How long should i leave my lights on and at what frequency?

[TeamTripleZero]

My tank is a 25 gallon with 2 perc clowns, and one BTA anemone. It is 15 inches deep and 15 long. I have one reef breeders VALUE fixture. Just wondering how long i should leave the whites and blues on and at what frequency. Also when I should turn them off to give the fish a break

 

[TrevorHenry]

8-10 hour everyday, my suggestion would be when your home and not at work. So you get to see your tank for all its worth.

Check your PAR reading on the tank with the light and aim for like 300s minimum.

 

[OrionN]

I leave my tank lighted for 12 hrs. In the tropic the day length is closest to 12 hrs.

 

[CoralsAddiction]

I leave my tank lighted for 12 hrs. In the tropic the day length is closest to 12 hrs.

+1. My light is set to run from 9 am to 9 pm.

 

[TrevorHenry]

When ever I run 12 hours I have terrible algae growth.

 

[ThRoewer]

When ever I run 12 hours I have terrible algae growth.

That isn't a primarily problem of the light on duration but of too many nutrients and no competition.

I have my lights on from 9:00 to 0:00 (15h) and no algae problems. But my coralline algae grow like on crack and so do most of my corals.

The other thing you need is some snails and hermit crabs to keep algae down during the startup phase.

Dosing 2 component solution and Kalkwasser to the max also helps to kick start the coralline and the Kalkwasser also binds PO4.

Of course the right spectral mix of the light is also important. At her beginning I had the light more on the blue end of the spectrum and then gradually increased the white portion.