Lighting question ?

[KnoxvilleIa]

Could I get a few opinions please.

I have just set up a 125 that I am going to put some sps in.
I have a 55 gal fuge with a 6" sand bed, 5 mangroves.
turbofloter 5000.
I just fired up my light for a full day 8 hrs.
the rock (125 lbs) has been in the shade for a while and is lacking in color.
the light is 3 x 250 20k halides, 4 x 160 vho actinic.
the tank sat for 3 weeks just with house heat. around 69 to 70 deg.
The light is built in to a 1x12 stained pine enclosure the bulb is 5"
above the bottom.
the light is hanging7" above the water. I had it higher but a ton of light went into the room.

after 8 hrs temp is 80.5

what would be sugested for lighting times ?
I think I need to run the halids less or maybe just 2 ? or a combination

I have some sps in a frag tank (40g breeder) under a single 250
hqi 10k

so help me with a light schedule.
all the actinics can be individually controled as well as the halids.

Thanks

 

[SnkyJake]

I tried finding the tank of the month thread (I think it was March 2006) about a killer tank, and the photoperiod he used... but to no avail.

I'm pretty sure it was 8 hours with halides is fine, and I believe he had a 2 hour dawn and 2 hour dusk with actinics. (I think he had moon led's too)

I just remember his tank was unbelievable with growth and coloration, so I made my lighting period similar to his. If Covey reads this, he may remember the thread.....

 

[leeweber85]

Do you have fans in the canopy? They do A LOT! to help cool the tank down. 8-9 hrs a day is perfectly fine.

 

[lllosingit]

So if I understand this right, You temp before turning on the halides was 69-70 and after 8 hours it was up to 80?
If thats the case if your going to have a problem keeping a steady temp without a cooling solution.
Do you have any fans in the hood?
Open or closed back on the hood?