This is for a low tech aquarium (750l 200cm x 60cm width x 60 cm height) so I don't need very strong lightning but it is important for me to have a lightning that brings out the colors on my fish. Since I have some difficulty finding a decent and cheap led lightning in my country (Greece) the most suitable solution for me (in terms of colors-low energy consumption-easy to add in my current hood-doesn't produce a lot of heat-super cheap) would be to add some led strips. The main problem is, I heard that they lose their brightness over a medium period of time, is this true even with the latest led strips like 5630 or later? I wanted to avoid going for power leds if possible, just not sure how effective led strips are going to be for me (even with 6 strips on top).
Seofirosu Muramasa
I am using 12V LED light strips in my aquarium. I installed them about 3 years ago. There has been no noticeable drop in brightness during that time. LEDs may dim due to damage. Most common causes of LED light strips dimming is:
corrosion due to water or moisture. Water proof led strips are available but they still require you seal or water proof the wire that connect to the strip.
running too hot. The strip should stay at less than 50C. The cooler the better.
, or poor voltage control, Strips are commonly available in 12V and 24V designs. You want a regulated power supply that will stay at exactly the voltage the manufacture specifies. The power supply should also prevent voltage spikes fro the utility power from getting through to the LEDs.
IF you avoid these problems they should last a long time.
When I built my aquarium light I cut a sheet of scrap acrylic to fit the to of the aquarium I then cut a sheet of ridged aluminum to the same size. I covered the aluminum with clear packing tape to prevent the strips from shorting to the aluminum. i then attached the strips to the aluminum and then attached the two with screws and sealed the gap between the aluminum and acrylic.I then added a timer and dimer. The light is designed to produce high brightness in case I ever want to setup the aquarium that way. But currently it is operating at medium light condition. About 40% of full brightness. For a low light level you probably woulldn't need the aluminum. You could use plastic instead.
To get the best color use strips that have a CRI (color rendering index of 90 or higher.
Look for strips with a power (watts)r per meter or (foot). You need to know how much power you will need from your power supply .. You want a power supply that will put out doubt 110 % of the power your LEDs will consume. Also look on the specification sheet for brightness typically listed as lumens per meter ( or foot). That will allow you to estimate how much light you are getting.
corrosion due to water or moisture. Water proof led strips are available but they still require you seal or water proof the wire that connect to the strip.
running too hot. The strip should stay at less than 50C. The cooler the better.
, or poor voltage control, Strips are commonly available in 12V and 24V designs. You want a regulated power supply that will stay at exactly the voltage the manufacture specifies. The power supply should also prevent voltage spikes fro the utility power from getting through to the LEDs.
IF you avoid these problems they should last a long time.
When I built my aquarium light I cut a sheet of scrap acrylic to fit the to of the aquarium I then cut a sheet of ridged aluminum to the same size. I covered the aluminum with clear packing tape to prevent the strips from shorting to the aluminum. i then attached the strips to the aluminum and then attached the two with screws and sealed the gap between the aluminum and acrylic.I then added a timer and dimer. The light is designed to produce high brightness in case I ever want to setup the aquarium that way. But currently it is operating at medium light condition. About 40% of full brightness. For a low light level you probably woulldn't need the aluminum. You could use plastic instead.
To get the best color use strips that have a CRI (color rendering index of 90 or higher.
Look for strips with a power (watts)r per meter or (foot). You need to know how much power you will need from your power supply .. You want a power supply that will put out doubt 110 % of the power your LEDs will consume. Also look on the specification sheet for brightness typically listed as lumens per meter ( or foot). That will allow you to estimate how much light you are getting.
Thanks for the tips. I am aware that I need to keep them cool and with a proper power supply. Could you show me your tank at full brightness and some specs to get an idea of what to expect? My plan would be something like this.
2 led strips 5630 or better with 9k+ white (3000 lm per meter!!!)
1 led strip 3528 yellow or warm white
1 led strip 3528 red or grow
2 led strip 3528 blue
maybe 1 led strip 3528 green
I believe something like this would cover my needs, but I haven't decided completely on red or grow and if a green is needed. Is it ok to use low watt strips for the colored ones?
2 led strips 5630 or better with 9k+ white (3000 lm per meter!!!)
1 led strip 3528 yellow or warm white
1 led strip 3528 red or grow
2 led strip 3528 blue
maybe 1 led strip 3528 green
I believe something like this would cover my needs, but I haven't decided completely on red or grow and if a green is needed. Is it ok to use low watt strips for the colored ones?
I found a high output led strip 6400k 18w/m CRI>95. I put 2 rows (2m each) above the tank to get an idea of how sufficient the lightning is compared to my PC.
