"Redline" neon tube 4 cars = excellent moonlight!!!

Aquabucket · 06/14/2006, 07:35 PM

Today I went looking for a moonlight at an auto parts store. I already used blue accent LEDs before and they looked nice.

Next to the LEDs at the store there were some neon tubes so I took a chance and decided to give the 15" blue one a shot. It is made by a company called Redline. It set me back $25. I already had a 12 VDC wall adaptor at home to give it power.

Just got done hooking up the 2 leads and was delighted to see it had an awesome actinic effect on my corals and some nice shimmer lines. I just have to drill 2 screw holes to attach it to my light fixture and I''ll be set.

Just thought I would share the news. If you are looking for a nice moonlight you won't be disapointed with this!

Aquabucket · 06/14/2006, 09:29 PM

Just finished attaching it to my fixture and all I can say is WOW!

The actinic effect is spectacular for being a neon bulb. My corals glow much more than I expected and the colors are vivid. By the time I put the light on the tank most of my zoos and LPS were closed up. Within 15 minutes or so of running the neon moonlight they started opening again. These bulbs must have some level of PAR value and look like a low intensity VHO actinic bulb but not nearly as purple. I need to borrow a camera to take some pics but we all know how well actinic pics turnout.

Since I used a wall adaptor that switches from 3 to 12 VDC (500 ma) I can change the intensity of the bulb. My orange-lined cardinals look really cool as they school at night looking for food.

If anyone has a few extra bucks you should definately try this excellent choice for a moonlight. I can't say enough about how surprised I was at how it looks on a reef tank!

I hope someone else trys one of these to verify my findings. They come in 4", 10", 15" and 36" sizes. If you throw a higher amped adaptor on it I am sure it would be even brighter although that may be too bright to utilize as a moonlight.

I picked up mine at an A-1 auto parts store.

wav3form · 06/15/2006, 07:40 AM

You can also use cold cathode lighting which is typically used in computer case light mods. Are you sure you don't have a cold cathode? I doubt it's neon but I don't want to be presumptuous.

RichConley · 06/15/2006, 07:45 AM

Those are cold cathodes.

Next time look on ebay, and you can get em for like $7 instead of $30.

eboonaman · 06/15/2006, 02:14 PM

"I already had a 12 VDC wall adaptor at home to give it power."
being dumb when it comes to electrical things where do you get this adaptor you mentioned?

and is that what I ask for (a 12 VDC wall adaptor )?

thanks
chuck

Aquabucket · 06/15/2006, 02:31 PM

You can get 12 VDC adaptors at a lot of places. I think even Wally World might have them. Almost any electronics store should have them though. All wall adaptors are labled on the back. The adaptors that allow you to change voltage are pretty common.

Even though the company labels these as being neon they are most likely cold cathodes as mentioned.

As far as getting them on E-bay I am sure you can get them cheaper but I dislike dealing with paypal and wanted it right away.

Kewlworm · 06/15/2006, 03:20 PM

I thought about using cold cathodes as moonlight, but I can't seem to find the spectrum of it...so I decided to use 470nm LEDs instead.

Anyone knows the spectrum of these lights?

06/14/2006, 07:35 PM	#1
Aquabucket Premium Member Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Green Bay, Wi. Posts: 4,455	"Redline" neon tube 4 cars = excellent moonlight!!! Today I went looking for a moonlight at an auto parts store. I already used blue accent LEDs before and they looked nice. Next to the LEDs at the store there were some neon tubes so I took a chance and decided to give the 15" blue one a shot. It is made by a company called Redline. It set me back $25. I already had a 12 VDC wall adaptor at home to give it power. Just got done hooking up the 2 leads and was delighted to see it had an awesome actinic effect on my corals and some nice shimmer lines. I just have to drill 2 screw holes to attach it to my light fixture and I''ll be set. Just thought I would share the news. If you are looking for a nice moonlight you won't be disapointed with this! __________________ "Just a drop in the bucket"

06/14/2006, 09:29 PM	#2
Aquabucket Premium Member Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Green Bay, Wi. Posts: 4,455	Just finished attaching it to my fixture and all I can say is WOW! The actinic effect is spectacular for being a neon bulb. My corals glow much more than I expected and the colors are vivid. By the time I put the light on the tank most of my zoos and LPS were closed up. Within 15 minutes or so of running the neon moonlight they started opening again. These bulbs must have some level of PAR value and look like a low intensity VHO actinic bulb but not nearly as purple. I need to borrow a camera to take some pics but we all know how well actinic pics turnout. Since I used a wall adaptor that switches from 3 to 12 VDC (500 ma) I can change the intensity of the bulb. My orange-lined cardinals look really cool as they school at night looking for food. If anyone has a few extra bucks you should definately try this excellent choice for a moonlight. I can't say enough about how surprised I was at how it looks on a reef tank! I hope someone else trys one of these to verify my findings. They come in 4", 10", 15" and 36" sizes. If you throw a higher amped adaptor on it I am sure it would be even brighter although that may be too bright to utilize as a moonlight. I picked up mine at an A-1 auto parts store. __________________ "Just a drop in the bucket"

06/15/2006, 07:45 AM	#4
RichConley Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Bostonian in Chicago going to DC Posts: 9,908	Those are cold cathodes. Next time look on ebay, and you can get em for like $7 instead of $30. __________________ NO TANKS!!!

06/15/2006, 02:31 PM	#6
Aquabucket Premium Member Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Green Bay, Wi. Posts: 4,455	You can get 12 VDC adaptors at a lot of places. I think even Wally World might have them. Almost any electronics store should have them though. All wall adaptors are labled on the back. The adaptors that allow you to change voltage are pretty common. Even though the company labels these as being neon they are most likely cold cathodes as mentioned. As far as getting them on E-bay I am sure you can get them cheaper but I dislike dealing with paypal and wanted it right away. __________________ "Just a drop in the bucket"

06/15/2006, 07:40 AM	#3
wav3form Moved On Join Date: May 2006 Location: No. Virginia Posts: 288	You can also use cold cathode lighting which is typically used in computer case light mods. Are you sure you don't have a cold cathode? I doubt it's neon but I don't want to be presumptuous.

06/15/2006, 02:14 PM	#5
eboonaman Moved On Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: long island - Deer Park Posts: 1,586	*"I already had a 12 VDC wall adaptor at home to give it power."* being dumb when it comes to electrical things where do you get this adaptor you mentioned? and is that what I ask for (a 12 VDC wall adaptor )? thanks chuck

06/15/2006, 03:20 PM	#7
Kewlworm Registered Member Join Date: May 2006 Location: Ft Lauderdale, FL. Posts: 754	I thought about using cold cathodes as moonlight, but I can't seem to find the spectrum of it...so I decided to use 470nm LEDs instead. Anyone knows the spectrum of these lights?