Simulated weather - benefit or gimmick?

[Dana Riddle]

@Dana Riddle I don't know what job you had or how you got it, but from the blips of it that you mention and the location, it had to be the cream of the crop.

I had the pleasure (note sarcasm) of being a regional manager for a contract company specializing in operations of water systems (including the Four Seasons resort (Kona), the Kukio resort, and 15 other accounts.) Living in Hawaii is incredibly expensive (housing valued at $500,000 is considered affordable and the far and few between biologist positions pay $15/hour) so I had to do what I had to do. All the work with corals was on my own time, and equipment purchases were out of my pocket (last time I tallied it up, my lab has over $100K worth of equipment.) My 18 years in Hawaii was a wonderful experience, but I'm glad to be back home in Georgia!

 

[A. grandis]

I had the pleasure (note sarcasm) of being a regional manager for a contract company specializing in operations of water systems (including the Four Seasons resort (Kona), the Kukio resort, and 15 other accounts.) Living in Hawaii is incredibly expensive (housing valued at $500,000 is considered affordable and the far and few between biologist positions pay $15/hour) so I had to do what I had to do. All the work with corals was on my own time, and equipment purchases were out of my pocket (last time I tallied it up, my lab has over $100K worth of equipment.) My 18 years in Hawaii was a wonderful experience, but I'm glad to be back home in Georgia!

I appreciate all your hard work and passion from back then and now here in this forum, Dana.
Aways enjoyed your articles and I'm starting to find old ones that I've never seen.
I've never paid too much attention to light cause it was aways plug and play (and still is to me!), but has been nice to dive into this world!
Mahalo!!!
Grandis.

 

[mcarroll]

Island living is not for everyone....I learned that the hard way. You had a long time there – even if it's a little late to say, I'm glad we have you back on the mainland!

 

[Dana Riddle]

Mahalo, Brah!

 

[jason.mull76]

Any experience with benefits from weather simulation on lamps? Im running 3x GHL Mitras that has simulation of clouds, rain, thunderstorms and weather patterns like that. I never used them before, but I see the theory of simulating real ocens, also I could see a benefit of clouds where the coral doesnt get a constant light the whole day. Anyone done testing if its beneficial for the coral or just plain gimmick that does nothing but harm?

Not a gimmick, in my opinion. Awhile back I upgraded my lights from a Fluval marine to Current USA IC Pro. The light quality is equal, just better features with regard to control with an app. I have 4 patches of green star polyps at about mid-tank that don't like to open up, and have not grown at all. I read that simulated lightning can stimulate growth. I have my lights set at a 20% chance of storms which simulates lightning for about 15-20 minutes a day. After each "storm" the polyps look amazing, and they are finally spreading over the rock. My anemone also seems to respond well to the lighting. The fish just simply take shelter under rock until normal light cycle resumes.

With all that said, I bought them thinking it would just be a cool feature to watch, and it most certain is, but I have seen an improvement in coral growth.