Night lights for tanks?

[padi200]

Do people have moon lights or night lights for their tanks?
I would love to hear about what kinds and how and why.

Thanks!

[jthao]

moonlights are used as "night lights." what do you mean "night lights"?

[kitsapdan]

i have them to see at night

[markeo99]

my fish might run into stuff if they cant see

[crvz]

I just have a simple blue LED over the tank for night time operation. I've heard various nuggets about how it's helpful for some coral response or another, but I just like how it illuminates and otherwise pitch-black tank.

[padi200]

moon lights.. I know nothing about then.. edumacate me, lol

My fish have little white canes at night so they don't run into the coral, I need to make this situation a lil bit better

[Tswifty]

Moon lights... People use them so they can observe the nocturnal habits of their livestock, and all the other crazy looking creatures that only come out at night. You'd be amazed what creeps out of the rockwork at night.

As far as a "benefit" to the livestock... none.

[padi200]

any suggestions which ones are best and where to get them?
links are nice, lol

[Tswifty]

Originally posted by will16
Oops. I left that part out. Thanks for reminding me.

I used these
http://www.coralreefsupply.com/index...uarium=moon_r2

I didn't order from here but the link from marine depot doesnt work. There is a dual kit that has 2 lights. I went with these because they were the only ones that would fit on my light tray. I had to make some brackets for them. Don't have a real good pic of it but you can see them in the vortech video I am about to post. Think you can see them when I open the canopy.

This is the only pic I have of them

Originally posted by will16
Few shots the first night with the sand still settling

[padi200]

Cool, thanks!

[keithcrmr]

night lights are cool you will be suprisedwhat you will see

[IslandCrow]

my fish might run into stuff if they cant see

I hate to tell you this, but it can get pretty dark in the ocean at night. If your fish are running into things, they may need professional help.

[padi200]

Does anyone seriously know if fish do better with pure dark at night or moon light? How about corals? Has this ever been studied?
I don't even know if the fish can see the blue light?

The R2 solutions dual light looks good!

[Phyxius]

I put them on all my tanks more for the night viewing than anything else. All sorts of worms, critters, snails and the like come out after lights out. Besides it looks kind of neat lit up at night.

I built all of my moonlights with some 470nm LEDs, resistors a power supply and some oak strips to house them in. Just built a 6ft one for my 210g tank for same night viewing. They mount up in the canopy lid or lay on the edge of the tank on my tanks. The pic is old but shows the ones I made for my 29g, 65g and 90g tanks at the time.

[padi200]

Did they bother the fish at first?

[crvz]

you'll never notice if it bothers the fish. I wouldnt give another thought to possible negative effects on the fish or corals in the tank, it will be fine.

[Phyxius]

Not from what I saw. I think hitting the tank with a flashlight caused them much more trouble. Even with a red filter they seemed to get spooked. These just come on and they don't seem to even notice them really. Its bright enough to see some stuff but not really that bright at all. It just gives off a nice blue hue.
Look at the output and the closer to 470nm the closer to actual moonlight the color is. The LEDS also come in normal and superbright outputs as well as high watt versions that can be seen from pretty far away and that will make the tanks look brighter/darker.

[padi200]

so those work work well for my webcam at night? That could be so cool!

[baitshopboy]

Here is my nightlight.



Will laying those led lights directly on an acrylic tank cause any harm to it? Do they get hot?

[padi200]

I dont know for sure, but LEDS don't get very hot. Why not put them next to you lights?