MCA November meeting - strip light building workshop -order lights by 10-25!

[Marty]

For our November meeting, our guest will be Rick from Over the Edge. 

Over the Edge is a leading wholesale supplier of plastic aquarium frames aquarium trim, aquarium lights, aquarium stands and custom iron stands. 

Over the Edge will also allow us to pre order any of the products on their website aquariumframeswholesale.com  We will also be getting discounted prices on already assembled strip lights as detailed below.

Our meeting will be Friday November 1st at 7:30pm.  It will be held at our usual location:
Trinity Lutheran Church
45160 Van Dyke Utica, Mi 48317
(at the corner of M59 and Van Dyke)

Strip Light Workshop Information

In This Workshop, we will be building fluorescent strip lights and Led strip lights.

IMPORTANT, YOU MUST CONTACT MARTY BY OCTOBER 25TH WITH THE SIZE/TYPE OF LIGHT YOU WISH TO BUILD OR ANY OTHER PRODUCT YOU WISH TO PRE ORDER

Fluorescent Lights
There is a one light per person limit that people can build in the workshop for the $12.00 each. We have a special price for extra lights purchased at the workshop.

Strip Light Kits will be pre packaged and ready to go.  As people walk in, we will give them the light size kit that they want and collect the $12.00 for it.  If you want to do a double light, you will receive the extra parts you need at that time and pay an additional $5.00

Led lights
There is a one light per person limit that people can build in the workshop.

Led Strip Light Prices
20” - $23.00
24” - $25.00
30” -$30.00
36” - $33.00

These are our standard 6500K Pure White Leds Only.  We will bring color enhancement lights for people to purchase if you want to add them to your lights on your own time as this would be too difficult to do all of this at one time in the workshop.  We will, however, explain to those who are interested how to add them to their lights.  The cost of adding the color enhancement will be $7.00 for any size light.  If people want to purchase extra Led Lights at the workshop, we will be selling them at wholesale prices.

Assembled Fluorescent Strip Lights
Bulbs Not Included/Sold Separately

Special Workshop Price
20" Single Bulb   $14.50
20" Dual Bulb     $21.00
24" Single Bulb  $15.00
24" Dual Bulb     $22.00
30" Single Bulb  $16.00
30" Dual Bulb     $23.00
36" Single Bulb  $17.00
36" Dual Bulb     $24.00



Assembled LED lighting
20” LED Strip Light 6500K Pure White $33.00
24” LED Strip Light 6500K Pure White $35.00
30” LED Strip Light 6500K Pure White $40.00
36” LED Strip Light 6500K Pure White $45.00



Strip Light Kits will be pre packaged and ready to go.  As people walk in, we will give them the light size kit that they want and collect the money for the light.

We need to know 7 days prior to the day of the workshop what lights people are going to want to build for the workshop.  Each person can do one Led OR fluorescent at the workshop price.  You can purchase any amount of lights at wholesale pricing as you want. 

Each person needs to let Marty know the type of light and the size they want to build at the workshop.  For fluorescent lights, please indicate single or dual bulb.  Each person also needs to include their First and Last Name with the items they want. This way, Marty can email the complete list to us 7 days prior to the workshop.  This will make things much easier on our end and assure that everyone gets the light they want.

Anyone interested in ordering other parts such as frames, extra lights, door/plates, or iron stands, etc, this also needs to be included in the list.  Again, this will assure people they get what they order.  We have limited space in our hauler, so get your orders in as soon as possible.

We will be bringing extra strip lights, aquarium frames, plastic tops, hinge, backstrip, and electrical components and possibly some iron stands for those who may want to wait and order on the day of the workshop or add to their existing order.  All orders must be paid with cash or check only. NO CREDIT CARDS ACCEPTED

On the day of the workshop, all products will be sold at wholesale pricing.  To continue receiving wholesale pricing in the future, please see our club discount program details http://www.aquariumframeswholesale.com/club-discount-program

We also have a single bulb 36” Fluorescent strip light with a 30” 10,000K bulb included for a workshop price of $35.00.  This light can only be bought already assembled.

To see our all of our products that we now have or to download a complete price list, please visit our website http://www.aquariumframeswholesale.com/

If you have any questions about our products or website email us ([email protected]) or call us (810-724-0961).  We will be glad to answer any questions you might have.

