[Dankle1215]

I'm about to start building my 47g Eheim aquascape and my vision is to have 2 or 3 pendants over the aquarium. I've done a little research but then stumbled upon this forum, I see (read) there are some extremely knowledgeable people here so I'm looking for advice. Anyone up for the challenge of helping me achieve this 🙂

Dan

 

[jeffkrol]

Building stuff is never a problem.
Making them look good is the catch.

First step us defining needs /wants.

Hard to beat to ai primes except for the price.
Or this:

https://www.amazon.com/HIRO-AQUATICS-Spectrum-Aquarium-Mounting/dp/B07ZRYSYZJ

 

[Dankle1215]

Hahaa well there is a few stipulations from my wife one of which is budget...as for making it look good I can do that! I'm just a little green when it comes to what I actually do need. Soldering, electrical, mechanical, fabrication and woodwork I have down, figuring out what I need and on a budget is my downfall. The scape will be mid to heavily planted as well as several non aquatic plants around it, I'm also torn between pendants mounted from the ceiling or mounts from the wall or even mounts from the antique dresser (I favor this option) that's being adapted for all the electrical and filtration to be hidden inside of but again all things I am capable of. I just need help with the actual lighting???

Dan

 

[minorhero]

My solution to this problem are regular fixtures and either 5000k 'grow bulbs' or br30 type smart bulbs.

The latter lets me set timers, sunrise and sunset effects, and select color temperature all for 20 dollars a bulb. The setup above is for my eventual 75 gallon tank setup. Should give me 30-50 par at substrate according to my par meter. I could have higher light but I specifically don't want higher light.

 

[Aaronious]

Well then you need to decide what lights you will need. To do that, what's going in the tank first of all? any thoughts or plans as of yet?

 

[Aaronious]

Dang... Minorhero just posted as I was posting. Do what they did. hahaha. What I mean by that is the adjustable lights are a great idea and this is more what you are looking to do I'm sure.

I think that adding the lights to a the dresser would be your best bet. Mostly cause if it's ever moved, even an inch over everything will be lined up still. The other is that it should be easier to attach than to the wall or roof.

 

[jeffkrol]

Hahaa well there is a few stipulations from my wife one of which is budget...as for making it look good I can do that! I'm just a little green when it comes to what I actually do need. Soldering, electrical, mechanical, fabrication and woodwork I have down, figuring out what I need and on a budget is my downfall. The scape will be mid to heavily planted as well as several non aquatic plants around it, I'm also torn between pendants mounted from the ceiling or mounts from the wall or even mounts from the antique dresser (I favor this option) that's being adapted for all the electrical and filtration to be hidden inside of but again all things I am capable of. I just need help with the actual lighting???

Dan

Products | MakersLED

First a possible housing

 

[Dankle1215]

My solution to this problem are regular fixtures and either 5000k 'grow bulbs' or br30 type smart bulbs.

The latter lets me set timers, sunrise and sunset effects, and select color temperature all for 20 dollars a bulb. The setup above is for my eventual 75 gallon tank setup. Should give me 30-50 par at substrate according to my par meter. I could have higher light but I specifically don't want higher light.

This is the style I failed to describe, I want to use the same style metal work but was thinking of 3 arms coming off the dresser I'm using. Do you have a link for the bulbs then all I'll need is to pick out the fixtures. That is awesome though 👏

Well then you need to decide what lights you will need. To do that, what's going in the tank first of all? any thoughts or plans as of yet?

Yes! I have plans for a community tank, celestial danios in the upper column, 2 peacock gobies mid column and around 15 cory doras at the bottom. Plus a super red bristlenose and a handful of oto's maybe. Scape will be raised to the left and right dropping down into a sand center, hardscape and like I said before mid to heavy planted. All the electrical (canister, inline UV, inline heater) and all the plumbing will be out of sight. No plans on CO2 as of yet but mayyyybe in the future. Also I'll be adding tropical plants around the sides and possibly along the back. Been thinking on this for a while...

 

[minorhero]

This is the style I failed to describe, I want to use the same style metal work but was thinking of 3 arms coming off the dresser I'm using. Do you have a link for the bulbs then all I'll need is to pick out the fixtures. That is awesome though 👏



Yes! I have plans for a community tank, celestial danios in the upper column, 2 peacock gobies mid column and around 15 cory doras at the bottom. Plus a super red bristlenose and a handful of oto's maybe. Scape will be raised to the left and right dropping down into a sand center, hardscape and like I said before mid to heavy planted. All the electrical (canister, inline UV, inline heater) and all the plumbing will be out of sight. No plans on CO2 as of yet but mayyyybe in the future. Also I'll be adding tropical plants around the sides and possibly along the back. Been thinking on this for a while...

https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B08D34LRY3?psc=1&ref=ppx_pop_mob_b_asin_title

This is the smart bulb I have in the middle light. I have it at 100% 31 inches above the top of the stand. Closer and you would want to dim it unless you want high light.

 

[Dankle1215]

https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B08D34LRY3?psc=1&ref=ppx_pop_mob_b_asin_title

This is the smart bulb I have in the middle light. I have it at 100% 31 inches above the top of the stand. Closer and you would want to dim it unless you want high light.

Would 2 be sufficient? The aquarium is 17.5 in high, 39 in wide and 15 in deep. I'm about to go to Lowes to check out fixtures and fittings 😀

 

[jeffkrol]

Would 2 be sufficient? The aquarium is 17.5 in high, 39 in wide and 15 in deep. I'm about to go to Lowes to check out fixtures and fittings 😀

Height and beam angles matter..

