Moonlight question

JB NY · 04/29/2008, 07:10 PM

Is there anyway to have my moonlight come on and dim to the correct intensity for the actaul moon phase, but have the moonlights come on at 9 PM every night and turn off at sunrise?

kenargo · 04/29/2008, 07:26 PM

If I understand your question; you want the moon lights to be correct (phase) but only be on during the hours of 9- sun up, yes that is possible in any number of ways.

JB NY · 04/29/2008, 08:08 PM

so how? My understanding is

If time > 21:00 then MON ON

will turn the moonlights on to full intensity. How do I have them turn on at a defined time but be at the proper intensity level.

kenargo · 04/29/2008, 08:45 PM

Yes, you are correct; the 'If Time > 21:00' will turn the moon light on at full intensity but like many things with the AC you solve the problem backwards; actually there are 2 solutions for this.

The solution depends on what you want to do when there is no moon during the hours you mention. If you want the moon to always rise/set at the same times then you would modify the season tables and replace the rise/set times, leaving the intensity unchanged and use the following:

If Moon 000/000 then MON On

Option 2 would have the moon intensity correct and the rise/set times correct but only when they fall within your time setting. If the moon rose and set before or after your chosen times then the tank would see less (or no) moon.

To accomplish this you use the Moon command to turn them on at the correct intensity:

If Moon 000/000 then MON On

And then a dummy timer to turn them off (something) like this:

If Time > 21:00 Then DUM On
If Timer LT1 = ON Then DUM OFF (assuming you have a light that turns on at sunrise)

If Timer DUM = OFF Then MON OFF

(disclaimer; I didn't test this so it might not be perfect but the general idea is correct)

You could, if I understand what you might really be asking for (which is the same thing I do) it to have the MON on when the lights are off; then you have something like this:

If Moon 000/000 Then MON ON
If Timer VHO = ON Then MON OFF
If Timer MHD = ON Then MON OFF

JB NY · 04/30/2008, 12:30 PM

Option one is what I want to do. Thanks for your help.

JB NY · 04/30/2008, 12:46 PM

Just tried option one. It doesn't work. The time moonrise/set time changes everyday by about 45 min till the next new moon then it is back to 9:30 PM moonrise.

kenargo · 04/30/2008, 01:32 PM

I never did like editing the season table

Sorry about that; I forgot that the season table stores the 1st of the month and calculates everything else.

Oh well, option 2 or 3 will certainly work; I use option 3 but I've written code for option 2 for someone a while back (geez I've got to start collecting these code snippets). If you can't figure out option 2 send me a note; the code should be pretty close already though.

JB NY · 04/30/2008, 01:40 PM

But the way I am reading it. Option 2 & 3 do not allow me to have the moonlight always on between the hours of 9PM and sunrise, with only the intensity varying based on the moon cycle.

If I am misunderstanding something please let me know.

kenargo · 04/30/2008, 01:59 PM

You are correct; if you want the moon rise/set times to always be 9pm and sunrise then only the season table, which turned out to not work would be an option.

The other options would have the LEDs on and at variable intensity but the moon rise/set would still shift so you would have times where there was no moon.

I've heard that the ability to control the intensity is in the list of feature requests but no telling when/if it might be added to the AC. There is rumor of a new version in the works but I haven't heard anything about what the release will include.

04/29/2008, 07:10 PM	#1
JB NY Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2001 Location: Long Island, NY Posts: 8,329	Moonlight question Is there anyway to have my moonlight come on and dim to the correct intensity for the actaul moon phase, but have the moonlights come on at 9 PM every night and turn off at sunrise? __________________ -Joe Current Tank Info: 270G SPS tank. LR/LS modified berlin

04/29/2008, 07:26 PM	#2
kenargo Premium Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Redmond, WA Posts: 8,207	If I understand your question; you want the moon lights to be correct (phase) but only be on during the hours of 9- sun up, yes that is possible in any number of ways. __________________ Click on my name to visit my homepage and access a collection of AquaController and Apex software, tips, trick and other Q&A including a link to the 'unofficial Apex new users guide' with loads of helpful information and don't forget to put a pin in my location map. Current Tank Info: 225G, BK 300 Deluxe, Deltec PF601, Precision Marine Kalkreactor, 2-LMIII+6 pumps, SpectraPure UHE, Apex, LunarSim, Tunze 6305s. Mixed reef, clam, fish, etc.

