Rainy Days and Cloudy Days . . .

[BigAl2007]

Ok here's my set-up:

4x54w T5 (Non Dimmable)
2x150w MH (non Dimmable)
1x Simu-L stick (Sunrise, Moon, Storm)

PII+ FW: 5.03a

White Simu Illum #1
Red Simu Illum #2
T5's Illum #3
MH's Illum #4

Only my Simu-Stick is "Dimmable" so I'm wondering:

1. Is there any "Advantage" to activating Rainy Days & Clouds in the Controller if my lights aren't dimmable?
   
2. Does this function just dim the lights or turn them OFF?
   
3. If it turns them off how is the OFF time controlled? I don't want the MH or T5's flickering off & on every few minutes.

Under Rainy Days:
Darkening % - Is that how much it's darkened as in 100% would be total darkening and 0% is NO darkening?

As far as Clouds go . . is that a feature that's really designed full dimmable units so you can dim "across the tank" simulating a cloud passing by? Any reason I would check that if I don't have dimmable lights?

 

[BigAl2007]

Got my answer(s) and it's pretty much a no-go for the above options without dimmable lamps.

Oh well

 

[AQD_ottawa]

sorry missed this one.

yes you need dimmable, but there are some huge options coming out shortly.

One thing I would say is that having the option for storm effect (lightening) is one of the biggest benefits of Profilux. I know some may think it spooks fish, but this is one huge uneducated myth, in fact the opposite happens, fish come out to feed and the critters liven up, if you have not seen it in action in a live reef enviroment I can understand this myth, but seeing is believing. I have been using this mode for over 3 years in total both in the UK and here and it has a positive natural benefit.

ProfiLux has a unique way of modulating a natural bio rythmn with weather paterns, so if you can get a dimmable option go for it.

Progressive reef will have dimmable T5 ballasts in all wattages shortly and we are working on various LED distributions right now as we expand massively this fall.

 

[BigAl2007]

My next lighting system will be FULLY dimmable but I'm currently "stuck" with the fixture I have. It's an Outer Orbit 48", 4x54W T5, 2x150w MH! Next system will be all LED or all T5 or combination of those two. All will be controllable!

Michael I totally agree about the lightning. That's a HUMAN response not an aquatic one. To them it's just mild flashes of light and nothing like what we see.

I just got my Simu-Spot in the mail today so tonight I'll be hooking it up.

Do I hook it up in the place of my Simu-stick, program it and THEN put them both on a splitter? Or just install the splitter and let it go?

 

[AQD_ottawa]

you can install them first or after makes no difference, the control is stored in the ProfiLux