 

[Dankle1215]

.

 

[Dankle1215]

Height and beam angles matter..

Do you have any recommendations?

 

[minorhero]

Do you have any recommendations?

I think Jeffkrol is pointing out that you won't be able to make an exact reproduction of my settings without doing the same height I have. That said, you can fudge it to a certain degree. Using a lux meter (or the smart phone app 'lux meter') taking the result and dividing by 80 you can get a very rough approximation of par/ppfd at various distances from a light source.

2 bulbs and fixtures using the smart bulbs I linked should work well. I'd look for a fixture deep enough that the bulb won't stick out. Also be prepared to raise the fixture higher if you want more coverage.

 

[jeffkrol]

Do you have any recommendations?

Lets start w/ minorheros suggestion (which is fine btw) and expand on it a bit..with these (random search btw)

GU10 MiLight RGB+Tunable White LED Bulb - Hubless -4-Watt (35-Watt Equivalent) - 280 Lumens - RF Remote Optional | Super Bright LEDs

Experience color-changing and tunable white lighting with this LED smart bulb. Control the MR16 GU10 LED bulb with the included RF remote. This 4-watt LED spotlight bulb replaces 40-watt incandescent bulbs but lasts 25 times longer.

www.superbrightleds.com

This GU10 base runs off 120v ac.
12V version (will need a power supply but should be better since most power conversion from ac to dc is OFF the light itself.)

so now you have 4w 25 degree spots..full control .
Bulbs are 2" wide..
Normally to assure high coverage I'd suggest 10 bulbs 1W/gallon but if you optimize the output you should be able to use less.
Say 8..

Using 15" deep and a beam angle of 25 you want to be 34" off the water line.

LED Lighting Beam Angle Calculator

A simple calculator that determines spot size by a light's beam angle

store.marinebeam.com

Minimum amount of bulbs (not considering strength) would be 3 which probably would not be sufficient and far from 2 spot 16W bulbs.

Unlike minorheros suggestion (NEED TO STRESS THIS IS AN ALTERNATE technique) I prefer all light angles being handled by the bulb itself.
The fixture is just a glare shield.

Obviously a track light and heads set 34" off the tank top is much more complicated.
In the spirit of diy.. sockets as opposed to track light..

https://www.amazon.com/Bioluz-LED-Halogen-Ceramic-Connector/dp/B0743SYWGG/ref=asc_df_B0743SYWGG/?tag=hyprod-20&linkCode=df0&hvadid=198091685650&hvpos=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=1417576866888750203&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=c&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=1028224&hvtargid=pla-541413594872&psc=1

Ideally one would find higher than 4 w smart bulbs.

Then again.. $400

 

[jeffkrol]

Sorry couldn't resist and was the best ai prime setup I've ever seen.

 

[Dankle1215]

I just found these at Lowes for $30 each, is there a reason I couldn't use them?
Grow Light(#GR-REF2-SSFX) – StonePoint LED Lighting

 

[jeffkrol]

I just found these at Lowes for $30 each, is there a reason I couldn't use them?
Grow Light(#GR-REF2-SSFX) – StonePoint LED Lighting

Really yellow an at 100 degree beam angle , unless you don't mind a lot of light spill, your starting height (based on 15" dia "spot" ) is like 6".

https://18fru8483ngm2sxus737cg9v-wpengine.netdna-ssl.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/GR-REF2-SSFX_SellSheet_12.22.20_v4.pdf

At least they list the angle..
Now it's def useable to grow stuff..
If you want simple single color output that opens up a whole section of lights.

Back to 25 degrees and the "better" 5000k color temp.
Thinklux PAR30 LED Bulb - High 90+ CRI - 13W - 75W Equivalent - Long Neck - Spot 25 Degree Beam Angle - Dimmable - Indoor/Outdoor Wet Rated
@ $10/ bulb 5000k and 90+ CRI sort of a steal.
Back to 3...

Dang currently unavailable.. so much for that.

Back to China..
$100 for 3. Beam angle adjustable from 10-60 degrees 5000k 95+ CRI

YujiLights™ High CRI 95+ 16W Dimmable Angle Adjustable PAR30 LED Bulb - Pack: 1pc/4pcs110V / 5000K / 1pc

CRI 95+ dimmable angle adjustable PAR30 LED bulb It provides seamless dimming that fits any mood or place. It can adjust the beam angle between 10°-60°by rotating the head, allowing you to better highlight a specific object or area that best suits your needs.

store.yujiintl.com

Apparently Triac dimmable so you can use a wall type switch/dimmer. Word of warning not all work..

2 = 32W should do 3 is a guarantee..

 

[Dankle1215]

Really yellow an at 100 degree beam angle , unless you don't mind a lot of light spill, your starting height (based on 15" dia "spot" ) is like 6".

https://18fru8483ngm2sxus737cg9v-wpengine.netdna-ssl.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/GR-REF2-SSFX_SellSheet_12.22.20_v4.pdf

At least they list the angle..
Now it's def useable to grow stuff..
If you want simple single color output that opens up a whole section of lights.

Back to 25 degrees and the "better" 5000k color temp.
Thinklux PAR30 LED Bulb - High 90+ CRI - 13W - 75W Equivalent - Long Neck - Spot 25 Degree Beam Angle - Dimmable - Indoor/Outdoor Wet Rated
@ $10/ bulb 5000k and 90+ CRI sort of a steal.
Back to 3...

So 3 of these bulbs would be good coverage for my 47 gallon and beneficial to plant growth. Then all I need to do is construct the light fixtures?