DIY LED Aquarium Grow Light Hood

[@TheOpelkoenjas]

Nice project, and I don't understand why so many people are hating it and think this won't grow plants. That's just ridiculous. I never experienced any problems with LED DIY strip lights. Heck, I never even had an algae problem with them, my plants grew lush and green and my moss was superb. Maybe the expensive, high-end plants MIGHT have some problems (depends from the setup), but let's be real here: how many people have those plants. And those who have them, who can afford them, also usually bought $300-$1000 worth of lighting systems and have aquariums that cost $1000-$2000 a piece. Usually those people have a some type of business that is aquarium related, or just have plenty enough money to spend. Now, with that being said, from the looks of it I think you need to do a bit more overall cleaning. Doing waterchanges is not enough, you also need to do a weekly vacuum of the gravel and brush the rocks a bit to remove some of the pest algae (you can even use a toothbrush). Not only will the water values benefit from it, but also your plants and fish. This is where many people tend to fuck up: not enough cleaning up. Many people think that doing water changes every week and cleaning the filter once a month or every two months is plenty enough to have a healthy aquarium. I can absolutely tell you that this is not the case. Having an aquarium is a responsibility that demands time, attention, care and love. If you don't have that, don't even go there. Cheers.

[@MissChelle]

Great tutorial, thank you ❤️🇦🇺

[@MegasCarlo]

Any update on how it is for your plants?

[@marthanewsome6375]

Thanks this is helpful. I've got high powered cool white led's and separate RGB lights. I will put 4 cool white and 3 RGB strips on each. One strip of RGB then two of cool white and then another of RGB and then two of cool white and then RGB again. My son is connecting them to a Raspberry Pi so I can program daily cycles and he said I will be able to have them connected to the internet weather like clouds and storms, moon phases, sunrise and sunset in my area. There are so many things you can do with them and most people don't realize that they are the same led lights used in big commercial aquarium lights.

[@schilling3003]

No, they are NOT all the same LED lights used in big commercial aquarium lights. A good aquarium grow light is going to be tailored to the specific nanometer wavelengths of light that plants utilize for photosynthesis. The LED lights that are in RGB LED light strips are NOT and will provide little if any usable light for plants. The cool white lights you are utilizing might be decent, especially if they are in the 6000-7000K range, but a good grow light would also have supplementary red and blue LEDs that are at the specific wavelengths that photosynthesis utilizes. It would be much more energy efficient to use just the LEDs that are tailored to photosynthesis, but then your aquarium would look terrible, everything would be an off magenta color that is simultaneously dark, yet harsh on your eyes and all your plants would look black. BUT I do love your idea of programming everything with the Raspberry PI.

[@zanax210]

I just use 20 watt led flood lights at 6500k and never had such amazing plant growth. Some plants need different spectrums for their coloration though

[@4funrc11]

@@zanax210 Hey, :) Which brand, etc.? I'm looking into something similar. Thx.

[@zanax210]

@@4funrc11 GLORIOUS-LITE LED Flood Light. It's not longer for sale though. Works great for green plants, but red will lose their color.

[@4funrc11]

@@zanax210 Thx, :) Finding, if one chooses this route, a reliable manufacturer that hasn't provided inaccurate (inflated sales-hype) product information is key. That is, if you agree with Dennis Wong's (avid, freshwater planted tank expert) discoveries that many LED flood lights burn out early and aren't up to PAR. But, there seems to exist Flood LED's and CFL's (bulbs) that'll work as, or close to, advertised.

[@MichaelMulin]

GUYS USE PLASTIC ROOF GUTTERS INSTEAD OF CORRUGATED PLASTIC ITS MUCH EASIER AND LESS PAIN IN THE ASS. ENJOY. THERE ARE QUITE A BIT OF VIDEOS - CHECK OUT THE KING OF DIY VIDEO ON DIY LED AQUARIUM LIGHTS. THANK ME LATER :)

[@AccessDenied9095]

why dint u just buy the colored panel

[@TheOpelkoenjas]

I don't think they come in colors though, only translucent. The colored ones you are referring to - if I recall well - are made from a completely different material that has high chances of containing toxic materials for your fish aquatics. If they DO exist, it's still better to stick with the clear plastic ones since usually these do not contain toxins that could harm your tank and it's inhabitants.

[@4funrc11]

Hey, :) Good idea using a 3D printer. I've been thinking along the same line, sorta. Kinda stuck on obtaining the greatest light transmission for plants growth. I may just skip using a lid cover, and 3D print some sort of light mounting bracket/hardware.

[@zaxis1812]

Where you buy led strip?

[@DennisEMiller]

Such a great idea! 😀

[@MELODYMUNRO]

Some good ideas here.

[@RobShambaugh]

Do you have the .stl file to print the parts?

[@AndyP126]

Will this work with a timer? Can I use the remote to set it that way I want and then use an outlet timer to turn it on and and off?

[@MichaelMulin]

Nice zebra danios!

[@franzotto448]

Aber es ist eine sehr gute und saubere Arbeit, gut für Party. But it's a very good and clean job, good for a party. ☺

[@frankryan4454]

there's no way this will be enough light to call this a grow light...

[@64yearoldlivinginmomsbasem75]

Frank Ryan ikr I thought the same

[@전시윤BrianJun]

I feel like it would be enough for most plants

[@synergistic_r.e.d]

do this led get hot my hood is plastic

[@marthanewsome6375]

These lights don't get hot at all.

[@sanjaykumar-en6mb]

Can we use for marine tank with corals

[@chrisx742]

Please no one build this. Its not enough light for plants, and there are no heat sinks. Look at using 3watt individual leds to make a light. You can even buy cheaper aquarium lights on amazon that actually grow plants. I built this light and its a waste of money.

[@schilling3003]

Not to mention that the color temperature of the light emitted is not at all ideal for plant growth.

[@emanguti]

Thanks bro, that’s what I needed to confirm

[@franzotto448]

@@schilling3003 The stripps are good for a party, not for aquarium

[@uditapaul3811]

For application of lights in fish tank we now have to use 3d printer.?!! 😂 😂..

[@akashbajwan551]

Udita Paul lmao

[@sejda6]

Are you to old? But .. I've noticed that you can't use your selfie-cam to make some worthy videos ;)

[@rexff4814]

Sri Lanka price is

[@schilling3003]

Please don't waste your time building this if you want to grow plants, the color temperature of the light emitted is not going to be in the proper range for growing plants. Plants only utilize certain spectrums of light to grow, and red and blue LEDs in a typical RGBW LED strip do not fall in the proper range. However, if you aren't growing plants that need much light (which he is not) then they may do just fine and you might like the ability to adjust the color. But it is DEFINITELY NOT A GROW LIGHT!

[@khalidabdalla6341]

creative. .but I found this complicated. ..

[@brandonwhite9270]

Fish hate flashing lights

[@immeee44]

Ditto

[@hennyzoel7062]

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