You've probably already read the blog series on our JBL LED SOLAR CONTROL , under LED control unit for the automatic regulation of the aquarium lighting and Manual mode for unlimited freedom – JBL LED SOLAR CONTROL and got a good overview of how the control unit and the corresponding app work. We also showed you how to recreate a themed aquarium in manual mode and then modify it to your liking.
But as you have probably already noticed, we have launched a completely new and independent version 2 of the app. After listening to a lot of requests from our community, we have added some new features and improved its operation. We’ve made lots of changes to the setup especially. Since the firmware has to be upgraded when you update the JBL SOLAR CONTROL to the new system, we’ve overwritten all the old settings. To accompany this we have updated the existing blog " DIY themed aquarium - LED SOLAR CONTROL in expert mode ", so that with the new update you can also set up one of the great themed aquariums in manual mode.
Of course, it assumes that the nutrient balance is in equilibrium (more on this under Fertilization is not just fertilization Part 1 ) and that all elements needed for plant growth are available. CO2 is also an important element here, and it is definitely needed in a strong light like the JBL LED SOLAR NATUR . You can read more about this in the following article: Why plants grow better with CO2 .
Themed aquariums in manual mode
Please note that these data are only approximate values, because in the automatic programmes every day is different, with 365 settings a year, adapted to the seasons.
In addition, the settings differ minimally depending on the LED variant arising from the wattage per cm2 strip light. We have already made this adjustment for you in the automatic programmes. So consider the following values as a guideline only, to be adjusted to suit your requirements and those of the plant stock.
| Light colour | Warm white | Cool white | Red | Green | Blue | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Community aquarium | 4500K | 44% | 57% | 100% | 20% | 30% |
| JBL Dreamscape® | 5000K | 36% | 85% | 100% | 100% | 100% |
| JBL Rio Pantanal® | 4000K | 55% | 55% | 80% | 50% | 50% |
| JBL Malawi Rocks® | 6000K | 25% | 98% | 100% | 100% | 100% |
| JBL Goldfish Paradise® | 3500K | 80% | 23% | 100% | 0% | 30% |
*Beispiel 24W Beleuchtung
(In the app, the light values are defined from 0 to 100 %)
The daily sequence in manual mode
In automatic mode, the maximum duration of the day is limited to ten hours and includes 30 minutes each of sunrise and sunset. Each sun phase shines for at least two hours at a time before a cloud phase or thunderstorm occurs. Thunderstorms occur only once during the day for a defined period of time and then emit a fixed number of lightning bolts. The frequency of the lightning increases towards the end of the period. For a smooth transition we recommend you let each alternation run for at least 5-10 minutes. Please refer to the following tables for the duration of the thunderstorm phase per day and that of the cloud phase.
Community aquarium
| Parameters | Min (h) | Max (h) | Average (h) |
|---|---|---|---|
| hours of sunshine | 7.0 | 9.0 | 7.9 |
| Cloud phases | 1.0 | 3.0 | 2.1 |
| Thunderstorms | 0.2 | 0.5 | 0.4 |
JBL Dreamscape®
| Parameters | Min (h) | Max (h) | Average (h) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hours of sunshine | 8.0 | 9.0 | 8.4 |
| Cloud phases | 1.0 | 2.0 | 1.6 |
| Thunderstorms | 0.2 | 0.5 | 0.3 |
JBL Rio Pantanal®
| Parameters | Min (h) | Max (h) | Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hours of sunshine | 4.5 | 8.0 | 5.9 |
| Cloud phase | 2.0 | 5.5 | 4.1 |
| Thunderstorm | 0.5 | 1.9 | 1.0 |
JBL Malawi Rocks®
| Parameters | Min (h) | Max (h) | Average (h) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hours of sunshine | 5.0 | 10.0 | 6.9 |
| Cloud phases | 5.0 | 3.1 | |
| Thunderstorms | 1.5 | 0.6 |
JBL Goldfish Paradise®
| Parameters | Min (h) | Max (h) | Average(h) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hours of sunshine | 4.0 | 8.5 | 5.9 |
| Cloud phases | 1.5 | 6.0 | 4.1 |
| Thunderstorms | 1.0 | 3.0 | 2.0 |
Setting cloud phases and thunderstorms correctly in the manual mode
Once you have decided on your ideal daily sequence and the distribution of effects, you need to set the cloud phases and flashes correctly. To help you with this, we have defined some sample colour values that you can adapt to your light setting as you wish. It is advisable to start with these values and then change them according to your wishes.
The colours of the flashes are stored in the app and are displayed in three different colours. This simulates an effect that is as natural as possible and looks deceptively real both during the day and at night.
Select as a number between 2 and 5.
Sunrise & sunset in manual mode
Last but not least, the start and end of a day in the aquarium - the sunrise and the sunset. The settings are quite easy to define. They only differ between use with or without JBL LED SOLAR EFFECT. If you have not installed the effect lighting, select warm white at level 3 instead of 0.
Your individual light setup
Once you’ve tried some of these settings, we hope you’ll find these guidelines have helped you on your way to your perfect light setup in the aquarium with the JBL LED SOLAR CONTROL . Keep in mind, however, that an incorrect setting can be unfavourable for your plants due to too long lighting durations or inappropriate colour matching. Your plants need to adjust to every change you make, so make your changes little and often. A one-off large change can be applied without problems by using the acclimatisation mode, which runs at 50 % of the setting and then slowly increases. This also prevents algae growth from becoming a problem.
Tell us your light setup in the comments and share it with the other readers of this post.
