Moonlights. Thinking About Them.

[lljdma06]

Hello everybody,

I recently added 5 Brochis splendens (I'd like one more, actually) to my 36g bowfront, and I am noticing a lot of activity for some time after the lights are out. I am thinking about buying some moonlights for this tank. What are you experiences with them? I'm guessing they won't effect the sleep pattern of diurnal fish species, but I'd really like to sometimes watch and see what my new catfish are up to. Besides, extra gadgets are always fun.

So, any ideas or recommendations? My pocket book is not deep by any means, so an affordable suggestion is always better.

llj

 

[sophos9]

Hi, check the link in my signature for moonlight pix, they cost approx £10 and look great.

 

[SuperColey1]

If youve got an old mobile phone charger, and some silicon, then all you need are cold cathode tubes. I have 2 in my hood, and they were £4.25 delivered off ebay, pull the power connector for cars, or PC off it then twist the cables to the charger cables, wrap the joints well in tape, then silicon the ends of the cold cathodes to the underside of the hood.

See in DIY section, Cold Cathode Moonlights thats what I used, the exact same kit.

Soon I will have timers to do

Moonlight
Moonlight + Tri Tube
Tri Tube + Daylight Tube
Moonlight + Tri Tube
Moonlight

To simulate the normal light fish would get (not exactly but better than Dark to 'Im blinded)

Cold Cathodes are in the middle

Andy

 

[sophos9]

Same ones as I have - 2 x 12inch reduced to 6v look great...

 

[lljdma06]

Whoa! I'll have to look at that DIY later, as my brain hurts too much now. I do like the look of them, though.

Question, can you get lights that time to the lunar cycle? Moonlight follows a pattern, roughly 28 days. I bet that must be expensive, however.

llj

 

[SuperColey1]

You can buy digital timers but I don't know what range they have. You can of course link it to software that is programmable, or like me buy 3 mechanical timers

1 for moonlights, 1 for pink Tri Tube and 1 for Daylight Tube, then set them up so :

Moonlight is on 12am to 1pm
Pink Tri is on 12pm to 1am
Daylight is on 1pm to 12am

i.e.
moonlight
sunrise
daylight
sunset
moonlight.

Not perfect and will be the same everyday

Other option is to place the tank in the window, have no lights, and let nature do the lighting for you. lol

 

[sophos9]

Question, can you get lights that time to the lunar cycle? Moonlight follows a pattern, roughly 28 days. I bet that must be expensive, however.

I doubt it, mine are just set on a timer so you do have a degree of control...