Lights on sps

[nangle2323]

i have 2 t5's and 3 250 watts metal halide and i am new to keeping sps i am running my lights abt 7 hours a day just wondering if i should run them longer . i run them 7 hours a day to keep light bill down lol . any advice is appreciated

 

[GhostCon1]

Honestly, running them longer you probably wouldn't even notice that much of an increase in the bill.

I run my halide from 1200 to 2155.

 

[buy_baff]

That is long enough. I use to run mine for 8h and then read that people where getting better color and groth out of less light. So I cut back to 5h a day for my halides and it's deff true my coral exploded.

 

[GhostCon1]

Right now my red planet (which I've read is a slow grower) is growing like a weed with my lights, and I'm pretty happy with my colors (Plus I have no actinics to supplement.)

 

[sweet ride]

I've also reduced my MH from 8 hours to 6 hours with 2 hours before and after actinic and am seeing better colors and growth in the corals.

 

[fcmatt]

those who only run their lights for a few hours out of 24.. how do you ever enjoy your
tanks with all the lights on? Time it for when you are home in the evening?

i guess one could have them come on right as you come home from work for five hours
but i sure would not want blazing 100s of watts of light on in my living room at 9 o'clock at
night. i like having them on for just a few hours after i come home from work at 5 PM.. then
that is it. I run T5 so if i recall correctly they come on between 9-10 AM... after I have
left for work for the day.

I like how natural light wakes up the tank.. and normal household lights after the mains
go off to start slowing things down light wise.

ramble off.

 

[watchguy123]

I run my mh about 8 hours/day