DIY moonlights...

[mike210]

Anybody got any suggestions about DIY moonlights. I have a 210g that needs these lights. I was thinking about buying a string of 20 from some guy on ebay or making them myself. It cant be that tough Any suggestions??

 

[RWillieK]

search for LCK-LED on ebay - the strips run on 12V I'm using their 7" strips as strobes (on a strobe flasher) in my car.

 

[stainlessdonkey]

I picked up a set of blue neon tubes from compUSA in the computer modding section. 15 bucks and comes with 2 tubes about 13 inches long each. They lite up my 55 real purdy.

 

[JoshHarpst]

so does any Blue LED light work as a moonlight? I wanted to buy a moonlight but they are about 40 bucks and the LFS says for my 75 i should get two. But if any blue LED will work i'll def go that route. Thanks

~Josh

 

[dirtyvegas]

NOT JUST ANY BLUE LED WILL WORK THEY ALL HAVE DIFFERENT SPECS ON THE LED ITSELF. IF YOUR INTEREST IN JUST HOW IT LOOKS FOR YOU AND NOT THE BENNEFITS OF THE TANK,THEN GO ANY CHEAP ROUTE, BUT IF YOU WANT THEM FOR YOUR FISH AND GOOD LOOKS THEN YOU GET WHAT YOU PAY FOR AND MOON LEDS ARE NOT CHEAP, IF THEY ARE THEN THERE JUST KNOCK OFF FAKES WITH A HYPE SALES PITCH.
DV

 

[Phyxius]

You can also buy all the parts from a sponsor here on reefcentral like I did and make your own. The Lebos sells the complete moon lights or the DIY parts to make your own. I just made 3 for my tanks and added 2 to my sons Nano and they look great.
The leds there are in the 465-470nm spectrum

Heres my post on it:
http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=762908

Link to the Lebos
http://www.thelebos.com/

 

[Dennis7]

I had made my own before, but I picked up the moonlights from coralife. These are pretty impressive especially for the money, not expensive.

 

[DCFix]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=6646510#post6646510 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by dirtyvegas
NOT JUST ANY BLUE LED WILL WORK THEY ALL HAVE DIFFERENT SPECS ON THE LED ITSELF. IF YOUR INTEREST IN JUST HOW IT LOOKS FOR YOU AND NOT THE BENNEFITS OF THE TANK,THEN GO ANY CHEAP ROUTE, BUT IF YOU WANT THEM FOR YOUR FISH AND GOOD LOOKS THEN YOU GET WHAT YOU PAY FOR AND MOON LEDS ARE NOT CHEAP, IF THEY ARE THEN THERE JUST KNOCK OFF FAKES WITH A HYPE SALES PITCH.
DV

So what specs should I look for? How many mcd and is there an exact wavelength? Because blue light is in a small range of wavelengths. I just want to make sure before I get any of them.

 

[6Speed]

I picked up some really great moonlights from target. It was around Christmas time, and they were near the fake Christmas trees. I'm not sure why they were in that area of the store, but they sure do work great.

Seriously, I paid 12 bucks I think for a strand of blue LED christmas lights. Works perfect.

 

[chipmaker]

The coralife moon lights are actually Luxeons not the typical LED's. Thats why they cost more and have a warmer feel to them. Luxeons are by far the best choice for intensity, and for light spread as different collimators can be used on them for degree of spread......

Look for leds that have 460-470 nm

 

[frank10]

I'm not an expert on LEDs, but I have used them on many projects. I've never seen a blue LED outside this range. usually, you pay more for larger LEDs and higher intensity. I plan on putting a few in series and making my own moon light for next to nothing.

 

[SHOmuchFUN]

www.autolumination.com

I just ordered a set for $7.50 SHIPPED.

They come in blue and each tube has 5 LED's. It comes with 2 tubes (with mounting screw holes) and can either be strobed or not. I elected to get the non-blinking unit All I need is a power inverter (which I have from an old cell phone or other ac/dc device) and voila. You have a set of fully functioning moonlights.

 

[frank10]

nice find!

 

[marino420td]

Here is how I made my diy moonlights.

http://reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=698504

 

[gmatt]

what's the deal with moonlights?

Functional? or just like the way it looks?

 

[stainlessdonkey]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=6650758#post6650758 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by gmatt
what's the deal with moonlights?

Functional? or just like the way it looks?

I was wondering the same. Exactly what is the benefit of going all scientific about a moon light? I only wanted something that would allow me to see the fun that happens at night in my tank. For less than pizza and wings.

 

[marino420td]

For me that is all it is. I like to see what is going on once the lights are out.

 

[gmatt]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=6653921#post6653921 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by marino420td
For me that is all it is. I like to see what is going on once the lights are out.

That's cool, I was just curious.

 

[SHOmuchFUN]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=6653894#post6653894 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by stainlessdonkey
I was wondering the same. Exactly what is the benefit of going all scientific about a moon light? I only wanted something that would allow me to see the fun that happens at night in my tank. For less than pizza and wings.

That's why I only paid $7.99 shipped for a set, rather than the $40-$60 ones you can get at the specialized reef shops. I don't see the point personally...