kbb0118
08-11-2011, 11:44 AM
While my Lighthouse LED experiment is still going on my display tank, I thought I'd set up a CFL rig for my breeding system. Mostly this was a financial decision as I would like to see if the LED thing pans out before I drop a bunch more dough on T5s or LEDs. This cost me about $100 to build, but I had a lot of parts already (*).
Looking for any constructive criticism. I have not hung the lights yet. I'm testing them for any heat issues. With my last adjustments (fans added and lights moved 1/4" back further from the acrylic) the light boxes are cool to the touch and the acrylic is just mildly warm. It is painfully bright. I think I burned my retinas.
My breeding system fluctuates in gallons and bioload quite broadly and quickly.
Net Volume: 185 to 275 gallons
Bioload: Medium to high
ATS supplies:
18" W x 12" L screen lit on both sides (216 inches per side) (Walmart)
twelve 23W CFL Warm White bulbs (276 watts total) (Lowes)
twelve outlet to bulb holders (Lowes) like this> http://www.amazon.com/Leviton-Ivory-Socket-Outlet-Adapter/dp/B000VL4CFC
two 4" fans (Walmart)
five cheap power strips (Lowes)
Corrugated plastic and acrylic to spray-shield the electrics (Lowes)
Duct tape (*)
Mylar emergency blanket (*)
Glue (*)
QuietOne 3000 pump (*)
1" PVC pieces I had (*)
40 Breeder plumbed to the system already (*)
Screen installed and running, plenty of room for the lights. I can adjust the water level in the tank easily.
http://www.tcmas.org/forums/picture.php?albumid=610&pictureid=7280
Light boxes are corrugated plastic, cut to make boxes with acrylic windows and I applied mylar to the back and all sides of the boxes. I made the boxes so I can untape the top and replace bulbs. Replacing the mylar would also not be too hard. I'll probably suspend the light boxes from the ceiling with rope since the ATS tank is on a top shelf. The boxes are mildly water-resistant. I could probably drop one, bottom down into the tank and it would hold for a few seconds. My focus was more splatter resistance. I'll probably need to block some of the light coming from the top with more duct tape so algae doesn't block the pipe.
The bulbs are not touching eachother but are closer than I would like.
http://www.tcmas.org/forums/picture.php?albumid=610&pictureid=7277
http://www.tcmas.org/forums/picture.php?albumid=610&pictureid=7278
http://www.tcmas.org/forums/picture.php?albumid=610&pictureid=7279
Looking for any constructive criticism. I have not hung the lights yet. I'm testing them for any heat issues. With my last adjustments (fans added and lights moved 1/4" back further from the acrylic) the light boxes are cool to the touch and the acrylic is just mildly warm. It is painfully bright. I think I burned my retinas.
My breeding system fluctuates in gallons and bioload quite broadly and quickly.
Net Volume: 185 to 275 gallons
Bioload: Medium to high
ATS supplies:
18" W x 12" L screen lit on both sides (216 inches per side) (Walmart)
twelve 23W CFL Warm White bulbs (276 watts total) (Lowes)
twelve outlet to bulb holders (Lowes) like this> http://www.amazon.com/Leviton-Ivory-Socket-Outlet-Adapter/dp/B000VL4CFC
two 4" fans (Walmart)
five cheap power strips (Lowes)
Corrugated plastic and acrylic to spray-shield the electrics (Lowes)
Duct tape (*)
Mylar emergency blanket (*)
Glue (*)
QuietOne 3000 pump (*)
1" PVC pieces I had (*)
40 Breeder plumbed to the system already (*)
Screen installed and running, plenty of room for the lights. I can adjust the water level in the tank easily.
http://www.tcmas.org/forums/picture.php?albumid=610&pictureid=7280
Light boxes are corrugated plastic, cut to make boxes with acrylic windows and I applied mylar to the back and all sides of the boxes. I made the boxes so I can untape the top and replace bulbs. Replacing the mylar would also not be too hard. I'll probably suspend the light boxes from the ceiling with rope since the ATS tank is on a top shelf. The boxes are mildly water-resistant. I could probably drop one, bottom down into the tank and it would hold for a few seconds. My focus was more splatter resistance. I'll probably need to block some of the light coming from the top with more duct tape so algae doesn't block the pipe.
The bulbs are not touching eachother but are closer than I would like.
http://www.tcmas.org/forums/picture.php?albumid=610&pictureid=7277
http://www.tcmas.org/forums/picture.php?albumid=610&pictureid=7278
http://www.tcmas.org/forums/picture.php?albumid=610&pictureid=7279