night light in reef
 

Hi Guys,

I just installed a rope light (blue) in my canopy. The blue color is very nice on the reef tank at night, but I'm wondering if it could be too much light for the night time. Can it affect the corals in any way...how can I know f it is too much light?????

By the way, someone else is using these rope light on their reef...for the moonlight effect..

thanks

Marco

Salut!

It's an interesting topic...

Any fish in your tank? I read somewhere...fish sleep and need some darkness....but also some light (like the moonlight) for orientation and for any "attack" detection...

What i do, I leave the curtain slighthy open (never close)...or a small 4 watts light in the electric outlet...close to the aquarium...

I believe, the coral photosynthesis require some rest....like in nature!

Pierre
from Montreal
(Sorry of any english mispelling)

Well just for something to do, I will express the feeling that moonlight is very weak, and would not penetrate very far into water. So anything you do to simulate actual conditions is more for your own gratification. I don't believe the fish or corals will derive any benefits. But as usual that is only my feeling on the matter, and since we are unable to interview the ocean's residents, it will remain proofless opinion. :D :wink:

Other than the many documented spawning events in nature that happen at the exact same time of the lunar cycle each year, I'd agree with Bob :P .

We were thinking of adding a small light for moonlight... I thought it would be a good thing to add.
Of course, the light would make it a little hard to send the hubby to the couch when he snores.. ;) hehe

************
In Aquarium Corals book (page 334) from Eric H. Borneman, he mention:

"It is rarely totally dark on coral reefs, and the light produced by a full moon in a clear tropical water is substantial enough for divers to see fairly clearly...The installation of a low-wattage blue or blue-white incandescent or actinic type bulbs may be a natural and aesthetically pleasant addition to lighting system. It is also likely to be quite beneficial to the health of corals, if only in normalizing diurnal patterns...."

Pierre

I was just going to pull out my new book I got for Christmas (the one mentioned above) and quote that exact same line Pierre, good one! :D

You might notice the two operative words "may", and "likely"

In other words he is guessing. I can guesss also, but my guess is that it pleases us to have a nightlight, and the corals derive no benefit.

My guess is as valid as that of an author of a book. :wink: :roll:

Bob, .. it is well documented that moon light influences the spawn of fish (both fresh and salt) why do you refuse to belive that it might have somthing to do with coral spawning also?

you know I have to put up with people like you who can;t belive that something new can be right.. get over it and open up to new ideas.. the might not be right but then again they might be.... and sence the Moon influences so many other things in nature.. I am tempted to believe that it might also influence the spawning of corals.. remember no one has said that it is the only cause.. just that it is one of the factors that infulence it..


Steve

Exactly right, you have to put up with my beliefs, just like I put up with yours. That is what it all about. Get over it. :wink:

Everyone has opinions. It is your choice whether or not you agree. If you don't agree, you need to provide a logical argument why you don't. Then leave it at that. Don't flame someone you disagree with. :roll: :roll: