250w DE Hours Per Day?

[Travis Savant]

Hey guys, I was wondering for those of you who have 250w DE MH bulbs over your SPS tanks how many hours per day do the MH lights stay on?

Thanks

 

[Don Berry]

I run mine 9

 

[DMK]

6. used to run them 10, then 8, now 6. the less i run, the better coloring. i think 6-7 is fine.

 

[Travis Savant]

Thanks DMK, My SPS colors have been washing out. I am running 8 HPD right now, but I am going to try 6.

 

[BlueStag]

I run 7 hrs.

 

[docwells]

I run 6 hours.

 

[jsweir]

4 hours - just up from 3.5 this week.

 

[turtlespd]

6hrs

 

[Ti]

3.5

 

[Vampire2]

5 hours.

 

[10" Red Devil]

Hey Travis,

I would try raising the light. I raised mine to about the 23" and sps are starting to color up much more. I guess a 250 DE was made to penetrate about 3 feet and still have par to spare so you may be blasting them with too much light.

I would show you a pic, but my camera is a budget model and is crap.

 

[calvinreef]

8 hrs. didn't notice any wash out, probably tank nutrient is not dead low

 

[jackson6745]

3hrs

 

[DocReefer]

I've been running 8 hrs just because I would like more growth and if the main nutrient source is light it stands to reason that light reactions need to be high (of course as well as dark reactions). I realize keeping the lights on 24/7 would not be great but I was wondering if anyone has done a study on the optimal curve for light versus dark. I've noticed there is "better" coloration with less light for some corals since they get darker and, as anyone who has taken pictures will tell you underexposed pics tend to look a little nicer than overexposed washed out pics. If you keep lights on forever, the corals tend to bleach somewhat and appear more washed out. At least that's what I've noticed.

 

[jjjimmy]

10 hours for me.

 

[boofer]

8 here.

 

[alten78]

7 for me, no suppl either...

 

[Fungia]

2x250w DE 9hrs 1x400w SE 4hrs in the mid over a 48x24x30" tank.

 

[chadhender]

5 HOURS HERE

 

[GMFett]

On your tank i'd say run your halide about 5 hours a day. if you want more viewing time- increase it. just increase it slowly. not like 3 hours more one day but stretch it out over a few weeks instead.