From Dusk to Dawn

[kube]

I recently upgraded my lights to a retro kit, 4 T5 lights with individual reflectors over driven with an icecap ballast. All I gotta say now is the sand GLOWS! 55gal Tank
To my question I use to have a T5 fixture that had the moon lights and allowed me to have a dawn and dusk effect in the tank, how important is this to fish, coral, anemones? I liked the visual effect of it, but what I like is not necessarily doing the fish any good. I'm not opposed to picking up another T5HO ballast and wiring the Icecap for 3 lights and have the second ballast power one light to achieve this.
What about moonlights good for the viewer but what about the inhabitants in the tank?

 

[ibew41]

by moon lights are they leds?

 

[kube]

yes I use to have 4 leds in the fixture it gave the night a nice shimmer effect at night

 

[robertmathern]

check sleze bay they have them for about 30 bucks. Its a diy retro fit like the ice cap

 

[kube]

i guess what i am trying to say is, are the beneficial to the inhabitants in our tank. I know I can get them and put them in, I wont to know if it benefits them to have say one of your bulbs come on an hour before and an hour after your daylights come on and off and the benefits of moonlights?

 

[gmr48]

i keep my moon lights on 24/7

 

[wangotango]

The only benefit I see is not blasting fish with the full intensity of the light right away when your T5 turn on. That's not too too important though.
-Justin

 

[braydonosu]

I'm pretty sure that there has been research done that has shown moon lite led's and actinic dusk/dawn times to be beneficial to corals. Something to do with their natural spawning happening at night and the led's simulate nite time on the reef. I'm not 100% on this - i just know that i have read about the benefits in some tropical reef mag.

 

[kube]

Yeah, I know i will add them eventually, thanks for the input guys, Any one know the model of the fulham workhorse ballast for T5HO that will drive 2 or 1 bulb configurations? I'm lost at looking at there cite for info, any other decent yet inexpensive ballasts that will do one or two bulb configurations?

 

[cranberry]

My fuzzy dwarf lionfish jumped out of the tank twice when the lights came on full blast. He clunked his head a kajillion.