lighting period

[yraveh]

Hi. Is there an article that can guide me regarding the best length of lighting period?
also do we do seasonal changes?

 

[thegrun]

You do not need seasonal lighting changes unless you are trying to stimulate spawning. Ideally your photo period should mimic nature, so about a 12 hour total phot period, with 3-4 hours at peak intensity and 4-5 hour ramp up and ramp down periods.

 

[Ron Reefman]

Most coral has zooxanthellae (algae) that need 4 to 6 hours of strong light to do photosynthesis, which also feeds the coral. After 4 to 6 hours the photosynthesis shuts down even if you maintain an intense light.

In nature on the reef, from sunrise to 9 or 10am is unused (too dim and too steep an angle to the water to penetrate much at all). The same goes for sunlight after 2 or 3 in the afternoon. No daylight savings time on the reef!