I actually experimented with DIY solar lighting for my fish tank a while back—mainly as a backup lighting option during power outages, but it turned out to be a fun little project. I used a small 5W solar panel, a rechargeable 12V battery, and a low-wattage LED strip (white and blue for day/night effect). I ran it all through a basic charge controller to keep the battery healthy.
It worked surprisingly well for a low-tech freshwater setup—not something I’d rely on for a high-maintenance planted or reef tank, though. The key is to keep your light requirements low and match the system voltage. Also, definitely make sure the sol-ark pcc battery and controller are in a dry, safe place since we're dealing with water and electronics.
If you're just going for basic ambient lighting or a backup system, it's totally doable. For more complex needs (like plant growth or coral), you'd need a bigger system and more control over light spectrum and duration.
Happy to share more details if you’re building one!
It worked surprisingly well for a low-tech freshwater setup—not something I’d rely on for a high-maintenance planted or reef tank, though. The key is to keep your light requirements low and match the system voltage. Also, definitely make sure the sol-ark pcc battery and controller are in a dry, safe place since we're dealing with water and electronics.
If you're just going for basic ambient lighting or a backup system, it's totally doable. For more complex needs (like plant growth or coral), you'd need a bigger system and more control over light spectrum and duration.
Happy to share more details if you’re building one!