3x36 Power compact 8500lm
![Image]()
4m x 18w led strip 12000 lm
![Image]()
I was very pleased with the result, while keeping in mind that there will be 4 more strips. So I have begun preparing the chasis for the 6 strips but I need to make some choices before I start ordering. I am showing here a fellow aquarists tank from this forum so that I can show you what colors I like to see in the aquarium.
![Image]()
![Image]()
1x6500k 1xblue 420 1xred 633 1xyellow 2700.
1.) What other led strips to add for a vibrant coloration and also helping out the plants. Something that I have in mind is 2 rows of 6500k 1 row of 3000k 1 row red 1 row blue and 1 row of either green or full spectrum. What would you suggest? I will have these on a TC420 to emulate sunrise etc.
2.) I was looking to keep the electric bill as low as possible (this is a low tec tank after all) and I was wondering if I could get away with lower powered strips for the colored ones. Instead of the usual 14.4w getting 7.2w to be precise. I think that this could work as most aquarium led lightnings have only 1/3 or less colored leds. But I would like to get a second opinion before ordering.
3.) Should I only get dimmable strips to dim with the TC420? The high lumen 6400k are not dimmable.
4.) TC 420 or 421? I know the difference is only the WIFI but I dont know if they are as reliable as the 420.
3x36 Power compact 8500lm
4m x 18w led strip 12000 lm
I was very pleased with the result, while keeping in mind that there will be 4 more strips. So I have begun preparing the chasis for the 6 strips but I need to make some choices before I start ordering. I am showing here a fellow aquarists tank from this forum so that I can show you what colors I like to see in the aquarium.
1x6500k 1xblue 420 1xred 633 1xyellow 2700.
1.) What other led strips to add for a vibrant coloration and also helping out the plants. Something that I have in mind is 2 rows of 6500k 1 row of 3000k 1 row red 1 row blue and 1 row of either green or full spectrum. What would you suggest? I will have these on a TC420 to emulate sunrise etc.
2.) I was looking to keep the electric bill as low as possible (this is a low tec tank after all) and I was wondering if I could get away with lower powered strips for the colored ones. Instead of the usual 14.4w getting 7.2w to be precise. I think that this could work as most aquarium led lightnings have only 1/3 or less colored leds. But I would like to get a second opinion before ordering.
3.) Should I only get dimmable strips to dim with the TC420? The high lumen 6400k are not dimmable.
4.) TC 420 or 421? I know the difference is only the WIFI but I dont know if they are as reliable as the 420.
Who says that the 6500k strips aren't dimmable? Do they contain driver chips on the strips? Plain jane resistor/constant voltage strips are.. afaict always dimmable.
Not too many people use the 421 but no bad reports, yet.
"Full spectrum" ribbons don't seem to be the same as full spectrum chips.. i.e phosphor converted blue. more like just red/blue diodes..
Keep in mind you will prob. prefer a 3:1 ratio of red to blue....
Think you are going to need a lot of red to get that pinky glow you like.
Unlike fluorescents, not sure you need any extra blue either...
This isn't easy to guess at.
I'd prob. start at 1/2 (or more) the wattage of the whites for the red.
Not too many people use the 421 but no bad reports, yet.
"Full spectrum" ribbons don't seem to be the same as full spectrum chips.. i.e phosphor converted blue. more like just red/blue diodes..
Keep in mind you will prob. prefer a 3:1 ratio of red to blue....
Think you are going to need a lot of red to get that pinky glow you like.
most don't achieve that rich "pinky" glow you want either..
Unlike fluorescents, not sure you need any extra blue either...
This isn't easy to guess at.
I'd prob. start at 1/2 (or more) the wattage of the whites for the red.
This is the 6400k led strip. It mentions not dimmable, and I have heard that if you dim non dimmable led strips that you are worsening the strip's life because of lower voltage.
https://www.v-tac.eu/led-lights-men...-strip-accessories/led-strip-smd5730-120-leds-high-lumen-6000k-ip20-detail.html
I would be more than happy to know that this is all wrong!
This is the full spectrum led strip that I have found on the internet.
on ebay search for: LED Grow Lights DC12V 5630 36LEDs LED Bar Rigid Strip Red Blue For Aquarium 10PC
Not sure yet on which colors to go with to be honest...
https://www.v-tac.eu/led-lights-men...-strip-accessories/led-strip-smd5730-120-leds-high-lumen-6000k-ip20-detail.html
I would be more than happy to know that this is all wrong!
This is the full spectrum led strip that I have found on the internet.
on ebay search for: LED Grow Lights DC12V 5630 36LEDs LED Bar Rigid Strip Red Blue For Aquarium 10PC
Not sure yet on which colors to go with to be honest...
Not seeing anything where it "shows" they are non-dimmable..Looks to be standard series (w/ one resistor)/parallel (every 3 diodes) constant voltage ribbons.
