lighting time

[theenz2000]

How long should I leave on my lights on? I have coral life high out put compact.... 2 10,000k and 2 blue actinic, plus moonlights. I have been running both the 10k and actinics pretty much 8 hours a day, then moon lights for 8 hours. I need a timer, going to buy one, but would like to know if I should run certain lights at certain times and for how long. I have shrooms, 2 leathers, zoo's, button polyps, stoney polyps, and star polyps. Everything is doing well, but I want a consistent plan on my lighting since I'm going to buy a timer. How about some suggestions please. Thanks.

 

[kenettson1]

Sounds like you're on the right track. I would get a couple timers from Loews and keep it at about what you have it. You could do a sunrise and sunset by having the actinics on for 8-10 hrs, the 10ks for 6-8 hours (w/actinics on too), and then run the moonlights when PC are off.

BTW - Welcome to Reef Central!!

 

[theenz2000]

thanks

thanks

I thought that would be a good idea from research; just wanted some back up knowledge. I appreciate the help and will the sunset sunrise. Colts will do it again..... go Cubbies!!!

 

[zrichard]

is 12 hrs on 12 hrs off bad????

 

[Blackacid]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=10496908#post10496908 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by zrichard
is 12 hrs on 12 hrs off bad????

Heh. I was just going to ask the same thing. This is what I'm doing.

 

[kenettson1]

12 on 12 off isnt bad but I guess it depends on what lights you're using. Ive done that in the past but I go only 7 hours now with 2 400 watters over a sps 225 gallon. I went 8-10 hours with 250 watters.

Many people on here with intense lighting setups go even shorter than me. YOu may find some more help in a forum that is specific to what corals you are keeping.

 

[zrichard]

I have a tall 110 gal tank, it has 2 halides10,000K and 2 - 96 watt actinic bulbs... what would you do.. Its a fish only except for mushrooms...
Now my reef tank is 29 gallons, it has a coralife light on it.. And it has a 65 watt actinic and a 65 watt 10,000k.
is less better for corals...Hope to hear your suggestions.. thanks.

 

[DaveAngie79]

if you have yet to buy your timers home depot carries a digital thats about 10$ very easy to use i have two of them
also i run my brights a total of 12 hours on and one hour before my actinic come on and stay on one hour after

 

[kenettson1]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=10504550#post10504550 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by zrichard
I have a tall 110 gal tank, it has 2 halides10,000K and 2 - 96 watt actinic bulbs... what would you do.. Its a fish only except for mushrooms...
Now my reef tank is 29 gallons, it has a coralife light on it.. And it has a 65 watt actinic and a 65 watt 10,000k.
is less better for corals...Hope to hear your suggestions.. thanks.

IMO you're wasting your money and will be scraping a lot more algae with halides on a FO w shrooms tank. Shrooms will grow with very little light so you can downsize to about whatever you want. Thatis unless you like the halide shimmer... which I do.

For the reef tank I would take one of the halides from the 110 and put it on the 29. What do you plan on keeping in it? You could probably keep whatever you wanted with a halide over a 29.