Moonlight Wavelength Question

[mimzy]

hi all! My dad and my brother took an interest in my tank (imagine that!!! :jumping: ), and decided to build me some moonlights.
It's a 12 gallon (the acrylic eclipse), and I'm afraid of running TOO MUCH light at night...is it possible to over-light a tank? I mean...I know theres a possibility of burning stuff with too much day-light...but can too much moonlighting be destructive too?
We looked all over this site for what wavelength to use and we came up with 468 or higher - so they're currently looking at 470 nm "ultra bright" LEDS. Is this the right wavelength?
Anyone have any suggestions as to how many we should use? I was thinking three...too much? too little? :help:
I did scour the forums, I just wanted to make ABSOLUTE CERTAIN that we were heading in the right direction... any info anyone has would be GREATLY appreciated! :joy:

 

[bang guy]

Too much moonlight can cause problems by eliminating the resting stage for corals and fish.
The color is up to you. If you want to simulate real moonlight then it's 5500K, exactly like the sun. Otherwise use whatever color is pleasing to you but not too much.

 

[mimzy]

...this is why I love this site...instant information...
thank you so much, Bang - so 5500k... now...that's the intensity, right? (please forgive me, my DAD is the electrical engineer...not me!!)... so if I found 5500k lights would they already have the right wavelength?
Or am I utterly hopelessly confused?

 

[imbroke]

i found a diy moonlight kit for 99 cent at eeekbay. i'm thinking of getting it.

 

[carshark]

Originally Posted by imbroke
i found a diy moonlight kit for 99 cent at eeekbay. i'm thinking of getting it.

DIY is a pain in the butt.. soldering, wiring, its not a good bet really, unless you are a computer/electronics guy...

 

[bang guy]

Originally Posted by Mimzy
...this is why I love this site...instant information...
thank you so much, Bang - so 5500k... now...that's the intensity, right? (please forgive me, my DAD is the electrical engineer...not me!!)... so if I found 5500k lights would they already have the right wavelength?
Or am I utterly hopelessly confused?
5500K is the color of the light. Not the intensity, not the spectrum, it's the color. 5500K is yellowish (just like the sun). Most people like blue light for moonlights to simulate deep water. In my opinion the blue light looks a lot nicer. A pair of the 470 nm LEDs you were talking about should do nicely.
470nm is the spectrum...

 

[ezee]

Mimzy,
This guy did a fair amount of research on his DIY lights and includes information about the wavelength. The page has a lot of info, some of which you may need, some not. I looked and did not find anything on the page for sale, so I hope this information finds you intact.
http:xxxxxxxxx
If not let me know and I will email you the info.
E

 

[mimzy]

you all are so helpfull...

Ezee..that site is awesome, I'll pass it along to Dad and the Bro...as they'd be able o understand it far better than I. LoL
Thank you Bang for the clarification... I feel a little tiny bit less clueless now :joy:
I also like the blue - I think we ARE going to go with the 470nm's. Thank u thank u one and all! :jumping: :jumping: :jumping:

 

[carshark]

Originally Posted by Mimzy
you all are so helpfull...

Ezee..that site is awesome, I'll pass it along to Dad and the Bro...as they'd be able o understand it far better than I. LoL
Thank you Bang for the clarification... I feel a little tiny bit less clueless now :joy:
I also like the blue - I think we ARE going to go with the 470nm's. Thank u thank u one and all! :jumping: :jumping: :jumping:
didnt that site say 475 nm?? that sounds like a better deal to me.. as he stated..
yes awesome site that exactly what I needed to know..

 

[mimzy]

he did, Carshark... but my dad and bro were looking at some 470 they could get for a good deal? I dunno...I refered them both to this thread...maybe they'll post and the processs with be expedited. I'm a total airhead when it comes to this.

 

[mimzy]

Hello this is Mimzy's brother. I found this deal for 100 Blue LEDs for 20$, However they are smaller then the bright LEDs. I Would need to put 6 together to make three High Brightness LEDs. Could anyone tell me what the ideal Luminous Intensity (mcd) for a 50 gallon tank moon light is? :help: Thanks for your time, Josh

 

[ezee]

Mimzy and Carshark,
Ezee..that site is awesome, I'll pass it along to Dad and the Bro...as they'd be able o understand it far better than I. LoL

yes awesome site that exactly what I needed to know..
Excellent! I am just glad I was able to share. :happyfish
E