Questions about light contorlers

Salty Brother · 07/07/2007, 08:33 PM

Hello,
I think the next major upgrade that Im going to get for my tank is going to be a light contoler. But the thing is I have no clue about anything about them. I want to get one that just basically controls my lights, and it also dims on and off the halide and actinics, so it doesn't just turn on, it gets slowly brighter and brighter, and visa versa. So I need to know your suggestions for brands, and where to buy them. Any help is greatly appreciated.
Thanks,
Patrick

snulma1 · 07/08/2007, 06:52 AM

There are ballasts that are dimmable for your MH, however they are manually controlled, with a dial, so there is no way to have a controller do it! Plus like Pmolan said, the halides have to warm up so its not really worth dimming.

For your PC/actinics. If you have seperate power to each bulb, you can set it to turn each one on in 5-10 min increments so that way its not such a big shock.

But ya, pick up a Reefkeeper or a Aquacontroller! So worth the investment!

Salty Brother · 07/08/2007, 06:56 AM

bump

Roy G. Biv · 07/08/2007, 07:10 AM

Halides you cant just dim off. They will slowly turn on though as they warm up. I use an aquacontroller. You can set timers, simulate weather, mimic sun/moon cycle. The moonlights are dimable provided they are compatable. You can control everything from your laptop

Once you buy thiss you are going to be hooked.

Salty Brother · 07/08/2007, 08:15 AM

ok that sounds good, i would like a natural moon cycle. where should i get an aqua controler?

07/07/2007, 08:33 PM	#1
Salty Brother Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Madison, WI Posts: 1,119	Questions about light contorlers Hello, I think the next major upgrade that Im going to get for my tank is going to be a light contoler. But the thing is I have no clue about anything about them. I want to get one that just basically controls my lights, and it also dims on and off the halide and actinics, so it doesn't just turn on, it gets slowly brighter and brighter, and visa versa. So I need to know your suggestions for brands, and where to buy them. Any help is greatly appreciated. Thanks, Patrick

07/08/2007, 06:52 AM	#2
snulma1 Registered Member Join Date: May 2005 Location: New York, NY Posts: 2,281	There are ballasts that are dimmable for your MH, however they are manually controlled, with a dial, so there is no way to have a controller do it! Plus like Pmolan said, the halides have to warm up so its not really worth dimming. For your PC/actinics. If you have seperate power to each bulb, you can set it to turn each one on in 5-10 min increments so that way its not such a big shock. But ya, pick up a Reefkeeper or a Aquacontroller! So worth the investment!

07/08/2007, 06:56 AM	#3
Salty Brother Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Madison, WI Posts: 1,119	bump

07/08/2007, 07:10 AM	#4
Roy G. Biv Premium Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: New Jersey Posts: 3,646	Halides you cant just dim off. They will slowly turn on though as they warm up. I use an aquacontroller. You can set timers, simulate weather, mimic sun/moon cycle. The moonlights are dimable provided they are compatable. You can control everything from your laptop Once you buy thiss you are going to be hooked.

07/08/2007, 08:15 AM	#5
Salty Brother Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Madison, WI Posts: 1,119	ok that sounds good, i would like a natural moon cycle. where should i get an aqua controler?