Metal Halide - Lighting ??

[Meaty24]

I have a 185 stocked with a good amount of a variety of corals ad a few fish.

My lighting: 3 450 Watt Metal Hadlides and 4 T5 lights.

How many hours a day should I keep the light on??

Currently, I have lights all come on at 6pm and go off at 12:30am. So, that is 6.5 hours. Is that enought time?

 

[BangkokMatt]

I run 2 x 400w over my 150g for 9 1/2 hours a day. Personally I would aim between 8 - 12 hours.

 

[phish guy]

run the halides 8 or less hours, the atinics 12 or less.

for me:
atinics on- 930am
HQI on- 1130am
HQI off- 630pm
atinics off- 9pm
moon lights through the night on a lunar cycle

 

[BangkokMatt]

If you look at the TOTM's - their MH's are usually pushing 12 hours on.
What reasoning is there to have your MH's on for less than 8 hours a day.

 

[Meaty24]

I was worried about alge growth. I guess I will up the halides.

Do you really keep the itinics on for 12 hours?