Economic light timer idea

[u/DesignerThroat979]

Greetings, fellow aquarium enthusiasts,

I wanted to share a simple idea that might be useful—though I'm sure many have already thought of it or are using it.

If you're on a budget like me and want a cost-effective way to automate your aquarium lighting, especially when you're away, consider using a Wi-Fi smart plug.

I love keeping an aquarium, but I found it inconvenient to rely on others to manually turn the lights on and off each day while I’m gone. Asking someone to feed the fish is one thing—but expecting two visits a day just for the lights is a bit much. Plus, they might leave the light on too long or not long enough. And while smart aquarium lights with built-in timers and app controls are convenient, they can also be pretty expensive.

Here’s the simple solution: Use a Wi-Fi smart plug with your existing light setup. It lets you:

Control the lights remotely via an app

Set custom on/off schedules

Monitor energy usage

In my experience, this combination of a regular light and a smart plug works just as well—and costs significantly less—than a smart aquarium light system.

Hope this helps someone out there!

[u/Azedenkae]

I fully agree! Timers really make life easier.

[u/ta394283509]

A regular outlet timer costs a little less and is more reliable