And now it's moonlight...

[lanman]

I have, on my 24-gallon tank, a Metal Halide light fixture, with 6 blue lights (LED), and 6 white lights (LED). When I purchased it - and was BRAND new to the hobby - I was told to run the blue lights for an hour or two, then run the halide for about 9 hours, then the blue lights (LED's) for an hour or two, then nothing. Which is more or less what I have been doing. And my tank is doing great.

 

But enter the white lights (LED's)... when should I have those on? Are those 'moonlights'?? Should I run them all night, except when there's a new moon??

 

And was I told correctly on the blue lights (LED's)?? Or do they have any effect at all, other than to make the ricordia glow in the dark?

 

bob

Edited February 25, 2007 by lanman

[dhoch]

6 blue lights and 6 white lights?

 

I'm a little confused... can you point us to the fixture you are using?

 

Basically though I would do

 

Blue lights -> Blue lights + White lights -> Blue lights + White lights + Halide -> Blue Lights + White Lights -> Blue lights

 

That type of cycle will simulate the daylight increasing through the day and then decreaseing through the evening.

 

I would do the whole cycle ~10-12 hours and 1/2-2 hours between the cycles going up and down and ~6-9 hours of all lights on

 

Dave

[rsaavedra]

6 blue lights and 6 white lights?

 

I'm a little confused... can you point us to the fixture you are using?

 

Basically though I would do

 

Blue lights -> Blue lights + White lights -> Blue lights + White lights + Halide -> Blue Lights + White Lights -> Blue lights

 

That type of cycle will simulate the daylight increasing through the day and then decreaseing through the evening.

 

I would do the whole cycle ~10-12 hours and 1/2-2 hours between the cycles going up and down and ~6-9 hours of all lights on

 

Dave

 

Dave it sounds like what he is describing is the Current USA Fixtures (i.e. SunPods)

[lanman]

Dave it sounds like what he is describing is the Current USA Fixtures (i.e. SunPods)

 

Sorry - I was in a hurry and didn't proof my post - yes, current sunpod - LED's not lights... LED's...

 

6 little white ones and 6 little blue ones, with a MH in the middle.

 

Original post edited.

 

bob

Edited February 25, 2007 by lanman

[Jager]

the mixture of blue and white leds is to attempt to recreate the "true" spectrum of moonlight. the blue wavelengths by themselves are not always close so mixing them is "supposed" to help. to save you a headache just turn the blues on for moonlights then the blues and whites for morning then the MH then blue and whites then back to just blues then off.

 

or just play with the scheme so you like it. the leds are so weak they are really not doing anythign for the tanks inhabitants its more for your pleasure.

[lanman]

the mixture of blue and white leds is to attempt to recreate the "true" spectrum of moonlight. the blue wavelengths by themselves are not always close so mixing them is "supposed" to help. to save you a headache just turn the blues on for moonlights then the blues and whites for morning then the MH then blue and whites then back to just blues then off.

 

or just play with the scheme so you like it. the leds are so weak they are really not doing anythign for the tanks inhabitants its more for your pleasure.

 

Ah - that I was wondering about; if they really have any effect on the animals. Apparently not. So I won't worry about it. It doesn't replace actinics.

 

bob