Settings For Simulations

[ReefClownMIA]

I am trying to have ALL the events occur as naturally as possible and still maintain enough "bright time" for the corals.

This is the idea - same here
I'm a huge fan of varying the lighting, to not be static.

Thus far I have not been able to get sunrise / sunset going the whole tank just gradually brightens or dims according to the illumination runs

Define Sunrise/Sunset? What is it that you're expecting, vs what you're getting now?

my passing clouds are too frequent and I don't (think ) I get lighting with the rainy days

lighting, or lightening?
Rainy days are dimmed by the % you specify, it's just a dimmed day, it's not a thunderstorm, no lightening.

my random thunder storms are also too infrequent.

This should be simple.
Illumination -> Thunderstorm -> Random thunderstorm:
Waiting time min. XX / max. XX HOURS
This specifies how much time minimum and maximum time between the thunderstorms. I have mine set for Min: 48 Max 120
Details: it will wait a minimum of 48 hours, and up to 120 hours, after completion of the past thunderstorm, before starting a new one. Sometime between 48-120 hours.

The programming manual provides a discription of the various settings but not " typical" values used to obtain specific results, did anyone out ther suceede at setting this up well and are willing to share? also can the guys at GHL provide a bit more guidance to get the various simulations happening in a specific ways? or is this done strictly by trial and error?

D.

As we have a wide variety of customer applications, in addition to Reef Tanks, we have freshwater tanks, tropical and planted tanks, etc - there really is nothing short of an encyclopedia sized book required to go over all of the possible combinations.
I'd be happy to share what I use, and I'm sure others would share as well. may get more traction on R2R or the FB group though.

My personal opinion? It's mostly trial and error, what works for some, others will strongly dislike.
For instance I don't do the thunderstorms anymore, however I do use cloudy days, seasonal lighting, and moon phase.