Moonlights: Benefitial or Aesthetic

[DawgDiggity]

I have just changed my light fixture and the new one currently has white lunar lights as opposed to the blue ones. The blue lights definitely put out more light, but the whites might be more realistic? Anybody got hard facts to the benefits of moon lights?

I have also read about the Aqua controller has a downloaded table to run your moon lights on the actual lunar cycle. How does this work exactly? Anyone with experience?

 

[Mikeyjer]

Corals spawn on moon cycle. I personally prefer blue over white. I've never done the moon cycle so I can't really give you much information there. I just have it on every night. Some of my fish are quite active under moon light.

 

[DMBillies]

I enjoy the more realistic looking aesthetic of the white lights. Blue moonlights really make your fluorescent corals pop though. I have been thinking about using a string or two of blue LED christmas lights (which I already know cause the corals to really fluoresce) to shine down through my reflectors and come on once my T5's are off. This would continue the dusk to dawn effect a step farther and would allow me to keep my dimmer white moonlights for once those go off.

From everything I have heard, it hasn't been possible to get coral to spawn without an accurate/natural moon cycle. I also haven't read anything about corals spawning in anything but the absolute best conditions in incredibly large tanks. So, I wouldn't get the moonlights assuming you'll be having corals spawn in no time. I haven't heard a whole lot of other real (i.e., documented) benefits of using moonlights.

The aquacontroller does have moon tables in them, but from everything I have read, the only way to get them to work properly with dimming functionality is to also buy the moonlight module. This takes up a valuable space on your controller and costs a decent amount (especially if you already have perfectly fine moonlights). Therefore, I just leave my moonlights on all the time. LEDs burn very little and I don't have the space to put them on the AC anyway.

 

[DawgDiggity]

Now would be the time for Brandon to chime in about Aquatronica's solution and price value benfits...

Thanks for the info Brian. That was my biggest question, you can easily turn the LED's off and on, but how do you simulate crescent moon full moon back to new moon through the cycles. Evidentally it requires CA$HMONEY. Brian, do you own the jr, II or III controller?

I now have 4 white LED's in my new Nova fixture. They seem to be more realistic, but I miss my corals flouresceing at night. I also have 2 sets of the blue LED's from a previous fresh water tank that I will install on my 125g setup. Will see how this combo works.

 

[DawgDiggity]

Great Review of the Neptune system:
http://www.reefs.org/library/article/neptune_ac2.html

 

[DawgDiggity]

Brian,
Still not completely clear on the module upgrade needed for a AquaController to dim LED's to a moon cycle.

 

[DMBillies]

This is what you need if you want the dimmable LEDs for a Neptune controller (costs about $80):

http://www.neptunesys.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=24&Itemid=40

I have the Jr. I am happy with it so far. My only grief is that I don't have enough controllable outlets (a DC8 and a socket expansion). Even if I got a DC4, I can expand it past 12 outlets. I didn't think this was a problem until I started looking at all of the things I'd LIKE to control with it (e.g., I have 3 different sets of fans that I'd prefer to control separately, but have had to put them together). I still couldn't justify/afford the upgrade to a 3 and the DC8's that would have to go with it... but you should realistically assess what you need to control, what you might need to control in the future, and what you can afford/justify as you select a brand/model.

 

[NeveSSL]

I would definitely recommend the ACIII (they have come down quite a bit) or an Aquatronica. The Aquatronicas are expensive, BUT they are VERY expandable and have great customer service. They actually replaced mine for free even though it 4 years out of warranty.

The AC Jrs. are great, but like Brian said they're not super expandable. Plus with the ACIIIs and Aquatronicas, you can control more than one tank, which is nice.

All you gotta do is sell your Vortec and you're in great shape! :lol:

Also, FWIW, there will most likely be a presentation on aquarium controllers coming to an MTRC meeting near you in the future. Not completely sure when, but probably not too terribly long from now.

Brandon

 

[DawgDiggity]

So... I'm gonna ask you to throw a number out there. Doesn't mean I'm asking you to commit, just a simple number that your comfortable with... When you say expensive, Just How many bones we talking about for a fully operational Aquatronica System??

Hey Brian, did you check out that review link I had in my earlier post. The guy said he had saved money by purchasing X10 compatible, the program language used by Neptune, components(timers, delays, ...) for next to nothing from a referred website. Sounds like the guy is some kind of programmer. Didn't know if this was of interest to you, and had tried out some of those aftermarket components.

I hope Carlos isn't watching me...:bigeyes: ...

uuhhhh, hi big brother....:twitch:

 

[NeveSSL]

X10 isn't a programming language FWIW. Its an interface system. I wouldn't worry that harmony remote, bro. Not for aquariums, anyway. Unless it was another post I missed.

The basic Aquatronica setup is $500. They did have some refurbished units not too long ago for a good price. Contact Will at Aquarium Obsessed... or you can check in their forum here on RC.

http://www.aquariumobsessed.com/



Hope this helps, man. Just FWIW, the ACIII is a great option as well.

Brandon