Printable View
My idea was just a brain storm to provoke ideas :) I don't know anything useful about fiber optics.
Incidentally I switched my pond basket material screen in my nano trickle filter box for tank divider material. It looks like something is starting to grow now even under the 14W T8, I'll post an update when it looks more interesting. I'm still waiting for my 65W SAD bulb to turn up :roll:
What is SAD?
Seasonal affective disorder.
Getting depressed because it's dark in the morning :D
Research has shown that strong full spectrum light doses help (like the sun rising in the morning).
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/DAYLIGHT-ENERGY-S ... 240%3A1318
Might even be able to light the tank instead of T5s!
SAD bulb arrived!
Note the AA battery for scale :o
[attachment=0:248bq967]IMG_1194.JPG[/attachment:248bq967]
Here it is in position.
It's in a wooden frame and there's a piece of thin perspex over the trickle filter. Currently shielded by foil as it's uncomfortably bright when you walk next to the tank!
I had to cut some slits in the top as it's getting quite hot :cry:
Also should have got a screw fitting instead of BC, the BC sits quite loose as you can see from the angle the bulb hangs at.
I think perhaps I went overboard and ~25W would have been sufficient :!:
[attachment=1:2az122ww]IMG_1195.JPG[/attachment:2az122ww]
[attachment=0:2az122ww]IMG_1196.JPG[/attachment:2az122ww]
The photo doesn't do it justice, you can't actually see the sprial with the naked eye, it's so bright!
What wattage it is. At least low-light won't be your problem.
65W supposedly equivalent to 325W.
Oh yes plenty of power, even for a 12 X 12 screen. Maybe you can line the inside of the wood with reflective foil. I think a 23W would be fine.
Santa Monica, Are you gonna show the designs to the public? I am very curious to what they look like. I am working on a ultra thin design that will incorporate sheet metal and plexi.
If you mean the drawings, they are already here, available to anyone. If you mean actual built units, I'm not building any. I wish somebody would; many folks have asked where to buy them. 2G ones are certainly easy enough for a handyman to make. 3G is gonna take some manufacturing, though. Would be interesting to see yours.