Ok,ok...been thinking about lighting lately. I read some older posts about those using a home-made LED boards to light a nano tank instead of MH or fluroescents.
Well, being I do neon glass for a livin, I got the idea that I want to maybe fabricate a lighting system entirely made out of neon glass for my nano. Now, I work with many whites in the neon color spectrum that have different temperatures as well as spectrums. I also have a nice neon blue that is close if not dead on to the actinics.
As fo LED's I see those making them having problems either with heat or the actual spectrum being diminshed in a small amount of time. Having worked in neon for over 18 years, LED is now just making waves where neon is being used, I have personally found that the white LED's are junk and performed poorly in my field. The red LED's are only close to matching a neons tube output. All other colors are not near their stated value. There are more than likley tons of LED manufactures riding the wave claiming to have the best on the market but in my business, I have yet to find just one.
Secondly, heat issues have made some of the diodes burnt out before their stated hours of use. Neon is efficent, cool operating, less wattage for more power, and can last on an industry standard of 7 to 10 years but I have neon that is 40 years old! I think neon can and will work wiht the right technical input. I want to test this idea and hopefully make a go of it. One great think about neon is that it can be custom bent to any shape to fit a wide variety of tank hoods!
What I would like to hear from those that have serious lighting equipment for the bigger tank reefs is the techical numbers of where the light needs to be for the best growth. I plan on taking this information and forwarding it to my glass manufacture to see what whites and bluse can be used to achive the right intensity and light spectrum for optimal growth of corals in a nano tank.
I did use a blue neon tube one time just to see and I was impressed with the look! But it was only a quick test...I think I can make this work...only other problem is the ballast. I plan on using an electronic ballast with a built GFI circut in case of shorts or water damage....safety first!
I need input for this project and appreciate any and all that help!!
Well, being I do neon glass for a livin, I got the idea that I want to maybe fabricate a lighting system entirely made out of neon glass for my nano. Now, I work with many whites in the neon color spectrum that have different temperatures as well as spectrums. I also have a nice neon blue that is close if not dead on to the actinics.
As fo LED's I see those making them having problems either with heat or the actual spectrum being diminshed in a small amount of time. Having worked in neon for over 18 years, LED is now just making waves where neon is being used, I have personally found that the white LED's are junk and performed poorly in my field. The red LED's are only close to matching a neons tube output. All other colors are not near their stated value. There are more than likley tons of LED manufactures riding the wave claiming to have the best on the market but in my business, I have yet to find just one.
Secondly, heat issues have made some of the diodes burnt out before their stated hours of use. Neon is efficent, cool operating, less wattage for more power, and can last on an industry standard of 7 to 10 years but I have neon that is 40 years old! I think neon can and will work wiht the right technical input. I want to test this idea and hopefully make a go of it. One great think about neon is that it can be custom bent to any shape to fit a wide variety of tank hoods!
What I would like to hear from those that have serious lighting equipment for the bigger tank reefs is the techical numbers of where the light needs to be for the best growth. I plan on taking this information and forwarding it to my glass manufacture to see what whites and bluse can be used to achive the right intensity and light spectrum for optimal growth of corals in a nano tank.
I did use a blue neon tube one time just to see and I was impressed with the look! But it was only a quick test...I think I can make this work...only other problem is the ballast. I plan on using an electronic ballast with a built GFI circut in case of shorts or water damage....safety first!
I need input for this project and appreciate any and all that help!!
