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	Night Viewing
MDSalty Hobbyist Posts: 99 Kudos: 115 Votes: 5 Registered: 29-Mar-2004	I'd like to spend some time watching my tank in "night mode". Is a red light all I need? I want enough light to see all that there is to see, but not chase all the night critters back into hiding. Thanks.
Posted 26-Jan-2006 11:41
lil_mikey69 Ultimate Fish Guru Posts: 3180 Kudos: 2380 Votes: 1 Registered: 22-Jan-2003	Most people go with "moonlights". Typically blue colored LED's. Very easy to DYI, or they can be bought pre made. Wont effect the critters at all.
Posted 26-Jan-2006 11:41
dthurs Ultimate Fish Guru Posts: 4340 Kudos: 4170 Votes: 529 Registered: 18-Feb-2003	Go to a place like home depot and get a blue rope light. This is what I have over my tanks. Gives off a nice blue glow. Dan
Posted 26-Jan-2006 11:41
FantomFish Hobbyist Posts: 120 Kudos: 183 Votes: 1 Registered: 30-Jan-2004	You mean like christmas lights?
Posted 26-Jan-2006 11:41
lil_mikey69 Ultimate Fish Guru Posts: 3180 Kudos: 2380 Votes: 1 Registered: 22-Jan-2003	Not christmas lights. They are called rope lights. They can typically be used outdoors and in the rain, so if they get moist it won't really hurt them. Its just blue lights in a sold clear plastic hose, basically. You can pick them up at WalMart for a few dollars. Last edited by lil_mikey69 at 08-Dec-2004 22:34
Posted 26-Jan-2006 11:41
fishheadfred Fish Addict Posts: 708 Kudos: 653 Votes: 12 Registered: 30-Jul-2003	Yup, Walmart in the Christmas Isles for $6. Don't get the "crystal" type as they are kinda like frosted lights and don't look as nice as the standard ropes. Bought mine a Target for $6.Again in the Christmas section.
Posted 26-Jan-2006 11:41
MDSalty Hobbyist Posts: 99 Kudos: 115 Votes: 5 Registered: 29-Mar-2004	So blue light, not red light, is the ticket. Do the rope lights give off enough light to see very well? Do you just wrap one around the top edge? or lay it across the top?
Posted 26-Jan-2006 11:41
dthurs Ultimate Fish Guru Posts: 4340 Kudos: 4170 Votes: 529 Registered: 18-Feb-2003	They give off just enough light to see well, without bothering the fish. I like blue because it looks like moon light, and there for more natural. Red tends to look fake. I can see most everything in the tank, and I just laid the rope on the top of the tank between the other lights. Dan
Posted 26-Jan-2006 11:41
ACIDRAIN Moderator Posts: 3162 Kudos: 1381 Votes: 416 Registered: 14-Jan-2002	If you have a reef tank, I suggest getting the lights that are called "moon lights". As these LEDs have been made with the specific wavelengths of the moon. They will increase the beauty of the corals better than just any blue lighting. They will actually give a glow of color to any green, some reds, and yellow colors of the corals, as well as some fish. _____________________________________________________________ There is always a bigger fish...
Posted 26-Jan-2006 11:41
fishheadfred Fish Addict Posts: 708 Kudos: 653 Votes: 12 Registered: 30-Jul-2003	You can also build an LED setup if you like.I did that last year with parts from Radio Shack.I posted how to do it awhile back.You can also do a search as there are alot of sites on this.I admit you can buy some setups as cheap as building your own but you get what you pay for.
Posted 26-Jan-2006 11:41
fishheadfred Fish Addict Posts: 708 Kudos: 653 Votes: 12 Registered: 30-Jul-2003	Oh yeah,You will get rippeled light waves from the LED's but not from the rope style!
Posted 26-Jan-2006 11:41
MDSalty Hobbyist Posts: 99 Kudos: 115 Votes: 5 Registered: 29-Mar-2004	Thanks everybody, I think I'll grab a blue rope light this weekend and give it a shot.
Posted 26-Jan-2006 11:41


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