Has anybody done a Dawn and Dusk simulation in an Eclipse 12 system. I really think it would be nice to have, but haven't figured out how these systems work, or if one can fit under and Eclipse 12 hood.
DIY Dawn and Dusk Simulating lighting
- Thread starter spudjnr123
- Start date
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Okay, can some one at least tell me how to create dawn and dusk simulation? What kind of bulbs are needed, what equipment, anything that would help.
Okay, can some one at least tell me how to create dawn and dusk simulation? What kind of bulbs are needed, what equipment, anything that would help.
Last edited:
mellowvision
Seafood Lover
I think you can pull it off with 3 timers and 3 bulbs, or with 2 bulbs a normal timer and a multi-time timer.
all you're doing is flippin switches.
all you're doing is flippin switches.
To simulate dawn and dusk you need at least two bulbs with two separate cords attached to timers. One timer is set to turn on and turn off slightly earlier than the second. For the best effect the bulbs should be slightly different colors (say 5000K and 10000K) to provide a unique color rendition for morning, day and evening. But I guess I'm not exactly sure what you're hoping to do.
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Mellow beat me to the submit button. But I'd say three timers is only necessary if you want to do an 'East-West' effect with the sunrise beginning on one side of the tank and the sunset ending on the other. It's definitely not necessary to pull the effect off in general.
7:00AM 5000K on
9:00AM 10000K on
7:00PM 10000K off
9:00PM 5000K off
--edit--
Mellow beat me to the submit button. But I'd say three timers is only necessary if you want to do an 'East-West' effect with the sunrise beginning on one side of the tank and the sunset ending on the other. It's definitely not necessary to pull the effect off in general.
7:00AM 5000K on
9:00AM 10000K on
7:00PM 10000K off
9:00PM 5000K off
Honestly, I just want my fish not freak out when I turn on the light. The current light in my Eclipse is so bright, that my fish scatter and hide when I turn on the light, granted they come out later, but they can't like having a bright light suddenly turned on. I've also heard that fish do "better" under dawn and dusk simulations. Basically, I want to have the best tank I can for my fish without breaking the bank. Second, The eclipse twelve has that odd shape to it, so it is hard to fit normal bulbs into the space left. Third, I've heard of bulbs that get progressively brighter, and then when shut off dim down slowly, I thought these would work, too, just trying to get a feel of what works best.
mellowvision
Seafood Lover
heheheheh..you can just flip 'em on....or flip 'em off 
How about adding some orange Christmas lights to give the dawn/dusk glow? If you want to do something kind of spectacular you might want to consider the aquascaping in your tank and put some rocks in it that have an orange in them...if you can choose lights for your dawn/dusk lights and position them correctly you might end up with an alpenglow effect. I think, though, you would have to have the lights shining from the front to achieve this effect.
How about adding some orange Christmas lights to give the dawn/dusk glow? If you want to do something kind of spectacular you might want to consider the aquascaping in your tank and put some rocks in it that have an orange in them...if you can choose lights for your dawn/dusk lights and position them correctly you might end up with an alpenglow effect. I think, though, you would have to have the lights shining from the front to achieve this effect.
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legendaryfrog
Tactical Refreshment Action
I forget how large eclipses are, but I think they're like 10 gallons or something. If so, dont expect to be able to fit any lights over the tank...I think you could get a bunch of christmas lights, or some kind of dim lights and have them above the tank and only turn em on 1 hour before their normal wake up/bedtime
legendaryfrog
Tactical Refreshment Action
In my 13g reef tank at my office, I have 4 10,000k LED bulbs, one blue LED buls, and a tiny red LED light. the red one turns on at 6:30, the blue at 7;00, 2 whites at 7:30, and the final 2 at 8;00. The system really works well.