Lunar cycle Simulation?

[platapus]

Does anyone know of any DIY lunar cycle simulations plans? Or over the counter equipment?

would a black light be close to a full moon?

-plat

[mojoreef]

Plat I use a moon simulation, that works through my aquacontrollerII. For a light I would not use the black light but instead a couple of blue party bulbs in a normal socket will be fine. I know thier is a unit that is a stand alone moon simulation, but i cant remember what it is called I will take a look around and see if I can find it. You might want to check the member list for
Bill e he has some neat stuff for this kind of things


Mike

[biomekanic]

Anthony Calfo (Book of Coral Propogation, V1 - http://www.readingtrees.com ) used a standard dimmer switch hooked up to a low output light. he had a template on in with the phase of the moon, just adjust it every few days. btw, they've found that you can double the speed of the moon cycle and it accelerates the spawning cycle: i.e. if your conditions are good enough that your corals or anenomes are spawning based on an annual lunar cycle, by running it at 2x speed they'll spawn twice a year.

[platapus]

Yes - I read that book, very informative. I would like to go with a solution a little more automated. However. as a last resort I will go with the dimmer!

I have found a couple of products on the internet that claim to automate lunar cycles, but would like to hear from anyone that has used them?

http://www.exoticfish.com/controllers_lighting.html

[mojoreef]

wow plat for that price i would just go with the aquacontrolerII and some no lights


mike

[platapus]

Yea - that is more than Im willing to spend - I saw a controller called a Lunar 500, and it was retailing for $119 - However I dont know if is still in production.

I was hoping that I could find a DIY project to automate lunar cycles, but I dont know how that would be possible without some sort of computer controller!

Unless I got monthly timers hooked up to weekly timers, that were hooked upto daily timers

yea right!

lol

[mojoreef]

Or a whole bunch of well placed mirrors



Mike

[platapus]

lol - Theres An Idea, To get the full effect, I should probably set my reef tank on the roof top of my house

[Mnemic]

if you are computer familiar at all, you can easily use a PC with X10 Equipment to handle this.

X10 has Dimmer settings built in, and with those blue party bulbs you can use one of the X-10 Light devices easily for it.

you can get a full setup to work with your PC for $50 bucks as startup kits that contain everything you need to work with x-10

try www.x10.com and www.smarthome.com

you will need a Firecracker, which is the actual device that connects from your PC to your x10 stuff, and then some lamp modules. X-10 is really pretty cheap, and even radio shack has x-10 parts.

for software, you can find many apis out there to work with it, there is a very advanced (and free) package for x10 called misterhome, and it has a built in language that you can use to do all of that timer stuff/dimmer settings you are refering too.

I don't know of any simple (the firecracker may come with some) software taht will let you code time/brightness/day of month type of stuff however.

http://misterhouse.net
http://www.x10.com/firecracker/fc_offer_br1ab.htm (this is the kit that will let you start it all-- Does come with software after all)
http://www.smarthome.com

[platapus]

You know - I have not messed around with the x-10 stuff at all, I am computer literate.

Thanks for the info - I will research it to see if is capable of simulating a lunar cycle.

-plat

[bill-e]

plat,

Take a look at my software. It will do all that you want or need and more. Unlike other software (except for the Aquacontroller) eLightMaster is dynamic and caculates the lunar cycle for any lat/lon on the planet and adjusts rise/set and phase accordingly. I dont really recommend JMoonlight and I'll be phasing that out soon as eLightMaster can do so much more.

Whether you try my software or not, there is a link on my page to get a $15 off voucher. Just use a hotmail email address as it will likely result in lots of spam from X10.

[mojoreef]

Right on Bill I emailed him your web address last week. Aquacontrollers use X10 technology to, so make sure if you have taken a peek already at bill's site to do so before u take your first step.


mike

[platapus]

Do I need to have a serial cable that will reach my computer from my fish tank?

Is tha firecracker wireless?

[bill-e]

Yes, it's wireless and connects to a free serial port.