Setting Up Moonlight For My Tank

[kaylor]

I tried to find any info online about setting up Moonlighting for my tank, but couldn't find much.

Its only a 36 inch long tank and I'm not sure what size fixture I'd even need.

Currently I have a standard cover and light, if I get one of the moonlight kits how do you set one up? Does it replace your standard bulb, or can you mount it under your existing cover? Would it be on a separate switch and if so are there timers with two outlets so I can set it up to auto rotate from off to day to moonlight?

Just looking for a little more information to see if its worth getting. I love the way it looks and I'm curious how my puffer and other fish in the tank would react to a couple hour of moonlight every night.

[puffertt77]

Hey kaylor

I'm not sure how much you want to pay but I found these on Ebay.com, one should be enough for a 36inch tank as it's not like you're trying to totally light the tank up (you could always buy more if you wanted). You could either screw it into you tank lid or stick it in the lid with double sided tape. I'd get a plug timer adapter which you could plug the LED lights into and then set it to come on when your normal lights switchoff. If you buy more than 1 set of LED's you could get a 3way plug and plug bothe LED stripes into it and then plug that into the timer plug (if you get what I mean)
http://cgi.ebay.com/8-LED-Bar-Floor-Cab ... 1|294%3A30

Hope this helps

ps If you're looking for something bigger the same seller sells 2 x 10LED strips
http://cgi.ebay.com/2X-10-LED-Blue-Aqua ... 2|294%3A30

[julianchan]

I leave my moonlights on 24/7 and the fish dont really seem to mind....they just find a nice dark spot to sleep.

There are a variety of moonlights out there that you can screw onto your existing hood, like puffertt77 said, but some are quite bright. Check out how much light you want in your tank, I have 2 on mine, and they are quite bright. This is what I am using, all in one, might be a bit big for your tank, but I think they have a 36" model too. http://www.epetproducts.com/index.php?m ... 4c9ed21381

edit: I take that back, I am using the 36" model.

I have also used these, and liked them a lot http://www.petsolutions.com/default.asp ... ID=FROOGLE

[edmlfc1]

I have the strip like puffertt77 shows in his links. I got mine off ebay. Some I have put under the hood lights right next to the bulbs. Fit's perfect under it. Then I have another I couldn't do that with because my light is more flat with a pull out pieces of platic so I have it sitting behind the light. I also have my lights on a timer that has day & night plugs. When the day lights go off the night lights come on and vice versa.

[TheBlueMeanies]

i posted about this not to long ago. i made my own here is the link if you want a cheap way to get moonlights.viewtopic.php?f=23&t=16631

[kaylor]

Thanks for the suggestions. The hood is sweeeet, but $300 is a bit much for lighting in my opinion. I'll have to try one of the kits.

So does anyone recommend putting the light under the hood, over the submersible one that just suction cup to the glass? Just trying to picture the lighting angles in the tank. What would look best?

[julianchan]

If by the submersible ones that have suction cups refer to the ones from petco, that come in a blue, green, red and white variety, I do not like those very much....but you might... I found them to be too bright, especially for moonlights. For decoration like lights, not too bad. But I grew tired of them very quick.

I like the ones that hang from the hood a little more, for the reason that I like how the light looks when it breaks through the waters surface, casts some nice shadows and light.

But its all personal opinion...you might find that you like what I do not....

[kaylor]

I think I'll go with the link lights, they should be plenty for my tank.

My last decesion is to either get the white or blue moon lights. Any preference? Blue sounds great looking, but it could also look unatural as moon light is white. If anyone has example of both I'd love to see them. Post any pics or links you might have, or just let me know your opinion and why.

Thanks!

[TheBlueMeanies]

from what i have read about moonlighting its about the wavelength 470nm (that is blue) to simulate light form the moon but please correct me if im wrong

[julianchan]

I don't have any photos right now, but I have used both white and blue. I think the blue looks awesome on marine tanks, but I seem to prefer the white on FW tanks...dont know why....