Where to buy LED Nightlight?

[Cacatuoides]

Hi folks,

After seeing Aquamarin's T5 RetroMoon, was kind of inspired by the LED nightlight to provide illumination for fishes at night, especially apistos with babies!!!

May I know where can get alternative LED sets as nightlight for planted tank?

Thanks!!

[valice]

Go Sim Lim Towers, buy your own LED and build the set...

[Cacatuoides]

can electrical idiots like me assemble it? need solder and stuff? Where can buy ready made sets and how much? hehe

Thanks!!

[valice]

Bioscape got a promotion... They selling... But not sure how's the quality and stuff... Just happen to see it on their website...

[Cacatuoides]

yea I saw the LED set too....still considering theirs or the one from Aquamarin?? Any bros here know how to DIY one?

[Cacatuoides]

Dear experts,

Blue or white LED is better as moonlight in our planted tanks??
2ft tank will need how many?


Thanks!!

[Nicky]

2ft tank will need how many?

Not a expert but can answer you or not?

Don't need to be a rocket scientist lah.. Just 1 or 2 small LED will do. I have also seen a straw-like LED that looks like a miniature and thin FL tube but do not where to get it.

If you really want to be so precise then you need also to make adjustment on the daily basis to simulate the different phase of the moon right? If that's the objective, then maybe you should be getting the aquatronica computer to help you.. but then it will cost close to $2K

[Cacatuoides]

i'm thinking of getting this

http://stores.ebay.com/DiGiKits-com-...QQftidZ2QQtZkm

Any comments?

[Jeanxavier]

yea I saw the LED set too....still considering theirs or the one from Aquamarin?? Any bros here know how to DIY one?

Basically you can head down to one of those shops in SimLim, bring along your batteries or multi-voltage adaptor (either choose one for your purpose), gather the number of LEDs you intend to use for the night light and ask the uncle which resistor would be suitable for them.

You can even ask the uncle to connect everything and see if it works (as mentioned by members in another forum, have not tried it myself).

The main thing is to buy Japanese made LEDs as they have longer life than other makes. Also they are much brighter and it is recommended to shine through 1ft of water to your tank bottom.

As for placing it on your tank, one of the methods I did was to get a wire trunking (those rectangular PVC pipes for wires) and made evenly spreaded holes to fit the LEDs and 2 slits at the side to insert it on the edge of the tank. However if you are looking for higher intensity, it would be up to your imagination to DIY

[Cacatuoides]

hmm okok.....i'm an electrical idiot, so prefer to buy electric stuff off the shelf.... awaiting their quote for custom made or i'll just get the one from bioscape

[Jeanxavier]

hmm okok.....i'm an electrical idiot, so prefer to buy electric stuff off the shelf.... awaiting their quote for custom made or i'll just get the one from bioscape

Maybe I can tempt you with the fact that my DIY set of 3 LEDs, adaptor and everything else only cost less than 10 bucks

[Cacatuoides]

what the!!! thats damn tempting lor....mind sharing the details of your secret??

[Jeanxavier]

what the!!! thats damn tempting lor....mind sharing the details of your secret??

There is no secret in fact.. those stuff are that cheap!
1 LED bulb is around $1.50-$2 and the adaptor, if I still can remember, is around $5. These are the prices about 2 years back.. not too sure now though.

[ankank]

i'm thinking of getting this

http://stores.ebay.com/DiGiKits-com-...QQftidZ2QQtZkm

Any comments?

At US$39 seriously overpriced. Even if you prefer not to build bars from single LEDs -- you should be able to get ready to use "PC modding" LED bars for considerably less than $10 (or CCFL bars for $2). The only difference is the power adapter which is certainly not worth 30 bucks and can be easily built DIY: all it takes is reconnecting a pair of wires.

[tawauboy]

..............

The main thing is to buy Japanese made LEDs as they have longer life than other makes. Also they are much brighter and it is recommended to shine through 1ft of water to your tank bottom.

..............

how to identify the LEDs as japanese made?

[Cacatuoides]

Hey jean, which level of sim lim is it? I haven't seen any shops selling LEDs, all i see are computers and other common electrical gadgets.....do they help us solder the parts or we have to go back and solder it ourselves? any recommendation which shop to so to? Thanks!!

[valice]

Sim Lim Towers (not square ar) basement...
Just walk around the maze, will see a few shops showing LEDs...
Just choose any one... Some will not sell you a few, but minimum pack of 10 pieces...

[brianclaw]

Does anyone know the light output(lumens) per LED? It would make for a pretty cool DIY lighting project for a small nano tank.

[Jeanxavier]

how to identify the LEDs as japanese made?

You can either trust the uncle who is selling LEDs at more than a dollar per piece compared to those made from other countries which is much much cheaper, or you can ask the uncle to hook up one Japanese made and one normal LED to compare the intensity and coverage. Usually the former will be much brighter and a larger area of illumination when shone on a flat surface in comparison.

But keep in mind that the 2nd method is used only when the uncle is free.. like on weekdays or weekend mornings. They have a business to run too!


Cacatuoides, like what valice mentioned.. any shop will do as their prices should not differ by too much. As for soldering, I do not know if they will do it for you at a fee anot as I have not tried it myself. I just bring everything home and use black tape to connect the LEDs. Maybe if you go there during non-peak hours, they will be more willing to advise and help you.

[Cacatuoides]

oh okok....shall go there on weekends and try my luck....if not, gota bug you for more advices!!! mind if you take some pictures and post it here to share?

A picture = A thousand words!!

Thanks!!!