Lights on a timer

[bmallia82]

Any suggestions on how long to keep my atinics on in the morning and in the eveing. The room I have my tank in does receive sunlight in the am and througout the day, but it is not direct light.

I was thinking at 9am my atinics go on then at 11am my daylight lights go on w/ the atinincs. 8pm my daylight lights go off and my atinics stay on from 8 - 10

 

[nm354]

my lights are on from 11-10

 

[Paintbug]

i have the actinics come on 1 hour before and after the day lights.

 

[shadowman70]

I agree with paintbug.....mine do the same .......the moon lights come on as soon as they go off

 

[bmallia82]

I have a moon light as well. How long does that go on for??

 

[shadowman70]

The whole night........and the go off when the actinics come on......and an hour later the daylights come on .....etc etc etc.....I bought a kewl power strip that runs it all on one strip......very kewl

 

[shadowman70]

The timers are built on to the strip and it runs all three sets of lights......to clarify....

 

[angelsj247]

where did you get that from?

 

[Paintbug]

i have the moonlights on all night as well. i use 3 timers.

 

[shadowman70]

I got it from teh LFS.....let me check the brand name........will get back to ya in a few

 

[shadowman70]

It is from coralife....here is the strip....http://www.drsfostersmith.com/Product/Prod_Display.cfm?pcatid=11304

 

[shadowman70]

I actaully have two of those ......one runs my lights and the other runs my wave maker....they work really great......I love em.....nice and tidy.....reasonabley priced

 

[bmallia82]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7291287#post7291287 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by shadowman70
I actaully have two of those ......one runs my lights and the other runs my wave maker....they work really great......I love em.....nice and tidy.....reasonabley priced

Shadowman, I have the same tank as you. Can I see pics please.

 

[shadowman70]

I dont have any pics yet......I need to try to take some......my tank is a work in progress.......I am actually going to pic up another 100 pounds of live rock today from another reefer who has to sell all his stuff.........but I will get some pics soon......how long have you had your wave......I am actually about to buy a second one that is a right hand one and put the small ends together so it takes up the whole wall in my living room.......

 

[Spuds725]

Regarding the AM lights, IMO--- two hours is not necessary if the room is receiving indirect sunlight... tank is in a room like that and my fish are all awake long before my lights come on at 11..

If you find this is the case with your tank, then you might want to shorten the AM actinic on and make it a little closer to when the main lights come one.... save you a little bit of money... the PM schedule sounds fine...

my 2 cents anyway..

 

[shadowman70]

I have read that if you do run your actinics a little longer as it would in nature is promotes breeding habits among your pairs......dont know if that is true or not....

 

[Spuds725]

I have yet to see an Actinic bulb over a reef in Nature.... (j/k)

my point was/is (and you can correct me if I'm wrong) is that the actinics simulate dusk and dawn... but his room getting daylight and lighting the tank indirectly is accomplishing the same thing-- so the lighting is kind of redundant... of course if he is keeping coral, they will like getting acclimated too the light by running the actinic for that period in the AM-- less of a shock when the main lights come on...

So I will ammend my advice and only recommend that for FOWLR setups...