Lunar lights and natural lighting cycle

CloruroDiSodio · 04/03/2009, 09:37 AM

Hi gang,

Quick question regarding the lunar LED lights. For these lunar lights (like Current USA carries), do they disrupt the natural lighting cycle or cause any stress to fish etc? If I time the lights to have actinics come on and turn off after the main lights (simulate dawn/dusk) would anything get screwed up if I add the lunar LEDs and turn those on at night periodically? I'd like to be able to see some of the "night life" without stressing anything out

thanks

kraze3 · 04/03/2009, 09:49 AM

The lunar lights will be fine. I have them, they run every night.

1DeR9_3Hy · 04/03/2009, 09:54 AM

What you described is the main purpose of night lights. Many people keep them on 24/7 to add shimmer and to view there tanks at night.

Anemone0524 · 04/03/2009, 10:34 AM

Some people have observed small increases in algae growth in the areas where the lunar lights are most intense. It all depends on how efficient your system is at removing algae growth.

The quick solution is to bring down Lunar Lights runtime to 2-4 hours.

WaterKeeper · 04/03/2009, 11:23 AM

Some people go to extraordinary lengths with their lighting. I have seen systems where a PC controls the moonlights to simulate moon stages. Supposedly that will get coral to spawn but for the life of me, I don't know why anyone would want that to happen. Talk about messed up water and a skimmer overload.

CloruroDiSodio · 04/03/2009, 01:42 PM

Great, thank you everyone for the replies!

THE ROOK · 04/03/2009, 02:03 PM

Mine run for a few hours after the actnics & come on 2 hours before the actnics in the morning. My tank still has 6-8 hours of dark depending on the sunrise.

boomer135 · 04/03/2009, 03:03 PM

Here ismy cycle for lights I Blues come on first then 20 min later whites come on

6 hours later whites go off and moon lights come on

30 min later blues go off

and the moons stay on for 2 hours then off to complete darkness

Gtstricky · 04/03/2009, 05:09 PM

Fish have small brains. The really could care less about lights as long as there are not blinded 24/7 by the sun impersonating glow tubes. Lunar lights on a cycle can trigger mating and other cyclical activities.

04/03/2009, 09:37 AM	#1
CloruroDiSodio Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: New York Posts: 597	Lunar lights and natural lighting cycle Hi gang, Quick question regarding the lunar LED lights. For these lunar lights (like Current USA carries), do they disrupt the natural lighting cycle or cause any stress to fish etc? If I time the lights to have actinics come on and turn off after the main lights (simulate dawn/dusk) would anything get screwed up if I add the lunar LEDs and turn those on at night periodically? I'd like to be able to see some of the "night life" without stressing anything out thanks

04/03/2009, 09:54 AM	#3
1DeR9_3Hy Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Posts: 2,575	What you described is the main purpose of night lights. Many people keep them on 24/7 to add shimmer and to view there tanks at night. __________________ I hope it never catches on, I like having the oldest tank on here and I don't have to worry about calcification, bio pellets, Vodka dosing, DSBs, Chaetomorpha (I don't even know what that is) Carbonite hardness and all of these other things many people worry about. If I had to think about all of that stuff I would get a stroke. My test kit came in a wooden box and the directions say to keep in a cool chariott. I throw some food in the tank, wave hello to the fish and go out with my wife and have a nice glass of merlot with dinner. Have a great day but most of all, have fun. -PaulB Current Tank Info: 27 Gallon DAS softy/fish reef

04/03/2009, 10:34 AM	#4
Anemone0524 Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: NoVA Posts: 434	Some people have observed small increases in algae growth in the areas where the lunar lights are most intense. It all depends on how efficient your system is at removing algae growth. The quick solution is to bring down Lunar Lights runtime to 2-4 hours. __________________ Aaron 150g rimless 60x30x20, ATI Sunpower x8, 2 48" Reefbrite Blue LED, MSX 200, Vortech MP40w x 2, BRS CA/ALK Dosers, Biopellets and GFO

04/03/2009, 11:23 AM	#5
WaterKeeper Bogus Information Expert Join Date: Oct 2000 Location: SW Ohio Posts: 16,147	Some people go to extraordinary lengths with their lighting. I have seen systems where a PC controls the moonlights to simulate moon stages. Supposedly that will get coral to spawn but for the life of me, I don't know why anyone would want that to happen. Talk about messed up water and a skimmer overload. __________________ "Leading the information hungry reefer down the road to starvation" Tom Current Tank Info: 130 Now out of service and a 29

04/03/2009, 09:49 AM	#2
kraze3 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: RI Posts: 2,373	The lunar lights will be fine. I have them, they run every night.

04/03/2009, 01:42 PM	#6
CloruroDiSodio Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: New York Posts: 597	Great, thank you everyone for the replies!

04/03/2009, 02:03 PM	#7
THE ROOK Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Springfield, MA Posts: 2,100	Mine run for a few hours after the actnics & come on 2 hours before the actnics in the morning. My tank still has 6-8 hours of dark depending on the sunrise.

04/03/2009, 03:03 PM	#8
boomer135 Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: st pete fl Posts: 193	Here ismy cycle for lights I Blues come on first then 20 min later whites come on 6 hours later whites go off and moon lights come on 30 min later blues go off and the moons stay on for 2 hours then off to complete darkness

04/03/2009, 05:09 PM	#9
Gtstricky Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Kennett Sq, PA Posts: 496	Fish have small brains. The really could care less about lights as long as there are not blinded 24/7 by the sun impersonating glow tubes. Lunar lights on a cycle can trigger mating and other cyclical activities.