Lighting cycle/power strip configuration

Yash

Yash

Trance Addict
Nov 2, 2006
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Knoxville, TN
I just wanted to see how you folks have your lights configured for the day-night cycle cos I can't seem to achieve what I'm trying to without having a whole host of power strips. Here's what I currently have an what I'm trying to achieve:

I'm currently running a Coralife Deluxe Lunar light CF fixture which has one daylight bulb, one actinic bulb, and then the lunar lights. As far as the power strips go, I have the Coralife Digital Power Center, which has two daytime outlets and two nighttime outlets.

I'd like to get the setup to configured such that my actinics come on an hour before the daylights and stay on an hour after the daylights go off (and when the lunars come on). I don't believe the power strip will currently let me have a different time cycle for each of the daytime outlets (or if it does, I'm too stupid to figure it out LOL). The strip does have 7 time cycle settings but I would imagine that once again, each cycle will govern BOTH the daytime cycles?

So, my only other option would be to add one of those little timer gadgets to my daylight cord and stagger the time cycle on that by an +/- one hour.

How do you folks have your lights set up? Am I not doing something that is painfully simple, but not obvious to me?

Thanks much!!
Yash
 
Why dont you just turn them on and off yourself, your trying to bring rocket science to the world of turning lights on and off. Thx and try not to make things too complicated. Keep it simple get it right
 
Well ... you might be home all day to turn lights on and off as and when you please, but I leave home at 6am and am not back until 8pm sometimes ... I sure as heck don't want the lights on for 14 hours a day!!
If you don't have anything constructive to say, don't say anything at all!
 
Hey there good buddy....long time no speak...well, each on their own seperate timers...My Actinics come on at 8am till 12...Then Halides on from 11:30am till 5pm, actinics back on at 4:30pm till 9pm...then if i want to view the tank after that, i use a moonlight kit...

Victorio...Its nothing to do with bringing rocket science to the lightwork...What it boils down to is getting your tanks inhabitants into a lighting routine that is contant ( give or take a little ) and replicates what the fish and corals recieve when out in their natural habitat...

If this hobby is part of your life, you will put as much "Rocket Science" into it as you possibly can. They did not ask to be removed from the ocean, so its down to us to replicate as best we can where they come from. This does not just relate to lighting, look at all the science parts that govern other areas of the fish tank...the water quality via RO, dosing calcium, filtration etc etc..Its a scientific hobby....

Niko
 
Hey there Niko!

Yeah ... its been a while ... works been real busy .... thanks for your reply, and the ability to explain the "rocket science" part of the hobby better than me LOL!! ... I was just a little ticked off by that reply.

So, you basically have 3 timers for your 3 lights (actinice, MH, moonlights) correct? I was hoping to avoid that and save space by getting the day-night cycle power strip but it doesn't seem like that's gonna be working too well. Looks like I might have to get a couple of timers myself.

Hows your tank shaping up? I see you're getting the plumbing sorted now eh? Looking forward to seeing some more pictures!

Cheers mate!
Yash
 
ha ha ha ha....just wanted to make the science bit more apparent to others....

I only use two timers, one for the actinics and one for the halides...The moon light is a manually switch as i only use it for my viewing pleasure...

Yeah, tanks coming on well..the ruddy supplier let me down a little though. Did not send enough tank bulkheads and when the sump return pump came, there was nothing in the box but the pump....no connectors, no mounting plate or rubber sucker feet...so i cant even plumb it in yet..about as much use as t*ts on fish really...but, i have patience......HONESTLY.......

As soon as i have done something worth photographing, it will get posted....

Niko
 
Well that blows! But yeah, knowing the patience you've had through this entire thing, I'm sure you'll be fine. I got a new camera myself yesterday so I'm going to be clicking away in the coming days ... I'll have some new pictures up shortly!

Cheers!
Yash
 
Hi Yash. I tried a similar thing to what you're talking about and I had to break down and buy a different powerstrip. This is the original one I had (the first one in the link):

http://www.marinedepot.com/aquarium...r_center_day_night_wavemaker_timer.asp?CartId=

With this one you could only have the lights on during separate times (more than one plug). On the same link, I ended up buying the 3rd one down from my LFS.

With this strip, I have the actinics come on an hour before the halides and off an hour after halides. When the halides go off, I have my refugium lights go on (I don't use the lunars on a timer, but if you don't have a refugium you could have them set to go on at night).

Victorio said:
Why dont you just turn them on and off yourself, your trying to bring rocket science to the world of turning lights on and off. Thx and try not to make things too complicated. Keep it simple get it right
Click to expand...

When I first started out, I didn't see the need for timers either. It's definitely not rocket science but it sure makes life easier. I'm not home each day every day. So I would have to go in the fish room 6 separate times (specific times mind you) to accurately set my lights to the recommended intervals. Why do I need to keep track of this when a simple timer will do it for me? Why explain this to others if I'm away, when a simple timer will do it for me? No one should have to plan their life around aquarium lights and I'm not about to start.
 
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