How long should i keep my halides on?

[Huggyjd]

Just got back in to the hobby. I recently set up a new 150 reef. I am looking for a general concensus on how long i should run my 3 halides. Its going to be mostly softies and anemones. I have 3- 250watt XM halides . 10,000k on each end and a 20,000 k in the middle and 2, 72" uri 03 actinic vho's all running on icecap ballasts . They are all about 11" above the water line. Thanks.

 

[UnderwaterExotic]

My 400w are on for 12 hours a day!

 

[jasper24]

I have mostly lps, softies, and a clam. Run mine 9-10.

 

[JUSTIN 1234]

My 150w is on for 10 hours a day.

 

[Larry Waughon]

I run my MH for 10 hours and my actinic for 12 hours.

 

[steve the plumb]

8 hrs is the reccomended time to leave mh bulbs on.After that the corals don't photosynthasis.

 

[LobsterOfJustice]

I run mine for 8 hours... no particular reason, it's just what I ended up with. I run the actinic for 12 though.

 

[michaeldaly]

I rum my halides for 12 hours a day, I have no actinic supplementation

 

[Cutiewitbooty]

I run mine for 12 hours and actinics for 13 hours a day. I really want to cut the MH down though.

 

[DMK]

started mine @ 12/day, cut to 10, then 8, now 6 a day. all i can say is each time i cut back i noticed improvements sps/lps colors. VHO actinics always at 13/day. i'd say 6-8hrs/day is best.

 

[Huggyjd]

THANKS ALL!!!!!!

 

[dattong]

MH 8hrs Actinics 12hrs

 

[anglecoral]

8 hours

 

[mystikdragon7]

8 hours for my MH and 10 hours for my actinics. Everything is growing great. And also my power bill is lower because I use to run them for 12-13 hours a day and I am getting the same results cutting them back to 8 hours a day.