Moon lights on Aquacontroller

[Aquaduck]

I just connected half a strip of blue rope lights that I hung in my canopy to the lamp dimmer module last night and I am curious as to how the intensity is changed based on the lunar cycle.

Does the lamp module get commands from the Aquacontroller to set intensity of the moonlight based on the "fullness" of the moon for that calendar day. For example, tonight the moon should be 2/3 full. Does this mean when the controller looks up the moon rise time in it's memory, that the lamp will light to 2/3 brightness immediatly at moon rise and shut off immediately at moon set? Or does the controller ramp up the brightness gradually to the correct intensity of the moon based on the moon cycle.

Also how many different intensity levels are used between new moon and full moon?

BTW this looks really cool! Last night I looked at the tank at midnight to see a very subtle (had to let my eyes adjust) and realistic looking moonlit reef.

 

[kattner]

Yes the aquacontroller will vary the intensity. For this to work you need a lamp module and incandescent lighting (LED moon lights don't work well with respect to the varying intensity). The aquacontroller has a season table that identifies the moonrise and moonset times and determines the intensity depending on the phase of the moon. It is described in the season table section of your aquacontroller manual.

 

[clp]

There are 16 levels of intensity between New & Full moon. The intensity level for any given day is the same. At moonrise the intensity is quickly adjusted to the right level, and at moonset the light is turned off immediately.

Curt

 

[Aquaduck]

Thanks Curt. That's what I wanted to know.

 

[AcroSteve]

How can you check what the intensity value is for a particular day?

 

[clp]

On the 3 Pro you can look at the season table web page.

Curt

 

[AcroSteve]

Any way to check on the previous models?

 

[clp]

On the AquaPro you can use the serial port 't' command. Enter the numeric month followed by t. Not implemented on the Aqua 2.

Curt

 

[Dyceskynes]

What type of incandescent lighting is recommended for this? Any examples?

 

[Aquaduck]

I'm using Noma blue rope lights. I cut the strip in half otherwise it would have been too bright.

ROPE LIGHT

You can also use those blue party light bulbs but I think they would be too bright.

I find that a single run from one end of the tank to the other with blue rope light is just the right amount of light at full moon.

 

[Dyceskynes]

Those are LEDs though correct, I thought they did not work correctly with them?

 

[Aquaduck]

Rope lights are tiny incandescent lamps.

You are right LED's cannot be used with the dimmer module.

 

[clp]

Most use less than 10W blue or white incandescent bulbs. I don't think the corals are too particular about the spectrum to induce spawning. So it is more if user preference about the type of of incandescent bulb to use. Keep in mind that the moon is about 1000 times less intense than full sun. So if you have 1000W of light over your tank the full moon intensity should be about 1 Watt to be at the same ratio as in nature.

Curt

 

[Aquaduck]

If I remember, the rope lights are rated at 20 watts and I am using less than half the string. About 8 watts. If I had anything less than that it would be very difficult so see any moonlight effect. I'll try and get a "night" shot tonight. There should be nearly a full moon tonight.

 

[clp]

It is actually the PAR that has 1000:1 ratio between full sun to full moon. The efficiencies of lights is quite varied, so it is probably not too accurate to compare wattages. From tanks and photos I've seen, people tend to overlight the moon cycle. Your 8 Watt rope light may be the right intensity.

Curt

 

[Dyceskynes]

I have a rope light but don't really want to cut it up to fit over a tiny 7 gallon tank lol. But if I can't find anything else I will give it a shot.

 

[Reeftoker]

I use two 25 watt bule party lights on a manual dimmer. I adjusted the dimmer to the best setting to simulate a full moon. Now I just let the AC adjust it up and down from there. Grad total about 15.00 in the moon light set up.

 

[akacable]

Aquaduck.
How do you like those rope lights so far? Does the lamp module that you are using vary the intensity? I am thinking of doing the same. Are you getting the ripple lines from the moonlights? Anything you would do differently?

John. TIA

 

[Aquaduck]

Yes the lamp module varies the intensity of the light. The effect is very realistic although with the rope light there is no shimmer effect due to the many little lights inside the tube. You need a point source lamp (single lamp) for shimmer lines. If you were to use a low wattage night light with a blue christmas tree lamp you would get the effect. I might try this as an experiment to see how it compares to the rope light.

 

[akacable]

Psst....dc8 secret

Psst....dc8 secret

I have my incandescent rope light plugged into outlet 8 of the DC8. So far so good. We shall see tonight. Let me know how your experiment goes with the little nightlight Aquaduck.

The last outlet WILL vary the intensity of light without having to use a lamp module. Very Cool!

John. TIA
The AC is WORTH EVERY PENNY!