Light timing on new tank

[dime079]

My tank has been set up for about 3 weeks now and while it cycled I only had the lights on for about 3-4 hours a day. Is it time to start turning them on for longer? Do I turn both the day and the actinic on at the same time or one first for "dawn" then again for "dusk" not quite sure how this works out. and once everything is on a normal schedule what should the times be per day? I've read everything from 8-12 hours a day.

thanks in advance

 

[scrmbld33]

you can start turning them on next week for 8 hrs, the go to your normal scd, i do actinics for 12hrs MH for 8, how long they are on is really up to you, for thedusk/dawn turn actinics on at say 11am then other lights on at 1pm off at 9pm then actincs off at 11pm,

 

[dime079]

should i gradually move up to 8 hours or just do it in one day?

 

[scrmbld33]

i did in one day with the rock i cured in the tank, i cured a second batch of rock and did gradually, i think youll be ok either way i saw no real differance

 

[PatMayo]

Until you get corals that need a long light cycle I think it is in your best interest to keep the lighting period as short as possible. Fish don't care and if you are taking your time and letting the tank age, you too will not have much in the tank for awhile.

Additionally, you will battle the inevitable algae and nutrient problem. Longer lighting than what you really need in a new tank will cause more harm than good.

My tank has been up for 105 days now, I only have 2 fish, a couple emerald crabs, assorted snails and hermits.

My actinics turn on at 1 pm and the MH turn on at 2 pm. The MH turn off at 10 pm and the actinic at 11 pm.

It is plenty of light for the tank and now that it has some time and is ageing nicely a lot of the algae problems are disappearing and the coralline is growing like mad.

I would let your algae be your guide.

Anyway, that has been my experience, yours may vary. If you have a great skimmer, don't overfeed and your phosphates are low you may not have much of a problem. (And good flow helps a bunch.)

Regards,

Pat