spscrackhead
New member
i am considering doint this with my tank. i have the tek t5 6 bulb fixture. what amout of time would be best for on and off? should i just turn all bulbs on at the same time or what? what timers are you guys using?
Multiple light cycles a day
- Thread starter rkcca
- Start date
airinhere
New member
I am not a scientist nor am I fully qualified to answer any questions of this nature. Any changes you commit to regarding your tank lighting might have unexpected side effects.
Okay, disclaimer aside.
As I understand it, light in nature comes on gradually (as the sun rises) and goes away gradually (sunset). The sunrise or sunset is very short in duration, but the angle of the sun as opposed to the water makes it noon before maximum light intensity is achieved on a reef. So light 'warm up' can take as long as four or more hours. Same thing for the lights dimming.
In our tanks, you turn the light on, and its at full intensity in a few minutes (halide) or instantly (T-5/PC). But still not anywhere near midday light levels on a reef.
My opinion on this is to disregard what is considered "common practice" and turn all the light on and run it at full intensity for five hours (approx). Shut down for 5 hours and then another five hours on at full intensity.
Corals reportedly take about 30 minutes to adjust from dark to light, and I have been using Halide lighting which does take about 5 minutes to come to full intensity. I can only assume that nothing but positive results would be seen by using the 30 minute transition time to gradually bring your lights to full intensity.
Dont sweat turning the lights out gradually. All I can think would occur is just wasting opportunity for maximum light exposure by reducing the light. You only get 12 hours of light with this method (11 hours of useful light).
I have decided on 6 on / 4 off/ 6 on/8 off because this is most convenient for me. 8 am on, 2 pm off.
6pm on, 12 am off.
This also leaves a longer dark period during the actual night. Maybe this can help the corals maintain a circadian rhythym.
Sorry my posts here are so long, but I do not want anyone to just blindly do what I am suggesting, and would rather show my reasoning behind what I am saying. That way if I suggest or advise something idiotic, someone else reading this can chime in and help redirect me.
Again, think out all the impacts this will have on your tank. heating, cooling, pH etc...
Okay, disclaimer aside.
As I understand it, light in nature comes on gradually (as the sun rises) and goes away gradually (sunset). The sunrise or sunset is very short in duration, but the angle of the sun as opposed to the water makes it noon before maximum light intensity is achieved on a reef. So light 'warm up' can take as long as four or more hours. Same thing for the lights dimming.
In our tanks, you turn the light on, and its at full intensity in a few minutes (halide) or instantly (T-5/PC). But still not anywhere near midday light levels on a reef.
My opinion on this is to disregard what is considered "common practice" and turn all the light on and run it at full intensity for five hours (approx). Shut down for 5 hours and then another five hours on at full intensity.
Corals reportedly take about 30 minutes to adjust from dark to light, and I have been using Halide lighting which does take about 5 minutes to come to full intensity. I can only assume that nothing but positive results would be seen by using the 30 minute transition time to gradually bring your lights to full intensity.
Dont sweat turning the lights out gradually. All I can think would occur is just wasting opportunity for maximum light exposure by reducing the light. You only get 12 hours of light with this method (11 hours of useful light).
I have decided on 6 on / 4 off/ 6 on/8 off because this is most convenient for me. 8 am on, 2 pm off.
6pm on, 12 am off.
This also leaves a longer dark period during the actual night. Maybe this can help the corals maintain a circadian rhythym.
Sorry my posts here are so long, but I do not want anyone to just blindly do what I am suggesting, and would rather show my reasoning behind what I am saying. That way if I suggest or advise something idiotic, someone else reading this can chime in and help redirect me.
Again, think out all the impacts this will have on your tank. heating, cooling, pH etc...
airinhere
New member
I still am using the dual light cycle. I switched to 10K bulbs with actinic supplementation. Lights were adjusted down an hour for each light cycle when I switched to the new bulbs. So they come on at 8 am and shut down at 1 pm, back on at 7 pm and off at midnight. Two 40W NO actinic bulbs are on from 8 am till midnight.
I still get the lighting requirements of the dual light cycle with a very underpowered actinic effect during the middle of the day. The actinic looks cool, but I dont think its much more useful than just aesthetics.
I switched to 10K lights in the hopes that I will see even more growth in my tanks.
So far, I just hate the color. Increased growth will come in the next few months.
At the very least, nothing has died.
I still get the lighting requirements of the dual light cycle with a very underpowered actinic effect during the middle of the day. The actinic looks cool, but I dont think its much more useful than just aesthetics.
I switched to 10K lights in the hopes that I will see even more growth in my tanks.
So far, I just hate the color. Increased growth will come in the next few months.
At the very least, nothing has died.
