Moonphase LED Lighting Duration

[Antony®]

Hello all,
I have a Coralife Advanced tank mount HQI lamp with a 14K bulb, and a R2 Solutions Moonlight LED setup controlled by the R2 Moonlight moonphase controller.
The question is, using the main lamp during daylight hours(10AM to 7PM), what hours should the moonlight lighting be used for the most natural effect? Should they overlap from the off time of the main lamp until the main comes on again, or for only a few hours at night? Now I have the LEDs coming on from 6:58PM to 3AM. Is it Science or just something that makes the tank look cool at night?
Also, am I running the main lamp for too long during the day?
I'm sure there will be people that will say to buy more /different lighting, but thanks, I'll just make the best of what I have.

[Trickster]

I just run my moon til midnight in case i'm up. 9hr photo period on mh same as mine for last 2 yrs anyway. Just switched mh's to 7hr due to bulb replacement.

[charlie]

Unless you exactly replicate the moon phases, they are for aesthetic values only.
It is hard to say whether or not you are running your lights the correct time, because you didn't tell us if you had any other type of supplementation. If you could give us a few more facts about your tank, it would definitely help.

[Antony®]

Unless you exactly replicate the moon phases, they are for aesthetic values only.
It is hard to say whether or not you are running your lights the correct time, because you didn't tell us if you had any other type of supplementation. If you could give us a few more facts about your tank, it would definitely help.

Well, I described exactly what I had, and how i use it. I don't have anything more(supplementation), so i don't understand what you mean by more facts. What other factors do you need to know? The moonphase controller is supposed to replicate correct phases of the moon, so....

[charlie]

Facts about your tank, meaning size of the tank, etc.
I am still of the opinion that they are for looks only. JMHO.

[Antony®]

It's a frag style open top tank, 2'x2'x1' high. The LED module is attached to the lamp so it is almost centered over the water. The moonphase schedule seems to be pretty accurate, so I think the natural science part is correct. The question is how long during the night is the moon actually "on" in real life, so I can get an idea of the hours of the night that I should be using it(to benefit the tank, more than me if possible).

[charlie]

Are you planning on trying to have clams spawn??

Where I am at, the moonlight lasts about 4-5 hours, when it is full. Have you done any reading on these at all. I have never used moonlights, because of what I have read, that is why my opinion is what it is.

[Nemo Keeper]

Hey Charlie, what have you read ab out moonlights? I was thinking about installing somebutnow I'm curious to know some of the pros and cons.

[charlie]

Most of what I have read is that they are really nice for loking at the tank at night. I know some folks that have run them for a couple of years, and never once had a clam or anything else for that matter, spawn because of the moonlights. Most of the time the spawning events were stress induced. Some people, I think Kevinpo is one, had a clam spawn in his system, and that was during the daytime?????
They do not really bother anything by being on, therefore the nightime watching can be rather fun. I had them on my 300 for about 2 months way back when, and just decided to remove them, I am never up at that time anyways!!!

[Nemo Keeper]

Oh,OK, I thought you had heard some bad things about them. Speaking of clams, are there any special considerations for keeping them alive in a tank, Wifee want one in the tank but i've never had one

[charlie]

Oh,OK, I thought you had heard some bad things about them. Speaking of clams, are there any special considerations for keeping them alive in a tank, Wifee want one in the tank but i've never had one

I really think that one should only put one in a tank that has been established for at least 6 months. Considering the lighting situation that you have, I would definitely hold off until you get your larger tank established and fully lit. I hope you understand where I am coming from on this.

[Nemo Keeper]

Of course, First off I don't want to "waste" money and second I don't want to get something only to kill it. My tank has been running for about 10 years but the lights are new. But I definitley will take your advice andwait until my bigger tank is set up. I have just finished buying the last few things I need to build the stand now its time to start putting it together so it'll be a while. I guess wifee will just have to wait...LOL

[charlie]

You obviously need to start a "build thread". I am sorry , I didn't know your system had been up that long. I guess I should start paying more attention, huh?????

[Nemo Keeper]

LOL!!!! , once I get my garage set up and everything layed out I am going to start that thread and take it step by step. BUt I will def have pics up once I start

[charlie]

LOL!!!! , once I get my garage set up and everything layed out I am going to start that thread and take it step by step. BUt I will def have pics up once I start

I promise to pay more attention this time

[Nemo Keeper]

OK, I'll hold you to that!!!!

[charlie]

OK, I'll hold you to that!!!!

You got it!!

[Ninong]

Hello all,

Hello, Antony®,

The question is, using the main lamp during daylight hours(10AM to 7PM), what hours should the moonlight lighting be used for the most natural effect?

