Reverse Lighting Main Tank

[alrha]

with the summer around the corner (and with the possible incentive of Time-of-Use rates on electric bill - see prior post)...
what do you guys think about running our lights more overnight and less in the day. this should help with heat in the summer (much hotter during day) and with cost of electricity.
say from 6pm-6am on then then off from 6am-6pm.
anyway we are usually at work and dont see our tanks till night anyway.

 

[marrone]

It's probably to way to go, specially as it's hotter during the day and with the lights off the tanks will stay cooler, you mayn't even need a chiller in some instance. Unless I get home right away from work the MH are already off so I don't get to see the whole tank light until the weekends.

You just probably need to gradually do it over time so the fish and corals get use to the chance in light. I know my fish know about what time the lights go off every night and get ready to bed down before hand. When we change the clock they still do it for a # of days before they figure it out again.

 

[alrha]

i dont have a chiller, which is a big reason for me to do this.

 

[Melt]

lets put a group order for a chiller..I am looking for one

 

[alrha]

i'd rather not spend the $ on one if i can get by without one.
plus i dont have room for one.
if they ever come out with a chiller that works like a heater does, i'm the first one to buy it.
till then, i might just opt for the reverse lighting.

 

[ShaunW]

I have my lights on during the night! It does help with the heat, since I can open up all my windows and cool my apartment down with the night air.

 

[alrha]

or you can run your Air Conditioner at night (which is practically free on the Time-of-Use plan)

 

[cali_reef]

Originally posted by alrha:
if they ever come out with a chiller that works like a heater does, i'm the first one to buy it.

They do, but it is for a smaller tank application. Something like 20 gallons.

 

[alrha]

where? and how much are those?
would 5 together be good for 100 gal tank?
or say 3 of them, but offer a 3 degree drop rather than 5 degrees?
its not like my tank gets to 90 degrees. i gets to 86-87 at its hottest and i would just love to drop it down to say 84-85.

 

[House of Laughter]

what will you do on the weekends? when you are up and watching in the day and out partying at night?

Jim

 

[jhale]

partying at night I'm lucky if I go out to diner anymore.
jk, but you'll just have to party with the fishes.

 

[cali_reef]

Albert:

http://www.marinedepot.com/md_viewItem.asp?idProduct=CW1111

Pretty sure it won't work very well for a large tank.

 

[alrha]

i heard that thing doesnt really work very well.
guess i'll have to stick to my fans.

House, that leads to another Question. how much do you think the livestock would care if they were normally lit from 8pm-4am during the week and then say from 4pm-12am on weekends? it would keep them on their toes, but do you think they would get stressed?

 

[marrone]

The ice probes work well on very small tanks, 10-20gals, but for the cost I'm not sure if it worth it. You could get a large air condition and probably come out better.

I know my fish get into a routine of when the lights are going to come on and off. If I turn off the lights to say work in the tank or do something my corals automatically go into a night mode, closing up and putting out their feeders, and then when the lights comeback on the start to reopen again. I know a # of people who have there lights on in the evening during the week and on the weekend have them on during the morning and daytime and haven't had any problems at all. I think the coral adjust alot more easier to different times lights coming on then do fish.

 

[alrha]

well i would also think it makes more of a difference to the corals (which depend on the light) than the fish. if the corals adjust fine, i'm sure the fish will be smart enough to realize the lights are on (they may start getting sleepy though)

 

[marrone]

Actually I would think it's just the opposite. Even though corals need the light fish settle in around the time the lights go on and off. I see it all the time as anywhere for 1/2-1 hour before the lights go off the fish are finding there hiding places, even when daylight saving is around and the clock are changed the fish still follow the same routine for awhile before settling in. Same thing in the morning the fish know when the lights are going to come.

In the ocean it probably never gets as dark as it does in our home, specially in say a basement. The moon and other light source give off light. I would think as long as the corals got the correct amount of light each day they would probably have no problem adjusting to the change in timing of the lights.

 

[jenniebutterfly]

for those with small tanks they make these for up to 10 gallons http://www.marinedepot.com/aquarium_chillers_coolworks_microchiller.asp?CartId=