wip: indoor hypertufa fountain with led lighting
rustinj
19 years ago
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eva1429
19 years agoartsymama
19 years agoRelated Discussions
Indoor tufa fountain
Comments (55)S_dreamer, that's the smart approach...I learn everything the hard way :) I'm making a new one that is a lot bigger and rigged with lights. Mark, I was new when I did this, but it's still holding water and in one piece. Someone else may have a better strategy for filling the voids. I tried some of that stryofoam spray, but it's pretty expensive and very messy. The paper inside the mesh was used to keep too much tufa from filling all the hollow spaces (to keep the weight down). The paper around the reservoir was wadded into balls and wired onto the outside of the mesh to make the surface uneven. In either case, the paper is still in there. Good luck with your project!...See MoreNebraska Bamboo Experiment
Comments (6)I generally assume photosynthesis is occurring anytime it's above freezing (for sure)...but I'm sure the needs and rate is much slower during sub-freezing temps. What part of Nebraska are you ? I lived in Columbus for 3 years and don't think that most of these bamboos would make it there. In particular the wind when temps are below freezing would be murder on the growth. You might lose the canes each winter and never get any size (at best). I'd advise sitting with protection from wind (and shelter against a warm wall if possible). I never did care for the anti-dessication sprays...but you might look into them. Even in zone 7A in Oklahoma, I had winter dieback sometimes on P nigra. I haven't tried any of the fargesias though I had the nuda and aureosulcata. I believe they're all rated above your zone, nigra:7, aureosulcata & nuda:6. It's fun to try, but w/o a microzone, I don't think you're going to get more than maybe 5 foot culms....See MoreSolar lights in your garden? What do....
Comments (15)The technology has improved considerably since we started buying them almost five years ago. There are many manufacturers and vendors. Sunergy (a wholesaler, you can't buy them directly) is one of the best. LEDs are not as powerful, but the bulbs last almost forever. Rechargeable disposable batteries are an improvement over the old proprietary, costly replacement battery types. Some thoughts: --For high-intensity lighting, use multiple LED lights. Check Frontgate.com for their high-end solar lights and you can see a photo that shows the difference. --If you don't have sun or at least very bright shade, you won't get much light from solar garden fixtures. Single light LED sets are cheap, but they really don't throw off enough light to adequately light an uneven path, for instance. Spotlights are brighter, but more expensive. --White is blue-ish white, as noted, and quite harsh. Think cheap white fluorescent and you'll get an idea of what we mean. Amber is gentler and more attractive, but much dimmer. It is also losing popularity fast, and so I have yet to see a multiple-LED amber solar light widely available, which is a shame. More recent LED lights are now available in a "warm white", which is an improvement over older lights. --They don't last forever. Either battery or (traditional) bulb wears out. Sunergy's lights are heavy-duty aluminum, which is much sturdier than the plastic most mfgs use. Knock those little adjustable solar panels around too much, and the connector tends to break, so the panel just flops loosely. Since these things are down around your ankles, hoses, feet, and tools WILL occasionally bump them around. I don't like the solar lights with the panel inset on the top that can't be adjusted...not as useful in any but the direct sun/all day locations. In general, if you can put in low-voltage lighting (the new stuff is much better than the old-style kits, and easier to install as well), do so. We did not, because in our situation, it would take a $2,000 electrical subpanel and another $1000 of labor and materials to light up our backyard. Instead, we installed 4 solar lampposts, one 12-LED solar garden lamp, 8 solar spotlights and six sets of 6-lite solar garden lights on short stakes. It isn't perfect--a flashlight helps on the shady paths--but it works pretty well for about $750. Some of the lights are going on four years old, but in general you should plan on no more than 3 years of use before a few will need replacement....See MoreLemurian Blue Granite and best lighting to show off opalescence
Comments (8)Actually, I love it so much I bought a bunch. I am doing it in the bathroom, the kitchen, art niche, and back of the fountain for our front entrance. Some areas have natural lighting but either way artificial will be important in the evening. If anyone has any indoor or outdoor lighting brands too you recommend I'd love to know what they are. Although, we are trying to avoid stuff from China when we can....See Morerustinj
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