04/29/2008, 08:08 PM	#3
JB NY Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2001 Location: Long Island, NY Posts: 8,329	so how? My understanding is If time > 21:00 then MON ON will turn the moonlights on to full intensity. How do I have them turn on at a defined time but be at the proper intensity level. __________________ -Joe Current Tank Info: 270G SPS tank. LR/LS modified berlin

04/29/2008, 08:45 PM	#4
kenargo Premium Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Redmond, WA Posts: 8,207	Yes, you are correct; the 'If Time > 21:00' will turn the moon light on at full intensity but like many things with the AC you solve the problem backwards; actually there are 2 solutions for this. The solution depends on what you want to do when there is no moon during the hours you mention. If you want the moon to always rise/set at the same times then you would modify the season tables and replace the rise/set times, leaving the intensity unchanged and use the following: If Moon 000/000 then MON On Option 2 would have the moon intensity correct and the rise/set times correct but only when they fall within your time setting. If the moon rose and set before or after your chosen times then the tank would see less (or no) moon. To accomplish this you use the Moon command to turn them on at the correct intensity: If Moon 000/000 then MON On And then a dummy timer to turn them off (something) like this: If Time > 21:00 Then DUM On If Timer LT1 = ON Then DUM OFF (assuming you have a light that turns on at sunrise) If Timer DUM = OFF Then MON OFF (disclaimer; I didn't test this so it might not be perfect but the general idea is correct) You could, if I understand what you might really be asking for (which is the same thing I do) it to have the MON on when the lights are off; then you have something like this: If Moon 000/000 Then MON ON If Timer VHO = ON Then MON OFF If Timer MHD = ON Then MON OFF __________________ Click on my name to visit my homepage and access a collection of AquaController and Apex software, tips, trick and other Q&A including a link to the 'unofficial Apex new users guide' with loads of helpful information and don't forget to put a pin in my location map. Current Tank Info: 225G, BK 300 Deluxe, Deltec PF601, Precision Marine Kalkreactor, 2-LMIII+6 pumps, SpectraPure UHE, Apex, LunarSim, Tunze 6305s. Mixed reef, clam, fish, etc.

04/30/2008, 12:30 PM	#5
JB NY Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2001 Location: Long Island, NY Posts: 8,329	Option one is what I want to do. Thanks for your help. __________________ -Joe Current Tank Info: 270G SPS tank. LR/LS modified berlin

04/30/2008, 12:46 PM	#6
JB NY Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2001 Location: Long Island, NY Posts: 8,329	Just tried option one. It doesn't work. The time moonrise/set time changes everyday by about 45 min till the next new moon then it is back to 9:30 PM moonrise. __________________ -Joe Current Tank Info: 270G SPS tank. LR/LS modified berlin

04/30/2008, 01:32 PM	#7
kenargo Premium Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Redmond, WA Posts: 8,207	I never did like editing the season table Sorry about that; I forgot that the season table stores the 1st of the month and calculates everything else. Oh well, option 2 or 3 will certainly work; I use option 3 but I've written code for option 2 for someone a while back (geez I've got to start collecting these code snippets). If you can't figure out option 2 send me a note; the code should be pretty close already though. __________________ Click on my name to visit my homepage and access a collection of AquaController and Apex software, tips, trick and other Q&A including a link to the 'unofficial Apex new users guide' with loads of helpful information and don't forget to put a pin in my location map. Current Tank Info: 225G, BK 300 Deluxe, Deltec PF601, Precision Marine Kalkreactor, 2-LMIII+6 pumps, SpectraPure UHE, Apex, LunarSim, Tunze 6305s. Mixed reef, clam, fish, etc.

04/30/2008, 01:40 PM	#8
JB NY Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2001 Location: Long Island, NY Posts: 8,329	But the way I am reading it. Option 2 & 3 do not allow me to have the moonlight always on between the hours of 9PM and sunrise, with only the intensity varying based on the moon cycle. If I am misunderstanding something please let me know. __________________ -Joe Current Tank Info: 270G SPS tank. LR/LS modified berlin

04/30/2008, 01:59 PM	#9
kenargo Premium Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Redmond, WA Posts: 8,207	You are correct; if you want the moon rise/set times to always be 9pm and sunrise then only the season table, which turned out to not work would be an option. The other options would have the LEDs on and at variable intensity but the moon rise/set would still shift so you would have times where there was no moon. I've heard that the ability to control the intensity is in the list of feature requests but no telling when/if it might be added to the AC. There is rumor of a new version in the works but I haven't heard anything about what the release will include. __________________ Click on my name to visit my homepage and access a collection of AquaController and Apex software, tips, trick and other Q&A including a link to the 'unofficial Apex new users guide' with loads of helpful information and don't forget to put a pin in my location map. Current Tank Info: 225G, BK 300 Deluxe, Deltec PF601, Precision Marine Kalkreactor, 2-LMIII+6 pumps, SpectraPure UHE, Apex, LunarSim, Tunze 6305s. Mixed reef, clam, fish, etc.