moonlights instead of total darkness every night?

[92Miata]

Having been in the Navy and out at sea, you would be surprised how bright the moon is in the tropics. I have my Hydra 26s set for moonlight and my corals and fish are happier with it than when they were in my JBJ

Having spent several hundred nights over my life out fishing for striper - I agree. Its pretty dang bright out there most nights even in temperate zones.

I don't think they make much difference - but I run one for my own benefit - get to check on all the creepy-crawlies that only come out at night.

 

[MeMyFishandI]

I don't leave lights on at night. I figure there is enough light pollution to make up for it.

 

[Phil D.]

Also, my Hydra 26s allow me to set the moonlight. So I have it at 2%

 

[14 foot reef]

i kill every light in my home to make sure its total darkness at night !!!!

 

[AquaBiomics]

Its nearly pitch black underwater even in the full moon. I know your eyes adjust above water and it looks bright. But having done plenty of dives at night around the full moon... we used to turn off our lights for a few minutes for fun. Its DARK down there.

Most lights available are far brighter even at their lowest settings.

Also important to remember that the moon cycle is NOT in phase with the cycle of day and night. The time of moonrise is different every night. Its also highly variable in intensity. The overall effect is that most nights there is little to no light in the ocean. A few nights there is a tiny, tiny bit of light.

This variation in timing and intensity of light at night is what spawning organisms like reef building corals respond to.

Overall, I think anything we're typically doing in our tanks for lights at night is nothing like actual moonlight, but it doesnt seem to matter much.

 

[C. Eymann]

Its nearly pitch black underwater even in the full moon. I know your eyes adjust above water and it looks bright. But having done plenty of dives at night around the full moon... we used to turn off our lights for a few minutes for fun. Its DARK down there.

Most lights available are far brighter even at their lowest settings.

Also important to remember that the moon cycle is NOT in phase with the cycle of day and night. The time of moonrise is different every night. Its also highly variable in intensity. The overall effect is that most nights there is little to no light in the ocean. A few nights there is a tiny, tiny bit of light.

This variation in timing and intensity of light at night is what spawning organisms like reef building corals respond to.

Overall, I think anything we're typically doing in our tanks for lights at night is nothing like actual moonlight, but it doesnt seem to matter much.

Well said, and 100% agree on all points

 

[malacoda]

For me it’s a no, the moon light argument doesn’t hold up, if you go out to sea, on most nights of the year you would not see your hand in front of your face, so even less chance seeing your hand 2 foot under water.

Its nearly pitch black underwater even in the full moon. I know your eyes adjust above water and it looks bright. But having done plenty of dives at night around the full moon... we used to turn off our lights for a few minutes for fun. Its DARK down there.

Most lights available are far brighter even at their lowest settings.

Also important to remember that the moon cycle is NOT in phase with the cycle of day and night. The time of moonrise is different every night. Its also highly variable in intensity. The overall effect is that most nights there is little to no light in the ocean. A few nights there is a tiny, tiny bit of light.

This variation in timing and intensity of light at night is what spawning organisms like reef building corals respond to.

Overall, I think anything we're typically doing in our tanks for lights at night is nothing like actual moonlight, but it doesnt seem to matter much.

+1, +1

Moonlights on aquariums are purely for human aesthetics.

Any breeding/behavioral activities related to moon/tidal phases that livestock in your tank may still exhibit occur because they can still feel or sense the gravitational and magnetic field changes the moon imparts on the earth. Not because of dim blue light hanging above the water.

 

[andrewey]

Used to run moonlights. Started diving at night- promptly removed my moonlights.

On the boat? The moon is blinding. Below a few meters? It's pitch black down there.

 

[Scdell]

I'm a proponant of moonlight if it's done right.. I've run them for a couple of years, but have given up. I have the Mitras lx7's and they are just too darn bright. They won't run less than 10 %. Yeah they turn off for one night a phase, but the rest of the time it's like daylight on a rainy day in there.

 

[ThePurple12]

Just like what others have said- there's not really a "moonlight" in the wild.

 

[hllb]

“Moonlight” in the olden days was actinics which are quite bright. Moonlight on my current fixture is a 3% of a mint LED and very dim and subtle. I like the look of it but opted not to use it.