Electric timer

[Rotaripsnoc]

I recently noticed that my fish seems to be more active when I am more consistent in turning the tank lights on \ off, also with a few suggestions from here that I could regular my tank better if I turned my lights off during the heat of the day.

I found this while walking around Lowes looking for an Argonite based sand.

Shop Utilitech Digital Residential Plug-in Timer at Lowes.com

I gave it a try, and now on week 2 it works great, it also works with a power bar plugged into it, so you could control quite a few devices.

Just thought I would share.

 

[FishDad]

I've thought about that many times, glad to see its working. I've always wanted to 'invent' an led structure that fades to different shades of light throughout the day, eventually ending in moonlight. Like cool blue in the am, to yellow, to orange , then to moonlight in the pm. Someday...

 

[lauraf]

I love my electric timer...I can actually control two devices with it so my CO2 turns on automatically at the same time the lights come on.

 

[Rotaripsnoc]

I've thought about that many times, glad to see its working. I've always wanted to 'invent' an led structure that fades to different shades of light throughout the day, eventually ending in moonlight. Like cool blue in the am, to yellow, to orange , then to moonlight in the pm. Someday...

I planned on doing something very similar to that before my 30 gal sprung a leak. Build a pcb, program a few soc's I have, and encase them and their transformers in epoxy to replace my florescent lights on my 60 gal, the led's would vary in intensity during the day in a rolling pattern, perhaps a few non standard colors to provide a small variance in light wavelengths.

 

[Rotaripsnoc]

I've thought about that many times, glad to see its working. I've always wanted to 'invent' an led structure that fades to different shades of light throughout the day, eventually ending in moonlight. Like cool blue in the am, to yellow, to orange , then to moonlight in the pm. Someday...

I planned on doing something very similar to that before my 30 gal sprung a leak. Build a pcb, program a few soc's I have, and encase them and their transformers in epoxy to replace my florescent lights on my 60 gal, the led's would vary in intensity during the day in a rolling pattern, perhaps a few non standard colors to provide a small variance in light wavelengths.

I love my electric timer...I can actually control two devices with it so my CO2 turns on automatically at the same time the lights come on.

This one has 2 plugs, currently occupied by both tank hoods, but as I start to add plants I'll probably buy a small bar to connect, for a Co2 Diffuser, maybe some additional lights during the day or such.

 

[FreshyFresh]

I believe that's the most expensive light timer I've ever seen!! YIKES.

One of my timers is quite old, with the removable green and red clips to set the on/off times. My 2 newer cheap ones with the tabs you push in/out to set the times were like $2.99/ea.

Timers are a must for tank lighting IMO. I've got one for each of my tanks. The 20g with LED hood I can run 9-10hrs a day, but the planted tanks are more like 6-8hrs/day.

 

[FreshyFresh]

..I've always wanted to 'invent' an led structure that fades to different shades of light throughout the day, eventually ending in moonlight. Like cool blue in the am, to yellow, to orange , then to moonlight in the pm. Someday...

It looks like someone beat you to it FD. I've seen those setups on eBay and the fancy (above my pay grade) online pet supply sites for marine reef tanks.

I'm not sure there would be any benefit aside from looking cool for a FW planted tank to have that.

 

[FishDad]

Post some links to them, I'm curious how much they are.

 

[FreshyFresh]

Post some links to them, I'm curious how much they are.

Here's one: 2pc Dimmable LED Aquarium Light Salt Water Fishtank Hard SPS LPS Soft Coral Reef | eBay

 

[exhumed07]

I think i'm a bit more lazy with my lighting lol. i turned mine on at around 10am this morning before heading to work. it's 3:30am the following day now and they are still on lol. my paludarium has no algae my 30 gallon guppy crawdad tank has a small bit, my the sunfish tank has the whole back panel of glass covered. i kinda like it as a back ground. i may be weird that way though lol. my cichlid tank has quite a bit of blackbeard but with the black sand and black back ground and white rocks with the blackbeard on it, i think it looks rather sharp. the blackbeard softens the rocks and don't make them so much of a focal point. and my planted tank i have yet to need to scrub the glass even once since i set it up several months ago. but i contribute that to my insane amount of christmas moss taking out any possible nutrients for the algae to grow on.

 

[FishDad]

You're right Joel. Out of my price range too, but very cool.