Thoughts on thunderstorm mode on lights

Arthroverts · Nov 15, 2019

Scdell said:
I like it but I can see this thread is for the haters. I'll let it be.

A diversity of opinions is always a good thing. Insofar you are the only one who enjoys it, but that doesn't discredit you or your thoughts on it. If your fish are fine with it and your tank is doing well, you've got results.

When we all start to think the same thing, bad things happen.

Thanks,

Arthroverts

Scdell · Nov 15, 2019

Arthroverts said:
A diversity of opinions is always a good thing. Insofar you are the only one who enjoys it, but that doesn't discredit you or your thoughts on it. If your fish are fine with it and your tank is doing well, you've got results.

When we all start to think the same thing, bad things happen.

Thanks,

Arthroverts

Actually I like to watch my tank and see cloud cover. I have darker days programmed. Thunderstorms etc. It may be a gimmick? I don't know. When thunderstorms happen I watch my fish seek cover. It's not that they are spooked, well maybe they are ,but they are that way in nature also. I mean really, if it was always sunshine out wouldn't we get bored? It takes rainy days to appreciate sunshine days. And vice versa.

sfin52 · Nov 15, 2019

A cool effect but not needed

DarthSimon · Nov 15, 2019

It's for us, not for the tank live stock. Same with cloud effects... Wrasses don't like it, that's for sure.... Especially jumpy fairy wrasses.

Mickeyt1reef · Nov 15, 2019

Barracuda85 · Nov 16, 2019

Is there any way to set Hydras so the only do the cloud cover but no lightning?
Not a big fan, my fish don't seem to care too much about it. Would like to have the cloud cover option without the flashes.

raylinds · Nov 16, 2019

I think it's cool, but a gimmick and it seems to scare the fish, so I don't use it. I have my lights programmed for regional variations per Apex schedule and do use the cloud effect a little during the Caribbean rainy season.

jasonrusso · Nov 16, 2019

I used the "clouds" for a while, but if got aggravating. Everytime I was looking at a fish, the tank got dark for 6 minutes!!

TheOne · Nov 16, 2019

There is a controller that can mimic your local weather to your tank including cloud cover. Can anyone tell me what the controller is? I use an Apex now but I would like to see about adding that controller to my lights to mimic the weather outside.

LadyMac · Nov 16, 2019

Several years back, when I housed macrostoma (a mouthbrooding species of betta that are on the IUCN red list), I bought a light fixture and was sent a ramp timer. I watched as my fish would be startled by the sudden in and off night/day. I wouldn’t use the lightening much, mostly the cloud cover. I would wait until the weather changed, open the window near them, collect some rain water, and turn the cloud setting on. They would spawn every single time. I noticed when I would add lightning, they would seek cover in their “caves”. To me it was beneficial just because these were wild fish and they were more used to the weather effects in Borneo.

As for the reef, when I tried the lightning on it, the fish just went deeper in the tank. Didn’t jump or anything. I can see how for some fish it can be an issue. I’ve not had any negative effects on any of my setups with it.

Katrina71 · Nov 16, 2019

Love it! My son programmed his Steve's LEDs to do it. Doesn't phase his fish. We both enjoy it. He even has a storm sound Alexa will play that can sync to it. Not really sure if it impacts spawning, but he runs his moon lights with the lunar cycles too.

Nanoreefer4ever · Nov 16, 2019

Definitely useless

Katrina71 · Nov 16, 2019

TheOne said:
There is a controller that can mimic your local weather to your tank including cloud cover. Can anyone tell me what the controller is? I use an Apex now but I would like to see about adding that controller to my lights to mimic the weather outside.

I think the hurricane x does this. Not 100% sure.

TheOne · Nov 16, 2019

Katrina71 said:
I think the hurricane x does this. Not 100% sure.

That does look interesting. I use Alexa with my aquarium now. It's so much easier to turn things off and on.

I found the controller. It's called the Bluefish.

Bluefish LED CONTROLLER | BLUEFISH Aquarium LED Controller

Control your lighting from your phone or tablet! Bluefish LED controller is an app-enabled (Android/iOS), Wi-Fi connected device that can control a multitude of lighting products. With Bluefish, you can even control many LED products that do not have dimming interfaces or dimmable drivers...

aquarium-led-controller.com

Katrina71 · Nov 16, 2019

TheOne said:
That does look interesting. I use Alexa with my aquarium now. It's so much easier to turn things off and on.

I found the controller. It's called the Bluefish.

Bluefish LED CONTROLLER | BLUEFISH Aquarium LED Controller

Control your lighting from your phone or tablet! Bluefish LED controller is an app-enabled (Android/iOS), Wi-Fi connected device that can control a multitude of lighting products. With Bluefish, you can even control many LED products that do not have dimming interfaces or dimmable drivers...

aquarium-led-controller.com

Yes! It does. Andrew said the hurricane x does too.