Experiment: Lighting schedule

[jm23]

Well based off an article I read about the lighting intensity depending on solar elevation, I am going to try a new schedule and see how it goes. Here is the graph in that lengthy article showing how when the sun hits the water just before midday and right after midday that is reflects approximately 50% of the intensity:

So here is my new Apex Schedule (I have 4 channels, the ramp up times are staggered a little starting with Royal Blue, then Blue/UV, the Whites):

(Royal Blue Schedule)
Fallback OFF
Set OFF
If Time 13:00 to 14:00 Then PF7 (10%)
If Time 14:00 to 17:00 Then PF8 (10-55%)
If Time 17:00 to 19:00 Then PF9 (55%)
If Time 19:00 to 20:00 Then PF10 (27%)
If Time 20:00 to 22:00 Then PF9 (55%)
If Time 22:00 to 23:00 Then PF10 (27%)
If Time 23:00 to 01:00 Then PF9 (55%)
If Time 01:00 to 04:00 Then PF11 (55-10%)
If Time 04:00 to 06:00 Then PF13 (10%)
If Time 06:00 to 13:00 Then OFF

(Blue/UV)
Fallback OFF
Set OFF
If Time 13:30 to 14:00 Then PF1 (10%)
If Time 14:00 to 17:00 Then PF2 (10-100%)
If Time 17:00 to 19:00 Then PF3 (100%)
If Time 19:00 to 20:00 Then PF4 (50%)
If Time 20:00 to 22:00 Then PF3 (100%)
If Time 22:00 to 23:00 Then PF4 (50%)
If Time 23:00 to 01:00 Then PF3 (100%)
If Time 01:00 to 04:00 Then PF5 (100-10%)
If Time 04:00 to 13:00 Then OFF

Fallback OFF
Set OFF
If Time 13:30 to 14:00 Then PF13 (10%)
If Time 14:00 to 17:00 Then PF14 (10-15%, will be working up to 25% or a little higher over the next month)
If Time 17:00 to 19:00 Then PF15 (15%)
If Time 19:00 to 20:00 Then PF16 (10%)
If Time 20:00 to 22:00 Then PF15 (15%)
If Time 22:00 to 23:00 Then PF16 (10%)
If Time 23:00 to 01:00 Then PF15 (15%)
If Time 01:00 to 13:00 Then OFF


***Anything in () is not in my Apex code. Also my Blue/UV drivers are run at 50% of what the Royal Blue and Whites are run at, thus the higher %.

As the tank is restarting, I will only have my memory of how the corals reacted before the restart to compare them with the new schedule. I also recall something about light saturation in some articles about how corals can only absorb so much light until they can't utilize anymore and I wonder if varying the intensity with help the corals utilize more light over the course of the day. Obviously it will take awhile to observe an results, but I will update this thread when I see any changes.

 

[Seadub]

Have you noticed any changes since implementing this light schedule?

 

[wld1783]

Here is a chart from the Modern Coral Reef Aquarium by Fossa & Nilsen.

I've programmed my LEDs using the APEX to simulate this with great results.

You should be happy with the results as long as peak PAR exceeds 350-500 PAR for SPS or 200 PAR on the sand bed.

In fact I'm so impressed with the growth & energy savings using this natural we decided to use this natural intensity as a programming option in our Gen2 lights.

Visit us at the CMAS Frag Swap for more details.

Bill