moonlights

**rtenzo02** · 10-30-2009, 11:37 PM

I'm trying to get some info on moonlights. I have read post from various people who claim there cichlids or fish in general seemed to loose sleep when running the moonlights. Others have posted that there hasn't been any issues with running them. I also read an article or thread forget which, that a person stated they noticed it helped with spawning do to the fact in the wild the lakes receive moonlight. I have seen setups that I thought looked real nice, I'm thinking of fabbing up something of my own that's not to bright and maybe running them on a cycle of 7pm-1am in the winter and 8pm-2am in the summer. Any knowledge or opinions would help !

**neesejohn** · 10-31-2009, 10:01 AM

I run them and my cichlids are perfectly healthy and rested. I started following David Boruchowitz's (editor of TFH) advice on water changes and they seem to be thriving moreso now! My tanks are in a darkroom, so I use the lights like the sun. Some people say not to have the lights on unless you're viewing, but IMO, this leads to skiddish, nervous fish, but that's just just been my experience. You should have no problem with the moonlights. Mine stay on all day and night. Anyway, good look firned.

**Mrfiremouth** · 11-01-2009, 8:29 AM

Moonlights are harmless low watt blue LED's.
You can buy them commercially from any aquatic lighting dealer.

**neesejohn** · 11-08-2009, 10:09 PM

OMG, I just realized I typed "good look firned". LMAO. I meant, " good luck friend". Hahaha.

**Daniella** · 01-06-2010, 7:29 AM

I bought one for aquarium but my fish did not really like having bright laser beam like lights in their eyes so I stop using it for now. It was making them skittish and stressed at night.

I will put a semi-opaque plastic sheet so that the beam of the light is not so strong and is dimmed out. It's not the brightness of the ligth that was the problem, but rather how concentrated it was. I looked at it myself directly through the water and was totaly blinded.

With the proper diffusor I beleive it will be good. I wanted the moonlights because my fish (frontosas) are afraid of the dark and dash in the glass if it is dark. So for now I leave an ambiant room light.

Probably because frontosas have very large eyes bulging out they are more affected by this strong beam light than other fish with smaller eyes that are not bulging out. Fishes cannot blink their eyes or close any eye lid, so they have to suffer what ever strong light hit their eyes. Not necessary good and I would be afraid that with age a fish could develop some sort of opacity in its eyes, especialy frontosas.

If dimmed and the beam is not that strong, then it should be nice.

If you are in doubt, just look at it yourself directly and see if you can stand it

E=rtenzo02;19975]I'm trying to get some info on moonlights. I have read post from various people who claim there cichlids or fish in general seemed to loose sleep when running the moonlights. Others have posted that there hasn't been any issues with running them. I also read an article or thread forget which, that a person stated they noticed it helped with spawning do to the fact in the wild the lakes receive moonlight. I have seen setups that I thought looked real nice, I'm thinking of fabbing up something of my own that's not to bright and maybe running them on a cycle of 7pm-1am in the winter and 8pm-2am in the summer. Any knowledge or opinions would help ![/QUOTE]

**neesejohn** · 01-06-2010, 3:42 PM

Daniella,

What kind did you use? Did you use the ones that go at the bottom of the tank or the ones that go on top?

John

**Dean Hougen** · 01-06-2010, 9:48 PM

Please do not look directly into LEDs. Most are eye safe. Some are not.

Dean

**pitdogg2** · 01-06-2010, 10:25 PM

I'm with you on this matter I try to replicate daylight cycles to some extent but haven't sprung for the light bar with night lights. For now in my case they seem to be really expensive and I haven't wanted to go to the compact fluorescent or T5 bulbs.

Quote:

Originally Posted by neesejohn

I run them and my cichlids are perfectly healthy and rested. I started following David Boruchowitz's (editor of TFH) advice on water changes and they seem to be thriving moreso now! My tanks are in a darkroom, so I use the lights like the sun. Some people say not to have the lights on unless you're viewing, but IMO, this leads to skiddish, nervous fish, but that's just just been my experience. You should have no problem with the moonlights. Mine stay on all day and night. Anyway, good look firned.

**fishmaven** · 01-07-2010, 2:14 AM

It's always difficult to justify changing from one system to another. For someone starting a NEW tank set-up, going with power compacts seems like a logical choice. Systems with moonlights are only marginally more expensive.

About looking into the beam… I wouldn't either! We've got a cat that loves to chase the red spot from a laser pointer [she'll even chase a flashlight beam,:-)], but we don't shine either in her eyes. It does bring up a good question though… if we wouldn't look directly into the beam, how do we know the beam won't harm a fish? I previously voted that I thought it safe, but now I'm uncertain. In the near future I'll ask one of my eye doctors.
Dan

Quote:

Originally Posted by pitdogg2

I'm with you on this matter I try to replicate daylight cycles to some extent but haven't sprung for the light bar with night lights. For now in my case they seem to be really expensive and I haven't wanted to go to the compact fluorescent or T5 bulbs.

**Jumbie** · 01-07-2010, 8:24 AM

I think they are fine for the fish I have them on a few tanks, I like the way the tanks look with the moonlights on. I don’t know how true the saying about moonlights helping some fish spawn. I have not notice any change in breeding habits in the tanks with the moonlights. I think the moonlights are more for the enthusiasts and no so much for the fish.