Custom Look CadLights 50Long
- Thread starter twan
- Start date
Ok my lights were bought used from tokendog and I kept his settings. After a few weeks the torch, hammer & duncan have kept their color. The two monti caps and the acro have lost a little bit of their pop.
This got me thinking to check the lights. The original owner has not responded with his rationale of why he choose these timers/intensities specifically. I am contemplating erasing them all and starting fresh but I need some guidance.
1) Type of unit - AI Sol Blue
2) Tank dimensions: 50g 36x18x18
3) Number of units: 2
4) Optics in unit: standard
5) Height of units above water: 13"
6) Detailed settings
Time: 08:20 am | W:00% BL:49% RY:36% | Ramp Duration: 59 mins | Lunary Cycle: Off
Time: 09:30 am | W:31% BL:100% RY:0% | Ramp Duration: 30 mins | Lunary Cycle: Off
Time: 10:00 am | W:20% BL:73% RY:60% | Ramp Duration: 30 mins | Lunary Cycle: Off
Time: 10:30 am | W:50% BL:70% RY:60% | Ramp Duration: 30 mins | Lunary Cycle: Off
Time: 1:00 pm | W:55% BL:55% RY:60% | Ramp Duration: 60 mins | Lunary Cycle: Off
Time: 4:30 pm | W:30% BL:25% RY:50% | Ramp Duration: 120 mins | Lunary Cycle: Off
Time: 7:00 pm | W:15% BL:5% RY:25% | Ramp Duration: 30 mins | Lunary Cycle: Off
Time: 8:00 pm | W:02% BL:02% RY:02% | Ramp Duration: 30 mins | Lunary Cycle: Off
Time: 8:30 pm | W:00% BL:02% RY:01% | Ramp Duration: 60 mins | Lunary Cycle: Off
Time: 12:00 am | W:00% BL:02% RY:01% | Ramp Duration: 60 mins | Lunary Cycle: On
This got me thinking to check the lights. The original owner has not responded with his rationale of why he choose these timers/intensities specifically. I am contemplating erasing them all and starting fresh but I need some guidance.
1) Type of unit - AI Sol Blue
2) Tank dimensions: 50g 36x18x18
3) Number of units: 2
4) Optics in unit: standard
5) Height of units above water: 13"
6) Detailed settings
Time: 08:20 am | W:00% BL:49% RY:36% | Ramp Duration: 59 mins | Lunary Cycle: Off
Time: 09:30 am | W:31% BL:100% RY:0% | Ramp Duration: 30 mins | Lunary Cycle: Off
Time: 10:00 am | W:20% BL:73% RY:60% | Ramp Duration: 30 mins | Lunary Cycle: Off
Time: 10:30 am | W:50% BL:70% RY:60% | Ramp Duration: 30 mins | Lunary Cycle: Off
Time: 1:00 pm | W:55% BL:55% RY:60% | Ramp Duration: 60 mins | Lunary Cycle: Off
Time: 4:30 pm | W:30% BL:25% RY:50% | Ramp Duration: 120 mins | Lunary Cycle: Off
Time: 7:00 pm | W:15% BL:5% RY:25% | Ramp Duration: 30 mins | Lunary Cycle: Off
Time: 8:00 pm | W:02% BL:02% RY:02% | Ramp Duration: 30 mins | Lunary Cycle: Off
Time: 8:30 pm | W:00% BL:02% RY:01% | Ramp Duration: 60 mins | Lunary Cycle: Off
Time: 12:00 am | W:00% BL:02% RY:01% | Ramp Duration: 60 mins | Lunary Cycle: On
I am still looking over a few different settings on Reef Central that I can use. I am going to keep my peak current %'s but smooth up the ramp up/down.
From there I will increase the peak by 5% per week until I am running approx 75% across the board at peak. Then I will go back and adjust the ramp up/down slowly again to adjust the duration of that peak. More control = more variables = more confusion?!?!?!?!
