Serious question... "Regular" track lighting for FOWLR (special bulbs available?)...

[salty150]

Serious question...

I love the look of a separated lighting fixture above the aquarium - but when using a hanging light kit, I hate the look of wires (the hanging wires and light cords, etc.) coming from it.

Anyone know if "regular" track lighting would work for a large FOWLR...?

And are there any special LED track lighting bulbs that could be used to bring out specific colors (or the fish, etc...) - instead of using just regular LED tracking bulbs...?

 

[dedragon]

I have used abi tuna blue led but mounted much closer. The bulb puts out good light but does have a bit of discoball effect when mounted too close. They are also very heavy and large bulbs so finding a solid track light might be harder. Amazon ships them out though so any returns should be easy if you dont like them. I know people use the kingbo as well but I havent tried those ones out yet

Amazon product
Amazon product

 

[oreo54]

Serious question...

I love the look of a separated lighting fixture above the aquarium - but when using a hanging light kit, I hate the look of wires (the hanging wires and light cords, etc.) coming from it.

Anyone know if "regular" track lighting would work for a large FOWLR...?

And are there any special LED track lighting bulbs that could be used to bring out specific colors (or the fish, etc...) - instead of using just regular LED tracking bulbs...?

First thing is what is your height? and second is what are the tank dimensions?
Third is how is it powered and what sockets
Forth would be to find bulbs to match,

BLACK basic LED track light H-style for PAR20, 30, 38

The basic Black screw in LED track fixture. The most common fixture for H-style track lighting accepts almost any 120volt screw in bulb. We like it as an LED track fixture for PAR20 and PAR30; not so much the PAR38 due to its weight. But almost anything e

www.totaltracklighting.com

Sooo starting with h style track and par 30 edison screw bulbs..
https://www.totaltracklighting.com/...ar-38-architectural-black-3-wire-h-style.html

If your light height (face of bulb to water line is 4' and the tank is 24" wide your bulbs need to have a beam angle of about 30 degrees.
Starting here but beam is too wide and color. though reef centric is a bit flat.

PAR30 LED Aquarium Light Bulb- 10.5W (7 x 1.5W LEDs) - 4 White:3 Blue LEDs

www.lightsandbatteries.com

Want a "daylight" reef highlighting fish and non-flourescent pigments?

CRI-MAX™ CRI 95+ 16W Dimmable Angle Adjustable PAR30 LED Bulb 5000K

Yuji high CRI 95+ dimmable angle adjustable PAR30 LED bulb provides seamless dimming that fits any mood or place. It can adjust the beam angle between 10°-60°by rotating the head, allowing you to better highlight a specific object or area that best suits your needs.

store.yujiintl.com

These bulbs are pricy, bit "warm" at 5000K and not the most powerful but have adj. beam angle so you don't need to mess with the height much. The 95+ CRI is great for color.
$76 for 2

You could do 2 tracks but lets wait with that..
Anyways do some digging on par30 aquarium bulbs and 30 degree lenses.
The lower the height the wider the beam. Same with the wider the tank.. ect

Alibaba has tons of lights but finding ones for your specs is tough..well assuming your specs.

Full Spectrum Led 54w Aquarium Lighting E27 Aquarium Light Led Par38 Coral Reef Used Led Light For Planted Aquariums Refugiums - Buy Led 54w Aquarium Lighting,Led Aquarium Cora Reef Light,2023 Best Led Coral Reef Aquarium Spot Lights Product on Aliba

Full Spectrum Led 54w Aquarium Lighting E27 Aquarium Light Led Par38 Coral Reef Used Led Light For Planted Aquariums Refugiums - Buy Led 54w Aquarium Lighting,Led Aquarium Cora Reef Light,2023 Best Led Coral Reef Aquarium Spot Lights Product on Alibaba.com

www.alibaba.com

You'll want some red/green/ect over any that are cool white/blue at least if it is your goal to have err 'color"


Soo how about some data?

 

[srobertb]

Serious question...

I love the look of a separated lighting fixture above the aquarium - but when using a hanging light kit, I hate the look of wires (the hanging wires and light cords, etc.) coming from it.

Anyone know if "regular" track lighting would work for a large FOWLR...?

And are there any special LED track lighting bulbs that could be used to bring out specific colors (or the fish, etc...) - instead of using just regular LED tracking bulbs...?

Yes. GU10 Smart Spot Light Bulb Compatible with Alexa, Google Home, SmartThings, 5W WiFi LED Track Light Bulbs, Color Changing, No Hub Required, 4 Pack https://a.co/d/iBQ2h58

 

[salty150]

First thing is what is your height? and second is what are the tank dimensions?
Third is how is it powered and what sockets
Forth would be to find bulbs to match,

BLACK basic LED track light H-style for PAR20, 30, 38

The basic Black screw in LED track fixture. The most common fixture for H-style track lighting accepts almost any 120volt screw in bulb. We like it as an LED track fixture for PAR20 and PAR30; not so much the PAR38 due to its weight. But almost anything e

www.totaltracklighting.com

Sooo starting with h style track and par 30 edison screw bulbs..
https://www.totaltracklighting.com/...ar-38-architectural-black-3-wire-h-style.html

If your light height (face of bulb to water line is 4' and the tank is 24" wide your bulbs need to have a beam angle of about 30 degrees.
Starting here but beam is too wide and color. though reef centric is a bit flat.

PAR30 LED Aquarium Light Bulb- 10.5W (7 x 1.5W LEDs) - 4 White:3 Blue LEDs

www.lightsandbatteries.com

Want a "daylight" reef highlighting fish and non-flourescent pigments?

CRI-MAX™ CRI 95+ 16W Dimmable Angle Adjustable PAR30 LED Bulb 5000K

Yuji high CRI 95+ dimmable angle adjustable PAR30 LED bulb provides seamless dimming that fits any mood or place. It can adjust the beam angle between 10°-60°by rotating the head, allowing you to better highlight a specific object or area that best suits your needs.

store.yujiintl.com

These bulbs are pricy, bit "warm" at 5000K and not the most powerful but have adj. beam angle so you don't need to mess with the height much. The 95+ CRI is great for color.
$76 for 2

You could do 2 tracks but lets wait with that..
Anyways do some digging on par30 aquarium bulbs and 30 degree lenses.
The lower the height the wider the beam. Same with the wider the tank.. ect

Alibaba has tons of lights but finding ones for your specs is tough..well assuming your specs.

Full Spectrum Led 54w Aquarium Lighting E27 Aquarium Light Led Par38 Coral Reef Used Led Light For Planted Aquariums Refugiums - Buy Led 54w Aquarium Lighting,Led Aquarium Cora Reef Light,2023 Best Led Coral Reef Aquarium Spot Lights Product on Aliba

Full Spectrum Led 54w Aquarium Lighting E27 Aquarium Light Led Par38 Coral Reef Used Led Light For Planted Aquariums Refugiums - Buy Led 54w Aquarium Lighting,Led Aquarium Cora Reef Light,2023 Best Led Coral Reef Aquarium Spot Lights Product on Alibaba.com

www.alibaba.com

You'll want some red/green/ect over any that are cool white/blue at least if it is your goal to have err 'color"


Soo how about some data?

OK!

Ceiling height is 9 feet.

Aquarium is 87" L x 30" W x 26" H.

The stand is 39" H - so the top of the aquarium is 65" H.

I guess I should be a little more clear as far as the "LR" goes - it is not "live rock", it is CaribSea Life Rock - so it is just man-made rock that is already colored purple, etc.

So there is no need really for an "aquarium" type LED - correct...?

Just a regular LED that lights up the tank and shows off the colors of the fish (the bright red of the Flame Angel, etc.)

3000K, 3500K, 5000K...?

I was looking at the smaller LED track lighting like this:

But then saw this, and it is OK:

But then saw this, and I really like this look:

 

[oreo54]

Well best is like 7000-8000K "regular bulbs" for fish colors.
5000k+ is kind of pushing it.
Also cuts some possible yellowing with lower color temp bulbs.
Cheaper the bulb the more yellow you may get.


You may want to consider mixing like white/blue/white/blue.
With your height you should be able to blend pretty well.


Keep in mind this is a lot of theory but fairly sound.

soo about 3.5ft from ceiling to tank top.
Subtract any drop down..
Use this calculator to determine beam angle..
Spot size about 2.5ft
Throw distance is = 3.5- fixture drop
Calculate beam angle. Find bulbs that fit.

At 2.5ft angle is 53 degrees
60 is probably the closest.

PAR 38 bulbs are probably the easiest to get.
Make sure fixture sockets/shades fit bulb shape.

LED Lighting Beam Angle Calculator

A simple calculator that determines spot size by a light's beam angle

store.marinebeam.com

I'm only going to mention the smart bulbs in RGBW (make sure white is high K)

I think it is worth researching for you. I'm not the "guy" to help with that being old school.
some you can do RGB OR white not RGB AND white.
That is very annoying to me.

Oh one thing about me.. I hate dead spots around the surface so I do error on the side of some spill vs no spill.

MOST people would recommend a bulb like this:

https://www.aliexpress.us/item/3256802360244788.html?pdp_npi=2%40dis%21USD%21US%20%2429.84%21%2415.99%21%21%21%21%21%402101f6b316781287902148946e3df7%2112000021083070947%21btf&_t=pvid%3Af5c4b69f-a804-4337-b0fa-e71552cf0b86&afTraceInfo=1005002546559540__pc__pcBridgePPC__xxxxxx__1678128790&spm=a2g0o.ppclist.product.mainProduct&gatewayAdapt=glo2usa&_randl_shipto=US

If it had a narrower than 120 beam angle I "might" too.
Note the pic.. About a foot off the tank surface.

What "color" you want is a personal choice.
6500k is daylight.
10000k is like blue sky.
K goes up from there based on depth of water till basically pure blue.

 

[oreo54]

Build Thread - Lasses Dream Build

It get hot in there - you need an input of room air for cooling. I have one 140 mm computer fan blowing into the cabinet. No I have not looked at UPS- I live in an area with rather stable electric grid. Last 2 years - one power breakdown for 1 hour. Sincerely Lasse Do you think it would get...

www.reef2reef.com

15000K but tons of red/green/white

For a sort of contrast to the bluer tanks

 

[salty150]

Thanks!

The more I look into all this - the more interesting track / pendant lighting for the tank becomes.

I really like the idea of using an "all-in-one" bulb where I can change the color / color temperature... to my liking...

And one that can be controlled by Alexa / Google to slowly ramp up and down and dim, etc.

Did not know this was a possibility before...

 

[oreo54]

Thanks!

The more I look into all this - the more interesting track / pendant lighting for the tank becomes.

I really like the idea of using an "all-in-one" bulb where I can change the color / color temperature... to my liking...

And one that can be controlled by Alexa / Google to slowly ramp up and down and dim, etc.

Did not know this was a possibility before...

https://www.bestbuy.com/site/ge-cync-smart-direct-connect-outdoor-light-bulb-1-led-par38-bulb-90w-replacement-full-color/6478935.p?skuId=6478935&ref=212&loc=1&ref=212&loc=1&&&gclid=CjwKCAiAu5agBhBzEiwAdiR5tN6N4asr0agkzdZ8IeyB_TKidv9Ix5KKEZoKUBp-FIAbjmSpAx_OMRoClW4QAvD_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds

Yea it's possible..
Best to just buy one and try it to see how it functions.


Not sure if any ramp or just pop on..

The more complicated DALI and stage lighting is even better..