attached to one plug though (or one source of electricity, 1 switch etc.) as if they were spotlights in my ceiling, but would need 3-4 per shelf only

Any ideas/advice would be AWESOME

Thanks in advance

 

[Lateral Line]

Difficult to know where to start without seeing the job. A problem I can see assuming these are the typical Betta tanks I've seen before is that even the smallest CF lamps are going to be excessively bright if you have one over each tank.

If that is not an issue, you could mount an ES or BC lampholder above each tank, drill a hole behind it or to one side, (depends on the fitting), and run the cables in parallel behind the dresser so the wiring is out of sight. Don't wire them in series.

Like this...

------------------------------------------------------ Live
|	 |	 |	 |	 |	 |
B	 B	 B	 B	 B	 B
|	 |	 |	 |	 |	 |
------------------------------------------------------ Neutral

NOT

-----B-----B-----B-----B-----B-----B--------------- Live
|
--------------------------------------------------- Neutral

 

[MermaidMel]

Wow thanks for the diagram (not that I understand it at all hahaha)
Only 1 problem - the dresser is built into the wall lol, so maybe some sort of cable tidy thingy?

 

[Lateral Line]

It doesn't matter how you hide the cabling. If you cannot get behind the dresser, then you will have to use some other means to hide the cabling. If the cabling is going to be the same side of the "wall" as the tanks, then there is an added onous to keep them dry.

If there is only enough space for you to put a finger between the tank and the shelf, there will not be physically enough space to install "easy" CF lamps. You may be able to find 2D lamps and luminaires, but I doubt that as well.

If you do not understand the idea of parallel/serial wiring, regardless of the lighting technology, then you should probably get someone else to do it for you.

 

[MermaidMel]

If there is only enough space for you to put a finger between the tank and the shelf, there will not be physically enough space to install "easy" CF lamps. You may be able to find 2D lamps and luminaires, but I doubt that as well. I think those little underwater spotlights might be the best option then

If you do not understand the idea of parallel/serial wiring, regardless of the lighting technology, then you should probably get someone else to do it for you. I grant you that

Thank you for helping me!

 

[fourthtimelucky]

Can't help with the actual lights but if getting them all to switch on and off with one button would be useful I can recommend those remote-control plug socket-set things. I have bookshelves which have three seperate light sets in them, bit of a pain fiddling round with three switches so plugged them all into an extension panel, plugged that into the remote-control socket and now they all go on and off together. You can get them for about £20 for a set of four sockets and one remote control.

 

[MermaidMel]

Can't help with the actual lights but if getting them all to switch on and off with one button would be useful I can recommend those remote-control plug socket-set things. I have bookshelves which have three seperate light sets in them, bit of a pain fiddling round with three switches so plugged them all into an extension panel, plugged that into the remote-control socket and now they all go on and off together. You can get them for about £20 for a set of four sockets and one remote control.

It's a great idea and one I am toying with, with the heaters also as they only need their heaters on at night. I would like it all off one plug definitely, I have been looking into the fairy lights method, where they are all wired together and end up on 1 plug at the end.

 

[Gill]

Can't help with the actual lights but if getting them all to switch on and off with one button would be useful I can recommend those remote-control plug socket-set things. I have bookshelves which have three seperate light sets in them, bit of a pain fiddling round with three switches so plugged them all into an extension panel, plugged that into the remote-control socket and now they all go on and off together. You can get them for about £20 for a set of four sockets and one remote control.

It's a great idea and one I am toying with, with the heaters also as they only need their heaters on at night. I would like it all off one plug definitely, I have been looking into the fairy lights method, where they are all wired together and end up on 1 plug at the end.

I think that LED would be good, are you thinking of running a length of ligthing where you want it and only putting bulbs in above the tanks. Then sealing the empty sockets up. You can find some good deals on ebay for LED lighting and the give off alot of light for the wattage.

Fairy Lights