Sump Area Lighting

ReeferMark · Mar 22, 2015

What lights are you guys and gals using to light your sump area? I'm looking for an LED with a push button on/off switch that will turn on when I open the door to my stand and off when I close it. Any ideas?

DaveMorris · Mar 22, 2015

Do you use a controller? That would be the easiest way. Or just wire in an appropriate switch that you can mount so that it activates the light when you open the door. I use some LED strips that Lowes sells. You can daisy chain them together and they work great. They are on an adhesive tape and 12" long.

ReeferMark · Mar 22, 2015

No controller yet. I'm still working on getting the tank set up. I will probably pick up an Apex on black Friday or a group purchase.

jent · Mar 22, 2015

I personally use an Ikea LED light strip that is mounted on the top of the inside of the stand. I then have magnetic switches on the door that are normally closed, when either door open's it breaks the circuit. The apex then turns on the under stand light.

It's much easier with a controller. With that said, if you only have a single door on the stand you could probably have a normally open magnetic switch (opposite of what I used), and run the actual current for the light through the magnetic switch (also assuming low wattage LED's).

Rob Top1 · Mar 22, 2015

jent said:
I personally use an Ikea LED light strip that is mounted on the top of the inside of the stand. I then have magnetic switches on the door that are normally closed, when either door open's it breaks the circuit. The apex then turns on the under stand light.

It's much easier with a controller. With that said, if you only have a single door on the stand you could probably have a normally open magnetic switch (opposite of what I used), and run the actual current for the light through the magnetic switch (also assuming low wattage LED's).

Now I want a controller just for that.
Very cool

DaveMorris · Mar 22, 2015

Same sort of thing I was referring to. The controller really makes it easier to integrate those types of things.

ncfishguy · Jun 1, 2015

I use a red par 38 bulb grow cheato like crazy got off eBay

heathd.hd · Jun 1, 2015

I tried a few fancy lights and ended up going back 2 a simple 100 w daylight CFL bulb. Seems to give me the most growth

heathd.hd · Jun 1, 2015

Few differnt ideas in here.
https://www.reef2reef.com/index.php?threads/192660/
Cheato grow out!

rainydave · Jun 1, 2015

Are you looking for a light to just provide illumination when you are working on the sump or one to provide light to grow macro algae in a fuge section of your sump?

ReeferMark · Jun 1, 2015

I'm looking for a light to provide illumination when working under hinge stand. I would like to find something with a push switch that turns the light on when I open the stand door.

heathd.hd · Jun 1, 2015

Ah. Simple rope led lighting isn't bad!

Caliwagon · Jun 1, 2015

jent said:
I personally use an Ikea LED light strip that is mounted on the top of the inside of the stand. I then have magnetic switches on the door that are normally closed, when either door open's it breaks the circuit. The apex then turns on the under stand light.

It's much easier with a controller. With that said, if you only have a single door on the stand you could probably have a normally open magnetic switch (opposite of what I used), and run the actual current for the light through the magnetic switch (also assuming low wattage LED's).

+1 to this. I'm using the 4 pack of white LEDs mounted under the tank in various places so when they are on I can see all the bulkheads and plumbing with enough ambient light to do all the work in the sump when I need to.

Trex · Jun 2, 2015

I picked up some LED under cabinet lights from Home Depot. Right now I use the switch to turn them on/off, but could modify it slightly and have my APEX turn it on/off when I open the stand's door.

Was a bit of a pain to install (( the sump was already in place, not a lot of room )), but very glad I did it.

Not the best pictures, but get the idea.

The cord is put away now,

dbl · Jun 2, 2015

I used some inexpensive under-the-counter puck style lights. I do not have a controller either, so I simply plugged them in to my DJ bar and just flip the switch when I want them illuminated. Quick and easy.

Haubfather07 · Feb 18, 2018

jent said:
I personally use an Ikea LED light strip that is mounted on the top of the inside of the stand. I then have magnetic switches on the door that are normally closed, when either door open's it breaks the circuit. The apex then turns on the under stand light.

It's much easier with a controller. With that said, if you only have a single door on the stand you could probably have a normally open magnetic switch (opposite of what I used), and run the actual current for the light through the magnetic switch (also assuming low wattage LED's).

Just bought an Apex (haven't even opened it yet.. ) Can you provide what switch and how to integrate the programing (hand hold the newb). I'm pretty technical but haven't jumped into it yet, waiting on my new tank (RSR 450) to be delivered later this week! Trying to get everything planned out as much as possible and LEDs activated by door switch is exactly what I'm looking for. Thanks in advance!