A thought/experiment.

[CrazyEyes]

So for the past two weeks I've been trying out something a little different over my zoa tank. Before I would run my lights at blue - 40% and whites around 15-20% for about 10 hours. Lately I've been blasting them with light, almost 80% on the blues and 40-50% on the white but for only 5-6 hours. And so far they seem to be enjoying the change. I know Emmett does this over his 180g with his halides. Has anyone else ever tried something similar? And if so what was your experience?

 

[Ted_C]

Is the change "forever"? or is it just mixing it up every once and a while with a shorter photoperiod but more intensity?

 

[LiquidCache]

I have been running a simlar scenario with my LEDs lately. From about 7am to 12am they ramp slowly up to about 50% blue and 20% whites, then around 2pm to 7pm i'm pretty much 100% on all channels. Then back down until night night time.

So far everything is doing well.

 

[CrazyEyes]

I've been doing it this way everyday for the past two weeks to see what would happen. And so far so good. I remember reading an article, I think it was from Joshporksandwich who said he runs his light more intense with a shorter photoperiod. The way he explains it is, since they have less time to use the light they take in more light during the shorter photoperiod.

 

[RiddleEagle18]

There is a study I will look for when I get some more time that says 4 hours of light is best for coral growth. After 4 hours the corals stop the growth cycle. Then several hours off and start another 4 hour cycle. Seems some coral propagation businesses run their light this way multiple times a day.

Something like that at least. Ill be searching...

 

[rogergolf66]

My frag tank I only run all the lights for 2 and a half hours a day. Same thing. My par with everything on is 900par I still run the blues very low par 11 hours it's just 2 t5,so over a 120 gal so really dosnt have much par at all.

Roger

 

[LiquidCache]

My frag tank I only run all the lights for 2 and a half hours a day. Same thing. My par with everything on is 900par I still run the blues very low par 11 hours it's just 2 t5,so over a 120 gal so really dosnt have much par at all.

Roger

I think this is the way to go for superior growth. I've seen a few other tanks that run only one or two T5s like you for the majority of the day and then for an hour or two they blast two MH lamps.