Automated Aquarium Lighting System

Hello everyone!

In today's project, I will show you how to create an automated lighting system for your aquarium.

Using a Wifi controller and the Magic Home WiFi App, I was able to wirelessly change the color and brightness of the LEDs.

Lastly, the LEDs automatically turn off at night and switches on in the morning.

Step 1: ​Components Used in This Project

Components used in this project:

Sunix® Wireless WiFi RGB/RGBWWCW LED Controller

NEWSTYLE Black PCB Celebration LED Strip Lighting Waterproof Rope Lights 300 LEDs 5050 SMD RGB

5m LED strip (cool white)

Fluorescent light fixture

2-Pin Connector

12v Power Supply

Foam Core

Step 2: Disassemble the Lighting Fixture

In this project, I will be using the Lighting fixture that came with the aquarium.

The fixture is big enough to hold the wifi controller, the wires and the LED strips.

The fixture also has a built-in on/off switch that will be used to manually reset the wifi controller (if needed).

After removing the internal components I was left with an empty lighting fixture.

Step 3: Foam Core

I used the light fixture to trace and cut a long piece of foam core for the LEDs.

On one side of the foam core, I cut and placed 3 strips of RGB LED (36in each)

I also cut and placed 2 strips of cool white LED strips for added brightness (36in each)

Using a combination of hot glue and tape, I was able to stick the LEDs onto the foam core.

On the opposite side of the foam core, I placed the WIFI controller and secured it with hot glue.

Step 4: Wiring the Controller

The controller has multiple wiring modules that are clearly labeled.

The V+ input connects to the red 12v wire from the power supply

(The lighting fixture had a built in switch that connected to this wire)

The V- input is for black ground wire from the power supply.

I will be using a 12v power supply for this project because the LEDs are 12v.

The V+ output connects to the BLACK wire of the RGB LED strip and the RED wire of the COOL/WARM white LED strip

The R output connects to the RED wire of the RGB LED strip

The G output connects to the GREEN wire of the RGB LED strip

The B output connects to the BLUE wire of the RGB LED strip

The WW output connects to the BLACK wire of the WARM white LED strip

The CW output connects to the BLACK wire of the COOL white LED strip

(In this project, I used two identical cool white led strips)

Step 5: Magic Home WiFi App

The app is available for download on Google play and iTunes store

Using this app, you can connect to the Wifi LED Controller.

Once the device is paired, you can wirelessly customize the LEDs.

The timer feature allows you to automate the brightness and colors of the LEDs.

Mine is set to 80% brightness from 8:00am to 11:00pm (0% brightness from 11:01pm to 7:59am)

Other features include custom colour wheel, custom colour scrolling and music activated light.

Step 6: Done

Although LED strips are capable of generating heat, the fixture has vents that help with heat management.

Additionally, these LEDs can be set to low brightness to reduce heat.

Ultimately, this is a cheap and easy way to make an automated lighting system for your pet fish.

As always, feel free to make your own version of this project.

If you want to see similar projects, check out the youtube channel.