Another lighting question + a skimmer question

[edrock200]

This on is simple, well at least I think it is. With "24 hour" lighting systems do you leave the actinic lights on when your "noon lights" come on? I have an orbit lighting system with 2x150DE MH's + 2x130 actinic power flourescent bulbs. When I setup my timers should I have the actinic shut off when the MH's come on?

I'm guessing no...and the only reason I'm guessing that is because with my last orbit the fans were tied to the actinic lights, not the white lights, which led me to believe they expected the actinics to be on with or without your daytime lights.

Second question, when I add a calcium supplement to my tank like purple up do I need to turn off my skimmer and/or any carbon filtration?

Sorry for the dumb question and thanks in advance for the replies.

-Ed

 

[bertoni]

If you leave the actinics on, the tank will get more light and some animals, etc, might grow more rapidly. Other than that, it's a personal choice. Most people have the actinics on when the MH is on, I would guess.

Calcium supplements generally aren't removed by skimmers. I would be careful with Purple-Up because it's a mix of various ingredients, including some I wouldnt want to dose, personally.

 

[comatose]

No the actinics stay on with the MH lights.

you don't need to shut the skimmer off with calcium supplement....only when you feed some people do.

 

[edrock200]

Thanks for the replies. Bertoni, would you mind elaborating on Purple up? What do you use instead?

 

[bertoni]

The Purple-Up contains strontium, magnesium, calcium, and iodine. I wouldn't dose the strontium or the iodine, and I would only dose calcium and magnesium when a test shows they're needed. In general, keeping the calcium and alkalinity in line should be fine for coralline. B-Ionic is a good way to do that.

 

[edrock200]

Good info. Thanks again.

 

[jimbo045]

No need to turn off skimmer, I use PurpleUp as well.