Real time photo period

[DonW]

I'm considering a real time photo period using a outdoor photocell. Anyone see a problem that this may cause.

Don

 

[-=dieseldave=-]

The varying amount of sun light we get here may be an issue (really long summer days and short winters). I don’t think it would be very natural for tropical speices unless it a cold water tank region specific.

 

[keene1981]

sound's cool

 

[Krish]

Sounds like a cool idea Don...Nothing like simulating the real thing. Look at the annimation on Sherman's post here. Very cool

http://www.reeffrontiers.com/forums/showthread.php?t=14453&page=13

 

[DonW]

Sounds like a cool idea Don...Nothing like simulating the real thing. Look at the annimation on Sherman's post here. Very cool

http://www.reeffrontiers.com/forums/showthread.php?t=14453&page=13

I dont know. Its really not meant to accomplish anything other than my viewing pleasure. Since my schedule pretty much matches that of the sun but I didnt think about the long summer days.

Don

 

[Jumpincactus]

I would agree with the notion hat we are re-creating the natural reef systems that our critters come from.I cannot remember of hearing of any tropic coral reefs way up here in the PNW I think you would have troubles with any SPS or LPS you may be keeping.Photoperiod would be inadequete

 

[DonW]

I would agree with the notion hat we are re-creating the natural reef systems that our critters come from.I cannot remember of hearing of any tropic coral reefs way up here in the PNW I think you would have troubles with any SPS or LPS you may be keeping.Photoperiod would be inadequete

Do we have days with less than 8hrs of daylight??

Don

 

[jake65]

I'd like to see that link to Shermans post again but its not working

 

[Jumpincactus]

Would the photocell switch on when it was real stormy and cloudy? If so then I guess it might work.

 

[DonW]

Would the photocell switch on when it was real stormy and cloudy? If so then I guess it might work.

Mine would it measures lux starting at 0. My thinking was to have it turn on with the sun and maybe run for a max of 11 hrs. Actually I was just trying to find a use for the spare photocell. Right now its written in the code to change as winter gets closer but the cell would eliminate alot of code. But again, its just so I get more time to see the tank with the lights on.

Don

 

[kevinpo]

Hi Don,
I don't see much problem in the winter but you would have to make some adjustment for the long summer days. In Spokane the longest day is 15h and 56min. Seattle should be close to that and I think that would be too long for halides. For a total photo period it would be OK but I don't like to run my halides for more than 10-11 hours. If you ran some sunrise/sunset actinic type bulbs for 1.5 hours on each end of a 10-11 hour halide photo period that would give you 13-14 hours total. I personally run my halides for 8-9 depending on the tank. I did some testing with the halides photo period a few years ago and found that at less than 8 hours some of my blue tip Acropora corals lost their blue tips. At 8 hours they came back in about 3 weeks. There was no change up to 11 hours in coloration or coral growth rate. Most of the corals LPS/SPS maintained their color at 8 hours but slightly darkened.

Regards,
Kevin

 

[DonW]

Thanks Kevin. Thats pretty much what I thought. I can always set it to kill the lights at 10 or eleven hours. Its really the morning I'm after anyways.

Don