What I am also going to begin doing is logging some house temperatures relative to tank temperatures.
5/31
76 deg upstairs
70 down stairs where tank is
77 tank temperature
Heater setting A If Temp > 78.4 Then OFF
Heater setting B If Temp < 77.4 Then ON
That gives me a good baseline for when it starts to heat up.
From there I will increase the peak by 5% per week until I am running approx 75% across the board at peak. Then I will go back and adjust the ramp up/down slowly again to adjust the duration of that peak. More control = more variables = more confusion?!?!?!?!
What I am also going to begin doing is logging some house temperatures relative to tank temperatures.
5/31
76 deg upstairs
70 down stairs where tank is
77 tank temperature
Heater setting A If Temp > 78.4 Then OFF
Heater setting B If Temp < 77.4 Then ON
That gives me a good baseline for when it starts to heat up.
Proposed new Schedule:
Time: 08:30 am | W:00% BL:15% RY:15% | Ramp Duration: 60 mins | Lunary Cycle: Off | Coming off Night
Time: 09:30 am | W:10% BL:30% RY:30% | Ramp Duration: 30 mins | Lunary Cycle: Off | Dawn
Time: 10:00 am | W:25% BL:40% RY:40% | Ramp Duration: 30 mins | Lunary Cycle: Off | Sunrise
Time: 10:30 am | W:40% BL:50% RY:50% | Ramp Duration: 30 mins | Lunary Cycle: Off | EarlyDay to MidDay
Time: 1:00 pm | W:55% BL:60% RY:60% | Ramp Duration: 60 mins | Lunary Cycle: Off | Midday
Time: 5:00 pm | W:35% BL:40% RY:40% | Ramp Duration: 30 mins | Lunary Cycle: Off | Midday to LateDay
Time: 7:00 pm | W:15% BL:20% RY:20% | Ramp Duration: 30 mins | Lunary Cycle: Off | Sunset
Time: 8:00 pm | W:02% BL:2% RY:2% | Ramp Duration: 30 mins | Lunary Cycle: Off | Dusk
Time: 8:30 pm | W:00% BL:02% RY:01% | Ramp Duration: 60 mins | Lunary Cycle: On | Lunar
Methodology:
-12hr photo period.
-Peak Intensity 4 hours.
-Whites jump 15% each step heading to peak & drop 20% each step after peak.
-Blue and Royal Blue jump 10% each step heading to peak & drop 20% each step after peak.
-All ramps 30min except for 1st, last, peak.
Last edited:
- Location
- Queens/Flushing/Whitestone/NYC
Skimmer dialed in giving me this dark dark stuff after 2 days
PH from 7.99-8.18 up from the range of 7.89-8.09 a week ago attributed to new fuge/light:
Nice skimmer, got a nice cup of coffee there....lol!!!!!!!
Thanks, it seems after every water change I need to dial it way down then slowly ramp it up over 24-48 hours, doing a water change every 10 days this means my skimmer is not running optimal 10-20% of the time. Is this normal for a skimmer to freak out after water changes and cleaning? Will it diminish as it "breaks in"?
I read a large thread on Reefcentral with so many different settings at different heights and different amounts of units over varying tank sizes.
In the end I picked a schedule to mimic sun cycles without over stepping the highest % I had on my previous programs. It is from there I will adjust that peak intensity up from W:55% BL:60% RY:60% to probably W:75% BL:80% RY:80% over the next several weeks. After that it will be smoothing out the timer just before and just after this peak.................or maybe stopping there. We'll see.
In the end I picked a schedule to mimic sun cycles without over stepping the highest % I had on my previous programs. It is from there I will adjust that peak intensity up from W:55% BL:60% RY:60% to probably W:75% BL:80% RY:80% over the next several weeks. After that it will be smoothing out the timer just before and just after this peak.................or maybe stopping there. We'll see.
- Location
- Queens/Flushing/Whitestone/NYC
If i remember correctly, yes, the skimmer usually goes crazy right after water change and feeding but it should stabilize afterward and you should not need to fiddle with it but pay close attention to it. Give it some time and see if it settle before you adjust it and readjust it again.
