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DIY LED lightscreen background


Mr. Ed's Aquatics
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I was trying out cheap background options for some of my project tanks with no background and really like how these came out. 

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Total cost for 2 29 gallon tanks was under twenty bucks and it took me less than half an hour to complete on existing setup tanks.

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Supplies needed: BIHAND 6.56ft USB LED Strip Lights with 24 Keys Remote($8.99) and Elmer's Acid-Free Foam Boards, 20 x 30 Inches, 3/16-Inch Thick, Bright White, 2-Count($7.96).

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Just cut off 2" across the bottom of the poster boards (save these). Or cut 2 1" strips if you're doing one tank, top and bottom. 

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Remove the tape backing and stick the LEDs on the 2" strips from before. You can cut the LED strip if your tanks aren't side by side like mine or it's enough to do a continuous backlight for the bottom and top of just one tank.

Just place the strips behind the tank and then put the poster boards...

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I used a little bit of white duct tape on the bottom corner to stop it casting light on the floor, but it's not necessary. 

The remote it comes with let's you change the color, intensity, fade, flash, etc. For less than the cost of the lame vinyl backgrounds from the pet store, it's definitely worth considering. 

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2 hours ago, Maggie said:

That looks beautiful! And you have the lights just along the bottom? I've been wondering what to do for my 20L.

Thanks, I really like how these came out. Both of these are just lit at the bottom since I have 24/7 lights on the top and they cast a different glow at the top depending on what time of day it is. 

I ordered more supplies for my 46 Bowfront, probably going to try doing the top and bottom of that one.

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