Strip Light Workshop Information
Tools Needed for Workshop:

 Regular flat screw driver
 Philips screwdriver
 Wire cutters/strippers
 Razor knife/box cutter
 Power screwdrivers can make job much easier
 If building LED light, also need very small Philips or flat head screwdriver in addition to other screwdrivers
 If building fluorescent light, bringing a test bulb is recommended. We only have a few on hand
 It would be helpful if a few people can bring extension cords

[linuxrulesusa]

Are the fluorescent light strips the kind with replaceable starters?  I assume they are black plastic exterior?

[Marty]

Are the fluorescent light strips the kind with replaceable starters?  I assume they are black plastic exterior?

The light shells are black.  I'm also pretty certain that the starters are replaceable, as they sell starters on their website (in the flourescent light parts section).

[Maize-N-Blue-D]

I noticed that the sizes stop @ 36",  would it be possible to make a 48" light (preferably LED) ?

[Marty]

I noticed that the sizes stop @ 36",  would it be possible to make a 48" light (preferably LED) ?

No, they manufacture the shells to fit inside their tops, so you would likely need 2 20" or 24" I'm not sure which.  If you contact them with your size aquarium, they can tell you which size to order.

[eastsidejim]

HMM VERY INTERESTING

[Ogre44]

I have plants in all of my tanks so I did a little looking around at using LEDs for planted tanks.
In my , admittedly sparse and hastily done, research it looks like 6500K LEDs need to run at around 12 watts to support plant growth.
I contacted Over the Edge to check on the wattages of the strip LEDs available for the light building workshop.

From Brandon at Over the Edge:
20" - 27 5050 SMD - 5 Watts total
24" - 33 5050 SMD - 6.5 Watts Total
30" - 42 5050 SMD - 8.5 Watts Total
36" - 48 5050 SMD - 10 Watts Total
These are all approximate wattage and SMD counts
These lights are intended for freshwater fish. It is a cheaper alternative to lighting your fish tank. It is not intended for plant growth or corals

So, if you intend to use your light on a planted tank the fluorescents would be the way to go.

[Regalblue]

But.... wouldn't adding the color enhancement LEDs add to the output wattage?

[Ogre44]

It might, however their output would most likely be in the wrong portion of the EM spectrum for plant growth.

[Regalblue]

Ahh OK

[OTE]

Are the fluorescent light strips the kind with replaceable starters?  I assume they are black plastic exterior?

Hello there, this is Brandon From Over The Edge

To answer your question; The fluorescent lights that we will be building at the workshop will be using electronic ballasts. These electronic ballasts do not require a starter.

However, if you do need parts to repair your old lights that have magnetic ballasts and starters, we do have parts available, you can check them out here http://www.aquariumframeswholesale.com/fluorescent-parts

[OTE]

if anybody has any other questions regarding the workshop or any of our other products, let me know

[linuxrulesusa]

Are the fluorescent light strips the kind with replaceable starters?  I assume they are black plastic exterior?

Hello there, this is Brandon From Over The Edge

To answer your question; The fluorescent lights that we will be building at the workshop will be using electronic ballasts. These electronic ballasts do not require a starter.

However, if you do need parts to repair your old lights that have magnetic ballasts and starters, we do have parts available, you can check them out here http://www.aquariumframeswholesale.com/fluorescent-parts

Thanks for the quick response.  What's the life like on electronic vs. the old style ballasts?

[OTE]

Back before we started using electronic ballasts, we were always told how electronic ballasts don’t last. But we've been using electronic ballasts for 5 years now and we haven’t had any issues with one going bad.

Unlike the magnetic ballasts, the electronic ballast lights the bulb up instantly. You get no flickering like you get with the old ballast

They work better for us because they are much easier to wire, weigh considerably less which helps us out on shipping, and don’t run nearly as hot as the magnetic ballast does

[TrailerParkFishTanks]

Back before we started using electronic ballasts, we were always told how electronic ballasts don’t last. But we've been using electronic ballasts for 5 years now and we haven’t had any issues with one going bad.

Unlike the magnetic ballasts, the electronic ballast lights the bulb up instantly. You get no flickering like you get with the old ballast

They work better for us because they are much easier to wire, weigh considerably less which helps us out on shipping, and don’t run nearly as hot as the magnetic ballast does

although i cant attest to the smaller aquarium style ballasts, i can tell you that the newer electronic ballasts are the way to go on larger light applications. they are lighter, more, efficient, and in most cases dimmable (on larger applications) plus they emit way less heat. so the smaller electronic ballasts for aquarium applications would most likely be the same reliability and characteristics.