LED strips for aquariums

Reaper

Reaper

Joined
15 Jun 2007
Posts
1,117
Reaction score
51
Location
Kuilsriver - Western Cape
Hi all.

I just stumbled upon this site, and they have great reviews on their service with overnight delivery. As you can see, they have 14,000k and 20,000k led strips designed for aquariums. 

Marine Lighting | Buy LED Lights Online with a Lifetime Warranty

Seeing as I'm thinking of adding some 20,000k blue LED's to my Boyu TL550, what do you all think of these?
 
I have also been looking at this exact site...Their strip lights are water proof and the kelvin ratings seems like they could do the job.

Any lighting experts around?
 
5watt/meter for the Econo and 10watt/meter for the Elite units. If there is about 10leds per meter then the Elite unit will work to add more blue = 1watt per led
 
when they mean marine, they mean marine as in boats etc, not marine aquariums

Marine lighting on motor boats, fishing boats, yachts, and cruise ships ......
Click to expand...
 
This is posted on the link to the lumi submersible strip lights:

"Please note that the aquarium white LED strip (14,000 Kelvin) and the aquarium blue LED strip (20,000 Kelvin) are specialized products that support certain submarine plant grow and actually to the eye both look very much like white light. Please consult your marine specialists to ensure the appropriateness for your application. For decoration purposes and true color output choose from the Eco or Elite Waterproof Flexible LED Strips."

lumi Submersible Strip Light

I think I'm going to give these a try. I have a DIY idea in mind but I am no lighting expert so we will see.
 
At 250 lumens per meter I think your going to have to buy ALOT of meters

A single bridgelux chip put out 200 lumens
 
OK, Thanks for the advice. So what is the typical Lumens/m I'd need to look at? How do the bridgelux units look an work and what do they cost?

I have 1300Lx700Wx600H tank. I am trying to find a DIY solution that would cost cheaper.
 
they work, I've had these on one of my Tl550 a couple years ago from the exact same company, they are weak as toolboysa has stated but I had 10 strips 5 blue and 5 white at about 250-300mm length if i remember correctly, worked out okayish for a shallow tank. Maybe lighting to suppliment your existing lighting in terms of obtaining the correct "appearance" of colour but not to grow coral, but not suited for great coral growth. They are nice for an upflow algae scrubber however.

And they like to catch fire easily, Had 3 strips on different applications catch fire, the "waterproof" fittings they provide for the connectors are not so "waterprufe" salt water gets into everything as we all know.
 
Will look into other solutions then. My tank's depth will be a problem already.
@Toolboysa - would you mind sharing the info around the bridgelux chips? I am very curious as to how they work.
 
Last edited by a moderator:
@QuickenZA there are many different types of chips out there. Single star chips, 3UP, 5UP, Multichips ect

Here are some links to few places I can think of off hand

Rapid LED

LED Group Buy

Steve's LEDs, discount DIY LED supplies

AquaStyleOnline

There are some nice chinese multichips out there aswell

In some of the international website I read guys are going towards CREE CX3590 or Bridgelux Vero 10 chips, and using Phillips Luxeom M for the Royal blue

The other popular one is the Multichip like cree lumina 5.2 from Ledgroupbuy
 
Last edited by a moderator:
zippy said:
they work, I've had these on one of my Tl550 a couple years ago from the exact same company, they are weak as toolboysa has stated but I had 10 strips 5 blue and 5 white at about 250-300mm length if i remember correctly, worked out okayish for a shallow tank. Maybe lighting to suppliment your existing lighting in terms of obtaining the correct "appearance" of colour but not to grow coral, but not suited for great coral growth. They are nice for an upflow algae scrubber however.

And they like to catch fire easily, Had 3 strips on different applications catch fire, the "waterproof" fittings they provide for the connectors are not so "waterprufe" salt water gets into everything as we all know.
Click to expand...

Agree with Zippy, did exactly the same for my Tl550. Lasted 6 months before waterproofing became a problem. The waterproofing becomes brittle due to heat. Give this a skip.
 
My DIY LED's Not the neatest but very functional and effective.

Black fans Led placed on CPU Heat-sink with a good thermal compound. Only blue LED lit to start my first phase of day-break.



On the right Blue LED running, left white LED not running up-side down with LED chip facing upward.



Closeup of Chip 50w



Side View.

 
Last edited:
Odyssea T5 lights 1.5m with used globes

I have 2 54w t5 light units in mint condition for sale, R1500 each and extra used bulbs no charge... Does anyone want
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom