DIY GU10 LED grow light fixture

dirtdobber06 · Nov 2, 2016

I am constructing a light fixture to use over my refugium tank to grow my algae better. I am building this to see how it works and I have purchased enough of the sockets to construct a light for my in-wall 120 ga. if this goes well. I give credit to mccarroll for the idea and information. Pictures of construction:

dirtdobber06 · Nov 2, 2016

dirtdobber06 · Nov 2, 2016

dirtdobber06 · Nov 2, 2016

mcarroll · Nov 2, 2016

Love it!

dirtdobber06 · Nov 2, 2016

Thanks for you help on this. Have a friend coming to help/advise on the wiring. Ordered the grow bulbs today.

dirtdobber06 · Nov 7, 2016

My friend soldered the joints and applied heatshrink. Put the bulbs in and fired it up. These are 3x1W Grow light bulbs purchased on Amazon 12 bulbs for like $56.

mcarroll · Nov 7, 2016

A line of bulbs would give very even coverage compared to the hotspots you can see in the pic. But is it designed the way it is for a reason?

dirtdobber06 · Nov 7, 2016

It is designed this way so there will not be light directly over the overflow box. The bulk of the area where I want to algae to grow is on the sides. I will post another picture after I install it. I have very poor growth on my chaeto with an very old PC bulb. I cant wait to see the difference.

dirtdobber06 · Nov 7, 2016

OK! Just installed it. Bulbs ended up about 14" from surface. I can shorten the legs if needed. I did not glue any of the PVC

mcarroll · Nov 7, 2016

Nice!

For growing algae it's possible you might want them considerably closer to the water. Maybe half that distance.

I would just keep them up a bit as they aren't going to be splashproof, etc.

dirtdobber06 · Nov 7, 2016

I will probably lower it down after a week or so. I made the legs where I can adjust it very easily

dirtdobber06 · Nov 7, 2016

I am already scheming the light for the DT. I am thinking a fixture attached to the wall with hinges, so I can lift it up to access the tank for maintenance.

mcarroll · Nov 7, 2016

Bulbs should be about 12" off the water normally, so already room to work...but I like the idea of hinges or a lift of some kind.

Having the lights pointing at your face during maintenance will not be fun.

And leaving the tank dark during maintenance will not make it easier.

So a lift or hoist of some kind might be preferable depending on your scenario.