That's the problem I can not give it time after a restart because leaving it in the previous position pulls too much and the cup over fills in under 15mins.
And it isn't a water height issues because I have my APEX not turn
back on my slimmer till 10mins after the return pump goes back
on therebye allowing water level to return to normal and ATO
to be working properly as well before the skimmer is brought back on line.
I actually burned through the two that I bought and they refunded me for the first one. When the second burned out I was purchasing my new tank so I just let it be.
Your skimmer issue is getting me worried as I think I have the same one. I haven't set it up yet but this is the first skimmer that I've ever owned and having such a negative experience with CADLights already just adds to the worry. Good thing they include meticulously detailed instructions with it (NOT!)
If you are changing filter socks with the WC. This is most likely the problem with the skimmer going crazy. It happens to me with a sock change. I shut it down for 1 day.. 2 if sock is brand new
Port forwarding for Apex and new IP camera is all setup now. I have external access to both via Iphone.
Today I also tested from my office via PC and I here is a screenshot of my 2nd monitor I have off to the side looking in on things. When I figure out how to share the video stream securely I will post it.
For now here is what I am looking at when slacking at work (lights barely on, in lunar at the moment):
Today I also tested from my office via PC and I here is a screenshot of my 2nd monitor I have off to the side looking in on things. When I figure out how to share the video stream securely I will post it.
For now here is what I am looking at when slacking at work (lights barely on, in lunar at the moment):
Better pic of the feed from the net now that lights are on:
It is as good as it is going to get picture wise since the camera is only 640x480.
If you want an IP camera that is under $100 that has IR features and is PTZ controllable over net and via apps this is the only one I know that fits the bill, the Foscam FI8918W.
If I can get an IP camera that is 720 or 1080 and is affordable one day I will upgrade.
It is as good as it is going to get picture wise since the camera is only 640x480.
If you want an IP camera that is under $100 that has IR features and is PTZ controllable over net and via apps this is the only one I know that fits the bill, the Foscam FI8918W.
If I can get an IP camera that is 720 or 1080 and is affordable one day I will upgrade.
- Location
- Miami
This is sick.. Now u got me wondering if they have some thing like this for the reefkeeper elite.
So I needed to add my Leopard Wrasse before I go ahead and add any clowns or the flame angel.
Divers Den and my LFS did not have any for the last 2-3 weeks.
A stop by my LFS yesterday netted me a Kuiteri variety of Leopard Wrasse.
He was eating and had a full belly.
I was told the PE Mysis I have is too large for him to eat so I purchased some spirulina enriched frozen brine.
Great coloration, looks as vibrant as this one here.
He quickly buried himself in the sand after a 45min drip acclimation where I read he may stay for 1-3 days before he emerges again. After that he will take to the sand bed nightly to sleep. I need to add another 1" to my sand bed. I assume I will be using dry sand that is rinsed very very very well and adding it to the bottom via a pvc pipe or in ziplock bags with all pumps off the discourage clouding.
Will I have any problems adding rinsed dry sand to my tank? I was going to use this type to match my existing.
Divers Den and my LFS did not have any for the last 2-3 weeks.
A stop by my LFS yesterday netted me a Kuiteri variety of Leopard Wrasse.
He was eating and had a full belly.
I was told the PE Mysis I have is too large for him to eat so I purchased some spirulina enriched frozen brine.
Great coloration, looks as vibrant as this one here.
He quickly buried himself in the sand after a 45min drip acclimation where I read he may stay for 1-3 days before he emerges again. After that he will take to the sand bed nightly to sleep. I need to add another 1" to my sand bed. I assume I will be using dry sand that is rinsed very very very well and adding it to the bottom via a pvc pipe or in ziplock bags with all pumps off the discourage clouding.
Will I have any problems adding rinsed dry sand to my tank? I was going to use this type to match my existing.
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