Dimmers for T5 lighting?

[siskiou]

Did they come out with that, yet?

I remember there being some talk about a new technology that makes it possible a while back.

[Nyles]

That would have to be a feature of the ballast, to my knowledge none have the option yet. I would assume ice cap woud do it first.

[siskiou]

I believe icecap has had that possiblity for a while (can't think of the name of the controller, but it comes up dor sale on RC every once in a while).

[Nyles]

But, on a side note, if you wanted the intensity to increase you could shade the light or move it up high and drop down, or some other pneumatic way... maybe even have the lights be moving over the tank. But all of these options require room and the means to create the controls and movement, not really worth it to me. After a week it seems to me the fish get used to the instant on and off cycles.

[H20cooled]

Not available yet, with the icecap 430 and 660 ballast you can use a add on dimmer but it only works with VHO or No bulbs NOT T5. I wish it did though because it would be cool with a controller.

[Ronjunior]

I have a great copyrighted idea...make a sheath that spins around it ever so slowly, 24 hour cycle. The sheet can be clear on one side and dim going to solid on the other side.

[siskiou]

Would that mean the light stays on at all times, but is covered by the solid part at night?

[mister crabs]

u could set a timer so that when it enters teh solid phase the lights turn off completely

[mister crabs]

but i wouldnt worry about it too much since if the fish are tank raised species they have known nothing else but instantlight-darkness. and besides....we arent talking about anything close to the intensity of the sun here...

but i think this is why alot of people have thier actinics come on one hour before main lights and stay on one hour after the mains go out and then the lunars come on. Kinda gives a more gentle easing into and out of the lighting cycle.

[SeanF]

I do believe most of the tank raised fish are being raised in greenhouses so they get natural lighting.

[mister crabs]

good call sean....i didnt know that

[oldbrownies]

since you bring that up you might check this out

 

http://www.prairiereef.cimaonline.us/ghconstruct24.htm

 

If the goal is to lessen the stress on the fish, why not just turn the lights on later? I don't have my actinics come on until about noon, that way the room has lit up a little bit, to wake the fish up. Then the last set of lights go off about 11, when the fish are already tucked away in bed (i still have no clue where that tang goes half the time).