Lunar Cycle....
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Crabs McJones
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I've thought about it, but decided against it. No real benefit in my eye. Looks cool but I like to give the fish and coral a total darkness period.
I have the option on my lights to do it. But i like sleeping lol.
The only reason i would try would be to try to mimic a broadcast spawning event.
There are other creatures that use lunar cues as well, like blue claw crabs.
But there are also temperature cues. Something ill mess with when my fish room isnt my bedroom lol.
The only reason i would try would be to try to mimic a broadcast spawning event.
There are other creatures that use lunar cues as well, like blue claw crabs.
But there are also temperature cues. Something ill mess with when my fish room isnt my bedroom lol.
ca1ore
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I use the Apex LSM to mimic the normal cycle of the moon. I never used any of the moon features on my other fixtures, mostly because they don't follow the natural cycle and were too bright.
I’ve not seen nor read any benifit to it scientifically.
Coral spawning experiments don’t support the theory.
Coral spawning experiments don’t support the theory.
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Yati
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Same here, I mean I get it, trying to keep the coral as close to nature as possible but the question is it is necessary??? I've had my system spawn once and back then I was running 1000w of halides 12 hours a day!
I don’t belive it helps keep it close to nature. Supplying a light that doesn’t exist in nature.lol.
Most folks I’ve read about have similar experiences to yours actually.
Temperature is claimed to be the key, and long term studies are showing the corals spawning close to the same time each year in a lot of cases. And they don’t know why....
There is still much to learn on this topic. http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2003-05/eb/index.php. Interesting read on both cases in the wild and captivity. Much of what we create with stable parameters might also through this out of whack.
If the lunar schedule begins a countdown for plankton collection, but no increase of suspended plankton occurs? Hopefully coral restoration projects will help us get closer to mimicking these processes in home aquaria.
Now things i do like moonlights for.
-time to view nocturnal species. I dont have any in my sw. But in my freshwater systems, an hour or 2 a night is plenty to watch the antics of a predatory cat fish.
- recently used a small uv period (4% for 45 minutes) to watch coral in a spectrum we dont normally see. I dont have this on my daily schedule but was an interesting view offered with lighting schedules.
ihavecrabs
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Nice read!
killr66tb
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Started using the lunar cycle next thing that happens my anemone start to split. Now I have four, don't know if the lunar had anything to do with it but love the cycle it's beautiful.
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Yati
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Yati
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Yup. He came and spoke to our club about it. Cool guy.
Sallstrom
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Here is more to read about coral spawning in aquarium, research by Jaime Craggs et al. Great stuff!
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5743687/#!po=28.3133
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5743687/#!po=28.3133
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User1
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Well one thing that is clear is that there is a moon which correlates to actual light the fish and coral will see. How that effects our personal slice of ocean remains to be seen. I think the more difficult part of the puzzle is to get the intensity and spectrum correct. Having dove at night I can see value in addition to seeing another side of the tank you typically wouldn't. I'm pretty sure we have all used a small light after hours or even a red light to see the life after hours. It is pretty neat and all of the fish are still asleep.
ca1ore
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Not necessary, certainly, but done right it mimics the moon quite well. Anyone who's ever gone on a night dive on the reef will vouch for the moon as a considerable light source (even if it's just reflecting). Plus it looks really cool.
Kayotic5011
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The lights I have over my system have a lunar cycle option which adjusts the brightness as the moon gets full then goes away in real time. There is also a period of complete darkness within to mimic the dark moon....I have my lunar cycle on as it does provide a benefit imo. I also run my lights in the seasons mode so it mimics the seasonal lighting effects along with the lunar cycles.