I believe they might have been referring to an AC wall dimmer..
You would normally never change the voltage (and to be honest if you lowered it it usually increases their lifespan by creating less heat) but just
"pulse" it.. PWM dimming just cycles on/off at the same voltage..
As to those hort. light bars.. I'd still lean to the highest Red/Blue ratio..5:1
#FF3358
https://www.color-hex.com/color/ff3358
3:1
#FF3371
https://www.color-hex.com/color/ff3371
Adding 2 "cool white":to one 5:1 r/b ratio
ff9bc2
https://www.color-hex.com/color/ff9bc2
Just got my led strips. I have available enough for 2 rows of these:
white 6400k 3000lm/m
red 1000lm/m
blue 1000lm/m
I do not know the exact nm of the red and blue ones, but these were the best performing 1000 lm/m with only 10 w/m. I have contacted the manufacturer but haven't learned anything yet, but I am not overly worried because the manufacturer makes high performance products and it's not OEM from China (same brand as the 6400k 3000lm/m 95>CRI).
Unfortunately the 3000k 3000lm/m strip will not be available for 2 weeks so i will go ahead with what I have now. My plan is to install properly the 2 row of 6400k and play with the red and blue till i find the desired look. At first I will try 2 red and 2 blue and adjust it if I need. I do have the extra space to add as many strips as I want but I was thinking to add only one yellow 3000k in the middle. This will be decided after I have finished with the current strips.
I will have 16000 lumen with these which is above low lighting and well into the medium lighting range. I might not need the yelllow strip after all, since I am never going to go high tech planted. Any thoughts before I begin the assembly? Of course I will post results in case anyone is interested in doing something similar in the future
P.S. I have decided on getting the TC420 instead of 421 because on 420 you can change the values every minute while on the 421 you can only do it every 30 minutes, which is a huge disadvantage!
white 6400k 3000lm/m
red 1000lm/m
blue 1000lm/m
I do not know the exact nm of the red and blue ones, but these were the best performing 1000 lm/m with only 10 w/m. I have contacted the manufacturer but haven't learned anything yet, but I am not overly worried because the manufacturer makes high performance products and it's not OEM from China (same brand as the 6400k 3000lm/m 95>CRI).
Unfortunately the 3000k 3000lm/m strip will not be available for 2 weeks so i will go ahead with what I have now. My plan is to install properly the 2 row of 6400k and play with the red and blue till i find the desired look. At first I will try 2 red and 2 blue and adjust it if I need. I do have the extra space to add as many strips as I want but I was thinking to add only one yellow 3000k in the middle. This will be decided after I have finished with the current strips.
I will have 16000 lumen with these which is above low lighting and well into the medium lighting range. I might not need the yelllow strip after all, since I am never going to go high tech planted. Any thoughts before I begin the assembly? Of course I will post results in case anyone is interested in doing something similar in the future
P.S. I have decided on getting the TC420 instead of 421 because on 420 you can change the values every minute while on the 421 you can only do it every 30 minutes, which is a huge disadvantage!
I am going to connect the TC420 by next week so I will be able to tweak the colors but I am pretty sure I am missing either a green or maybe a yellow. Other than the plant colors I am very happy with the intensity of the lights and the coloration that is bringing to the fish (big difference). Also I noticed the side with the blue in front looks better so I am moving blues in front and reds in the middle. Can't wait to start playing with sunrise - sunset on the TC420.
cool stuff.
this is interesting to me cause i've been curious if it's worth it to build my own LED lighting fixture vs. buying one or if it's better than a conventional CF bulb fixture. i definitely had much more success with CF fixtures though, but it could be that the LED fixture I purchased wasn't bright enough for my tank's depth despite it's claims of light penetration.
could you provide pictures and more specifics (e.g., schematics) as to how you built your fixture? i'd appreciate it! thanks!
this is interesting to me cause i've been curious if it's worth it to build my own LED lighting fixture vs. buying one or if it's better than a conventional CF bulb fixture. i definitely had much more success with CF fixtures though, but it could be that the LED fixture I purchased wasn't bright enough for my tank's depth despite it's claims of light penetration.
could you provide pictures and more specifics (e.g., schematics) as to how you built your fixture? i'd appreciate it! thanks!
All these type of strip lights follow a very simple pattern:
https://www.plantedtank.net/forums/20-diy/555106-diy-dimmable-led-fixture.html
just need to pick your "colors"
Have all strips run the same voltage (choices are usually 12V or 24V)
The strips themselves are marked as to WHERE one can cut them
Attach to some aluminum bar.
About the trickiest part (besides the poor software) is matching the power supply amps to the number of strips (larger than necessary is always OK)
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