Lighting Question????

[doconnell]

I have a 75 gallon tank with 200 watts of a combination of blue and white lighting. Would everyone agree that keeping the lights on 12 -14 hours a day is good, too much or just fine?

I have coral and just a couple fish. I'm growing algae like there is no tomorrow. I have snails and crabs to try to keep up with it but it is not. So, I'm thinking I'm keeping the lights on too long.

Any thoughts!!

Danette

 

[cloakerpoked]

Quite possible. Is the tank t-5 lighting? If so how high do you have it above the tank, and are you running the bulbs regularly, or overdriving? Either way, I think that your light cycle is probably a lot too long, and if you can cut off most of the lights for part of the day when you won't be able to view the tank anyway, that would be very advantageous for you.

 

[raynist]

I run my lights For 6 hours a day 14 is way too much

 

[Spyder_78]

I run my lights for 12 hours (granted I am only using PC's) and I don't have an algae problem.
something that I have been told and I truly agree with is that cutting light time to fix an algae problem will not work by itself. You really must look at the bigger picture here, sure if you cut the lights back some of the algae will die off but what happens if you bump the light time back up? My thoughts on algae problems is to take away as much algae food as possible and that means lights, PO4 and NO3 as a group.

 

[Mitsuko]

Slowly start to cut the hours back and you'll be shocked with the change in colors. There's multiple threads and discussions on cutting the light period back with positive results. I only run my light for 6 hours a day and have had happy sps for over a year in a nano.

 

[hybridazn]

i run mine anywhere from 8-10 hrs a day. PC lighting with no algae overgrowth or anything i would consider out of the ordinary. i would cut the hrs down to around 8-10 with weekly waterchanges and watch how much you feed the fish. also what is your filtration setup? also if you wanted you could try a UV sterilizer

 

[doconnell]

that was all great advice. thank you very much as I greatly appreciate it.

 

[doconnell]

that was all great advice. thank you very much as I greatly appreciate it.

 

[Steven Pro]

Are you running T5HO, PC, VHO, or NO? Depending on the type of lighting, it could be way too much or just about right.

 

[sedor]

No harm in cutting back. Coral can survive with a minimum of about 5 hours per day, and they take the most from the first hour of the day. I would bring your light period down to around 8 hours and go from there. Its very advantageous to run your lights on a timer, when your home only in order to take full advantage.