How long to keep lights on?

[davben2001]

I have 260 watts of power compact lights. 130 watts of 12,000k lights and 130 watts of 03 actinic.

I usually run the actinics 12 hours and the 12,000k 10 hours. I am having a small problem with algae and am wondering if I am running the lights to long.

My nitrates stay below 10ppm.

How long does everybody else run there lights?

 

[davben2001]

I tried doing a search on here but it says it is temporarly turned off.

 

[mnestroy]

Thats a pretty average amount of time...

Theres no exact rule, experiment, a little, but I'd say 12hrs is pretty close to the longest I'd want to go.

 

[dileggi]

I do a 12 hours with my whites, and 14 with my actinics. I actinics go on 1 hour before my whites and go off one hour after my whites.

 

[masonicman]

I have PCs and I run my actinic from 10:30AM until 8PM. I run my daylight from 11AM until 7PM. How old are you bulbs. I usually change mine every 6 months.

https://www.aquatraders.com/index.asp?PageAction=VIEWCATS&Category=48

 

[davben2001]

My bulbs are only 2 months old.

 

[masonicman]

Is you light fixture laying right on top of the tank? I also raised mine with the stands that came with it to reduce the heating of my water. If not then just cut your hours back to 10 and 9 hours for the actinic and day. It works for me. I used to have an algea problem when I ran my light that long like you have yours. I cut back down a few times until I got to this point and excessive algea growth stopped