Thinking about LED

[Anonymous]

Hey guys, need some input here. I will be moving in with my fiance shortly and for the moment I've broken down my nano. The primary reason is that the tank has a pendant (see the build thread in my sig line) and he has a cat. I don't just mean your run of the mill cat, but a calico that personifies "curiosity". Her code name? Ebil. Anyway, nowhere in his place is there wallspace that the cat can't reach the top of the tank from another piece of furniture or counter unless I put the tank in a spare bedroom which defeats the purpose. The pendant light gets so damn hot I just foresaw a major disaster involving a scalded cat, saltwater and electricity.

Anyway, I was looking at the LED threads, and thought I could probably get away with a DIY hood that would cover the tank and be strong enough that if ebil the cat tried suicide it wouldn't work. The tank is 18" x 18" and I was thinking of a nice rose BTA, some zoas and a pair of black occy clowns (bred locally). I know a hood would destroy the look of the rimless tank but my options are kinda limited. The Hood could be stained similar to the stand I should think. Fortunately, my SO is good with electronics and I'm sure he can handle the wiring part.

Any thoughts on what units are out there that I could use? I'm sort of clueless as to which array would have enough light for what I need

 

[erikas.boy]

Hey dawg,
I'm useless when it comes to specs for lights (still being epically noob), but I can tell you, I would expect you could probably make a pretty thin hood, and suspend it from the ceiling via air-craft cables, so that it was hanging a few inches off the top of the tank. It would still provide some cat-protection, and would keep the sleek look of the tank. If you use pretty narrow wires, and keep the shell painted black, it might even add to the minimilist look. Especially if you keep the controls and stuff on the back, instead of the top.
Just my thoughts
Chris

 

[Anonymous]

Question: Do you like the cat?

Louey

 

[Anonymous]

Question: Do you like the cat?

Louey

:lol: good question (thinks) ....

Hey dawg,
I'm useless when it comes to specs for lights (still being epically noob), but I can tell you, I would expect you could probably make a pretty thin hood, and suspend it from the ceiling via air-craft cables, so that it was hanging a few inches off the top of the tank. It would still provide some cat-protection, and would keep the sleek look of the tank. If you use pretty narrow wires, and keep the shell painted black, it might even add to the minimilist look. Especially if you keep the controls and stuff on the back, instead of the top.
Just my thoughts
Chris

That is a possibility. I had in mind a simple box-type affair, open in the back for the wires, etc.

 

[Anonymous]

This is probably the best thread on LED on RDO that I have seen.

But you have probaby already seen it.

I too am interest in LED for my 24G nano, but so far the choice of fixtures is not that great. But since you are willing to do a DIY hood, you might be able to make something work.



Louey

 

[Anonymous]

Ya the LEDs he used where the pendant type which doesn't solve my cat-in-the-tank problem.

 

[Anonymous]

Yeah... I insisted Mer come up with a firm yes or no as to whether she wanted a cat before I bought my tank, I would've definitely gone with something with a lid if she had decided she wanted a cat.

Have you considered keeping the disco ball pendant, but putting the Solana wood frame kit on your tank? It's a full lid and looks pretty cat proof. http://www.marinedepot.com/Current_USA_ ... AC-vi.html

Otherwise I think the best advice I can give is to head over to nano-reef.com and check out their LED DIY threads; probably the best info on the subject on the web.

 

[Anonymous]

Thanks, I'll file that away

 

[Anonymous]

Two PAR30 Boost LEDs with 60* optics would work great on that tank and would provide adequate coverage.