That's an excellent question, but first I had to go to the manufacturer's website to learn the capabilities of your R2 Moonlight Controller.

The R2 Moonlight Controller allows the user to set there R2 Moonlight to automatically change brightness according to the phases of the moon! A manual mode and fixed mode are also possible. The R2 Moonlight Controller works with any of the R2 Moonlights to create the most complete moonlighting solution available!

Specifications

• Works with all R2 Moonlights
• Intelligent CPU based Design
• 8 Ft Pass through Cable Included
• Three Great Modes
• *Only works with the R2 Moonlights, uses the power supply included with the R2 Moonlights

Based on the information provided, and the picture of the controller, it appears that this controller is capable of five different intensity settings to replicate moonlight intensity during the various phases of the moon. If you look at the picture of the controller, it looks like there is a setting for new moon (no light at all), and then a setting for first quarter, then a half moon setting, a three-quarter moon setting and a full moon setting.

I haven't been able to determine from the manufacturer's website just how accurate their automatic program is as far as the exact time from one full moon to the next. The correct interval is 29.53 Earth days. I suspect that their program is set for either 29 or 30 days and not 29.53 days.

This controller is better than nothing at all but it does not in any way match the more expensive moonlight controllers that actually adjust intensity on a daily basis and change the on and off times to exactly match natural moonrise and moonset. As I'm sure you already know, the moon is often in the sky when the sun is in the sky and the length of time between moonrise and moonset varies daily.

The more expensive controllers are able to not only vary the intensity of the moonlight to match natural phases of the moon but they also turn the moonlight on and off to exactly match moonrise and moonset.

Wikipedia has some very basic information on moon phases.

The U.S. Navy has an excellent website with all sorts of valuable astronomical data, including sunrise/sunset and moonrise/moonset tables for the entire year. If you were extremely gung-ho and wanted to have your controller replicate moonrise and moonset to match natural conditions, then those charts would tell you how to set your timer each day to come on and go off in accordance with natural conditions.

That may be more than you're interested in doing. Or, maybe not; it's up to you. The really expensive computer controllers ($350+) do that automatically.

Should they overlap from the off time of the main lamp until the main comes on again, or for only a few hours at night? Now I have the LEDs coming on from 6:58PM to 3AM. Is it Science or just something that makes the tank look cool at night?

Most "moonlights" are just something for the amusement of the human viewers and do not in any way replicate natural conditions. It's certainly not natural to have a full moon shining down on the tank every night of the month and yet that is exactly what most cheapy moonlights do. It must confuse the hell out of the corals and other animals whose reproductive systems are naturally in synch with changes in moonlight -- as well as changes in the tides and the temperature of the ocean water.

The expensive computer controllers are able to replicate natural moonlight changes and seasonal water temperature changes. And Tunze has controllers that are capable of replicating -- to a certain extent -- natural tides. That Tunze setup, including the four powerheads, will set you back about $1,300 or so. The best Giesemann light fixtures capable of replicating the phases of the moon, including moonrise and moonset, and intensity of the main lights to replicate cloud conditions, will set you back well over $3,000 for the 48" model, even more for the 72" model. They don't offer that fixture in anything smaller than the 120cm (48") length; it's only available in 4', 5' and 6' lengths.

Also, am I running the main lamp for too long during the day?

I would run the main lamp for 11 or 12 hrs/day. As far as your moonlight is concerned, if you aren't up to resetting the timer every day, then I would set it to come on five minutes before your main lights go of and go off 4-1/2 hours later.

If you have access to a cheapy luxmeter (~$95) with an underwater probe, you could measure the intensity of the moonlight striking your corals at the full moon setting. If it measures 200 lux, then you are closely matching natural full moon intensity. Most so-called moonlights are too bright.

I did more than one post in this forum over the years where I included much more detailed information on the variations in intensity needed to match natural moon phases but I'm not in the mood to try to find them right this minute. In any case, you are limited to the capabilities of your controller, which are very nice compared to nothing at all. The only thing you are lacking is a setting to have the moonlight come on and go off at the proper times.

I hope this answers all of your questions. If not, then just ask.

Good luck!

[Bigred0942]

Is there anything wrong with having moon LEDs on 24/7

[Ninong]

Is there anything wrong with having moon LEDs on 24/7

That would be unnatural. How much confusion it might cause would depend on the intensity of the "moonlights."

"Moonlights" that do not come on and go off in synch with natural moonrise and moonset and do not vary in intensity to match natural conditions are nothing more than "nightlights" for the amusement of the human viewers.

Many of those "moonlights" are too bright -- even brighter than a full moon.