Lighting for Outdoor Learning Tank

[calicokitty2000]

I am putting together a saltwater tank (20 gallons currently, probably will go to 40) that will draw water directly from our ocean water canal for my son to catch and observe sea life (legally of course lol). I am looking for a decent waterproof LED light, preferably submersible. It has to be waterproof since it is outside. We will probably not keep anything more than a month or 2 before letting it go back to the wild, but I want to keep it healthy while we have it. I imagine we will have creatures such as small swimming & hermit crabs, shrimp, brittle stars, easy to catch fish like grunts or little reef fish (damselfish seem to be the easiest to catch with a slurp gun).

 

[rwreef]

Why not use the sun?

 

[Eagle_Steve]

I am putting together a saltwater tank (20 gallons currently, probably will go to 40) that will draw water directly from our ocean water canal for my son to catch and observe sea life (legally of course lol). I am looking for a decent waterproof LED light, preferably submersible. It has to be waterproof since it is outside. We will probably not keep anything more than a month or 2 before letting it go back to the wild, but I want to keep it healthy while we have it. I imagine we will have creatures such as small swimming & hermit crabs, shrimp, brittle stars, easy to catch fish like grunts or little reef fish (damselfish seem to be the easiest to catch with a slurp gun).

Being as you are not keeping corals, you have a ton of options. One thing to look into is a bait well light or any bait light for fishing. Most are 12v dc have very long leads and can be immersed in SW for a very long time. After the light, you would just need to get a 12v dc power supply for it.

I have 2 submersible aquarium lights in my boat, as I am cheap lol. They work well and have been in the boat for 2 years now. Used in both fresh and salt water.

Something like this if you want to go on the cheap side. You can always go more expensive and get actual bait well lights, as well.

 

[calicokitty2000]

Why not use the sun?

I am putting the tank in filtered light / shade because the sun makes it bake in the afternoon. It has stayed much more temperature consistent since I moved it.

 

[calicokitty2000]

Being as you are not keeping corals, you have a ton of options. One thing to look into is a bait well light or any bait light for fishing. Most are 12v dc have very long leads and can be immersed in SW for a very long time. After the light, you would just need to get a 12v dc power supply for it.

I have 2 submersible aquarium lights in my boat, as I am cheap lol. They work well and have been in the boat for 2 years now. Used in both fresh and salt water.

Something like this if you want to go on the cheap side. You can always go more expensive and get actual bait well lights, as well.

Funny because I actually ordered this exact light for temporary! I just wasn’t sure if the reef fish would need a light that helped promote healthy algae and also if they needed it.