cold cathode lighting for moonlighting

[babblefish1960]

I have been using actinic bulbs for some time now as moonlighting, and though it's okay, they are t-12's, and won't really work with the new lighting system.(aesthetics)

Additionally, I don't use it for the plants, rather, it is for all the breeding fish to see predators, and for predators to find their fry, depending on who I'm rooting for, and for me to see the tanks even in the dark(at night you silly).

I know there are electronic shops around, but I haven't found anyone that will admit to selling the stuff and wonder if anyone knows where locally I can pop 'round to pick up what I need(want).

I'm looking for blue to cover roughly twenty feet of 24" deep tanks, and haven't got it in me to do the mail order thing if I can purchase them in town.(read impatience here)

Surely some computer geek into mods knows where to buy this sort of fun stuff?

Moreover, has anyone out here had experience with this sort of lighting?

[Seanc]

at pricces auto, they sell them. but they are desined for cars, the blue lighting under the car. wich would probobly make them eaven better suited for the aquarium because they would be weather proofed to an extent. they have blue and purple ones(if you want to see your fish in a purple atmosphere), and i think they come in 24" .

[jetstream]

I guess Seanc means Princess Auto at east end, the one off Walkey Road. You need to search for the stuffs that you need at the auto section! 

[Seanc]

yeah sorry, its not the way you spell the words, it the way you use them
wow i realy go that one bad.

[babblefish1960]

I was wondering where all those illegal street racers were getting their chassis lights, I'll give princess auto a check, and think about a purple cast. Then I could sit there watching the fish while listening to Jimi Hendrix, or even the artist formerly known as Prince who goes by Prince again.

Has anyone tried this lighting on an aquarium?

[ryancarman.com]

check with canadian tire as well i know they sell a bunch of 12v LED stuff...

also check the computer shops, they have stuff for case modification, lots of psuedo uv tubes and LEDs,

---> ie pccyber or rb computing

ryan

[darkdep]

I use a set of 12" cold cathode tubes for moonlighting my 90gal tank; I simply took a 2 bulb PC kit and connected it to a 12v plug in adapter and voila.

[babblefish1960]

I use a set of 12" cold cathode tubes for moonlighting my 90gal tank; I simply took a 2 bulb PC kit and connected it to a 12v plug in adapter and voila.

I have to ask, do you use the 12 volt 8.0 ampere adapter with it, and is it really bright?

Or have you reduced the voltage and or the amperage?

Changing the amperage in my mind would be the thing that changed the brightness, not my actual mind, just my thought, oh bother, I've got my syntax all discumbobulated.

Okay, how bright is it? It's so bright, that I can see...APW fills in here..., is that bright enough for you, ha ha ha ha hurry APW, I need an answer, it's a holiday today and I'm losing my mind.

Succinct wants to know if the fish require sunglasses, and if so, will you be selling fashion forward fishy sunglasses with every bag of frozen hors'deurves?

[darkdep]

Fish do not require sunglasses.  I'm using 12v, and do not know the amperage off the top of my head (but I will go look).  It's a nice blue glow, not in any way piercing or bright.  I only have the two 12" tubes over a 48" tank tho, and a 24" deep one at that, so you may want it brighter. 

I've attached a pic of the lights on the tank, albeit before water was added.

[attachment deleted by admin]

[babblefish1960]

Cool, I thought you got rid of that tank, would you have a picture of it with water, it actually doesn't look too bright, it should work well with my driftwood and plants, the fish are going to love it.

I'm surprised you didn't want to take a leap into making sunglasses for fishies though.

Where oh mighty all powerful webmeister, where on terra prime or ceti alpha six did you find such a scintillating illumination device for the pleasure of the witching hour viewing?

[darkdep]

I still have it, but it's on the auction block waiting for the fishwall to be completed.  I'm starting to regret it, cause I really love the slate.  But alas, I need the cash to pay for all the filters I need

I find a lot of moonlights are quite bright, this amount in a dark room just seems right...a very subdued glow that really shows off the nocturnal behaviours.

I don't seem to have one with water, but I'll try and take one later.

This is pretty much exactly what I'm using:  http://www.pccyber.com/scrItem.asp?product_subtypes_id=770&product_types_id=32&product_id=8606

They make these kits for the weirdos who think lighting up the inside of their computer is cool   The two tubes connect via wires into a little box that's essentially the power supply, and normally connects to an internal PC power connector.  You just cut the wires at that point and wire up to a 12v plug in adapter and away you go.  I used an adjustable supply but that's not required.

IMHO, the cheapest, easiest moonlight setup possible.  If it's not bright enough, buy 2 kits (4 bulbs total).

[BigDaddy]

Princess, I believe, sells neons.  Cold cathodes are brighter and smaller.

www.coolerguys.com sells 12 inch dual cathode kits for $6 US.  Best deal on cathodes anywhere, regardless of shipping costs.  When I was modding, I got all my cathodes from them.

They have an inverter designed to run off a 12V computer supply.  So essentially, all you need is a 12 volt DC to AC adapter and you'd be all set.

[Seanc]

wow thats cheep. group order anyone?

[babblefish1960]

Princess, I believe, sells neons.  Cold cathodes are brighter and smaller.

www.coolerguys.com sells 12 inch dual cathode kits for $6 US.  Best deal on cathodes anywhere, regardless of shipping costs.  When I was modding, I got all my cathodes from them.

They have an inverter designed to run off a 12V computer supply.  So essentially, all you need is a 12 volt DC to AC adapter and you'd be all set.

You were such a geek, do you still have your modded computer? I bet it's pretty, are there any other bells and whistles on there that we should know about?

Oh yes, and how long do the cold cathode tubes last roughly?

[babblefish1960]

check with canadian tire as well i know they sell a bunch of 12v LED stuff...

also check the computer shops, they have stuff for case modification, lots of psuedo uv tubes and LEDs,

---> ie pccyber or rb computing

ryan

Mexican Auto? Evil place, haven't found a pc shop admitting to cathode tubes as yet, it must be a weird question, I even had the fellow from princess auto get impatient and be brusque with me.

I will try some more places, thanks.

[babblefish1960]

I think it's hilarious that DD the APW, makes fun of people like BD who were known for modding.

Have you ascertained as yet the amperage being utilized in the cathodes, I'm very curious, as well, looking forward to an updated "wet" photograph to get a better sense of what these look like out side of the nerdy geek pc case.

Bigdaddy, is it really cheaper to ship from Washington state than purchase locally, and if so, seanc's idea holds some merit perhaps, as I would like 9 as it stands now.

That particular company has weird rules about Canadian orders, and anything over $250 gets awkward, something about a second mortgage on your Grannie's bungalow.

Thank you everyone for your input. Keep it coming, it's not over yet.

[Julie]

The nice thing about it is if it doesn't suit my fish tank it will definitely suit my
mini van....coolest ma on the block.

[darkdep]

Babble:  PC Cyber will know what you're talking about, and you can get to one easily enough (they seem to be everywhere these days).

Notice BD didn't respond to my poke?  It's because he knows I'm a geeky computer guy by trade.  The case mod "scene" kinda happened after my hardcore years, I had to make due with various kinds of paint to mod my cases back in the day.  I remember spending days and days tweaking settings to get 1% better performance on benchmarks...ah yes, what deliciously wasted time...

[BigDaddy]

I never have to defend this



PS - Those are coolerguy black lights if memory serves.

[darkdep]

I look at that nowadays, and think, wow, what I could do with all that acrylic.