Hello everyone! I wanted to share my recent experience setting up a smart aquarium lighting system and temperature monitoring. I’ve been a bit obsessed with creating the perfect environment for my fish, and I thought I’d document my journey in case it helps others.
First, I started with the lighting. I’ve heard great things about RGBIC lights for aquariums, but I was a bit overwhelmed by the options. I decided to go with a 16.4ft strip since it seemed like a good length for my 36” tank. I was worried about the brightness and whether it would be enough, but after setting it up, I was pleasantly surprised! The colors are vibrant, and it really brings out the best in my fish. I did a bit of research and found that cutting the strips to fit my tank was easier than I thought. I also wrapped them around some small PVC pipes to keep everything neat.
Temperature monitoring was the next step. I have a Sonoff TH16 sensor that I integrated into my Home Assistant setup. Initially, I noticed some odd behavior where the temperature readings would switch between Celsius and Fahrenheit randomly. After some troubleshooting, I realized it was a configuration issue in the entity card. I removed the ‘temperature’ attribute from the YAML code, and everything started working smoothly. It’s now consistently showing the correct temperature in Celsius, which is perfect for my setup.
I also wanted to make sure the lights wouldn’t get too hot, especially since my tank has a plexiglass cover. I did some research and found that as long as I keep the lights a few inches away from the water surface, heat shouldn’t be an issue. I also added a small fan nearby just to be safe.
For anyone else looking to set up something similar, here are a few tips:
- Measure your tank carefully before cutting any strips.
- Test the brightness in different modes to find the perfect balance.
- Double-check your temperature sensor settings to avoid any unexpected changes.
- Consider adding a small fan or cooling system if you’re concerned about heat.
I’d love to hear if anyone else has tried something similar or has any additional tips! It’s been a fun project, and I’m really happy with how everything turned out. 
