Why do we use blue lights for "moonlights"?

Gahngoo · 04/17/2011, 11:29 PM

I'm currently building a DIY LED fixture to replace my T5 fixture. My other fixture has moonlights. I thought I might put some on the LED fixture too.

Then I got to thinking

, why are all the moonlights blue? I mean, the moon isn't blue. It's got kind of a grey hue to it. I was thinking about using white LEDs that have been sprayed with a dark tinted paint (to give a dim greyish light) or some other sort of muted pale light.

Any opinions or suggestions?

Blown 346 · 04/18/2011, 01:58 AM

Blue moonlights give off a similar effect in the ocean at night. Some say they have a benefit for corals. They are mainly used for viewing pleasure for you at night.

snorvich · 04/18/2011, 04:47 AM

When diving at night the effect of the moon is blueish. I only run my moonlights until 10 PM

Gold Stripe · 04/18/2011, 09:47 AM

My understanding is that the blue light travels deeper into the water than other spectrums. Since our tank is only 2 feet deep and the ocean is, well, deeper, we give the light a little help by going ahead and using blue light since there isnt enough water in our tank to filter out the other spectrums.

We use whiter light during the day because the sun is quite a bit brighter than the moon so its light travels deeper before it is filtered to blue.

kjreiner72 · 04/18/2011, 01:38 PM

Very interesting. I thought about the blue to. But the corals look so good under them I never gave it a second thought.

snorvich · 04/18/2011, 02:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kjreiner72

Very interesting. I thought about the blue to. But the corals look so good under them I never gave it a second thought.

I think some folks use royal blue which has an even more interesting look. But for that you need LED of that coloration.

Gahngoo · 04/18/2011, 10:53 PM

I have used royal blue LEDs too, but I was just wondering what the thought process was. I know about blue spectrum at depth, but I just figured that the moon is so dim, that it would not make it to any depth anyway. Just a thought. Thanks for the replies.

docstomper · 04/19/2011, 11:01 AM

I usually stand in front of my tank in my Three Wolf Moon T-shirt. My MH's reflect off the moon and My corals start really get good extension...

Lol, I couldnt help it.

Bad LS1 · 04/19/2011, 01:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by docstomper

I usually stand in front of my tank in my Three Wolf Moon T-shirt. My MH's reflect off the moon and My corals start really get good extension...

Lol, I couldnt help it.

There has to be a "once in a blue moon" joke in here somewhere.

04/17/2011, 11:29 PM	#1
Gahngoo Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Central Florida Posts: 43	Why do we use blue lights for "moonlights"? I'm currently building a DIY LED fixture to replace my T5 fixture. My other fixture has moonlights. I thought I might put some on the LED fixture too. Then I got to thinking, why are all the moonlights blue? I mean, the moon isn't blue. It's got kind of a grey hue to it. I was thinking about using white LEDs that have been sprayed with a dark tinted paint (to give a dim greyish light) or some other sort of muted pale light. Any opinions or suggestions? __________________ I like to glue animals to rocks and put disturbing amounts of electricity and saltwater next to each other. =) Current Tank Info: 180g, 156 Cree XP LEDs, 8" pink maxima and 6" blue maxima clams, softies, LPS, SPS, lot-O-critters ----- 10g nano with 24 XR Cree LEDs with several LPS, yellow watchman goby and a fat target mandarin dragonette

04/18/2011, 04:47 AM	#3
snorvich Team RC member Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Outlander Posts: 40,953 Blog Entries: 46	When diving at night the effect of the moon is blueish. I only run my moonlights until 10 PM __________________ Warmest regards, ~Steve~

04/18/2011, 09:47 AM	#4
Gold Stripe Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2004 Posts: 977	My understanding is that the blue light travels deeper into the water than other spectrums. Since our tank is only 2 feet deep and the ocean is, well, deeper, we give the light a little help by going ahead and using blue light since there isnt enough water in our tank to filter out the other spectrums. We use whiter light during the day because the sun is quite a bit brighter than the moon so its light travels deeper before it is filtered to blue. __________________ I swear its the last coral I will buy honey ...... I promise!

04/18/2011, 01:38 PM	#5
kjreiner72 Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Clifton ,CO. Posts: 100	Very interesting. I thought about the blue to. But the corals look so good under them I never gave it a second thought. __________________ kjreiner

04/18/2011, 10:53 PM	#7
Gahngoo Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Central Florida Posts: 43	I have used royal blue LEDs too, but I was just wondering what the thought process was. I know about blue spectrum at depth, but I just figured that the moon is so dim, that it would not make it to any depth anyway. Just a thought. Thanks for the replies. __________________ I like to glue animals to rocks and put disturbing amounts of electricity and saltwater next to each other. =) Current Tank Info: 180g, 156 Cree XP LEDs, 8" pink maxima and 6" blue maxima clams, softies, LPS, SPS, lot-O-critters ----- 10g nano with 24 XR Cree LEDs with several LPS, yellow watchman goby and a fat target mandarin dragonette

04/18/2011, 01:58 AM	#2
Blown 346 Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Rockford, Illinois Posts: 6,596	Blue moonlights give off a similar effect in the ocean at night. Some say they have a benefit for corals. They are mainly used for viewing pleasure for you at night.

04/19/2011, 11:01 AM	#8
docstomper Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: North Las Vegas Posts: 230	I usually stand in front of my tank in my Three Wolf Moon T-shirt. My MH's reflect off the moon and My corals start really get good extension... Lol, I couldnt help it. __________________ 200g Cube 48x48x20 Lighting: 2x SunBlaze 48" x 8 bulb t5, Vertex in-180 (until upgrade), Closed loop with Dolphin Amp Master. Current Tank Info: 180 reef. 48" 8 bulb t5, dolphin amp master return,

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