Optimal Lighting Period for Zs-n-Ps

[Scopus Tang]

I've been on LEDs for the bulk of the life of this aquarium. So, again it's hard to say whether or not it boosts growth. I have noticed that my zoas and palys tend to be smaller and more intensely colored than many people. I think that is because of the intensity of the light. They don't need to work as hard to get it, hense, don't get as big. Reproduction seems fine.

So intensity of the lighting allows for only a 4 hour growth period with great growth. Are you supplementing the lighting in any other way, or are the lights on for only 4 hours per day?

It seems that over in the sps forum this cut back has been discussed and I want to say some people experienced better growth and coloration when they had a MH photo period of 4 to 6 hours max.

I think it all started with summer temps and energy costs.

Others were stating they had 10 to 12 hr light cycles and they had issues.

Interesting - did they discussion wattage and intensities or just daylight cycles?

Here:

http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1582958&highlight=shorten+light+cycle

Awesome, thanks for the link.

 

[Mr. Microscope]

So intensity of the lighting allows for only a 4 hour growth period with great growth. Are you supplementing the lighting in any other way, or are the lights on for only 4 hours per day?

No, it's two 4 hour light periods. Corals grow in the dark. So, I guess you'd say I have a 16 hour growth period.

 

[XSharkboyX]

This is interesting. Might try it out.

 

[Scopus Tang]

This is interesting. Might try it out.

I believe that I may try this as well.

 

[Scopus Tang]

Anybody else have any thoughts to share on this one?

 

[MUCHO REEF]

Was doing some light acclimation over the last few days on a nice package of new polyps I picked up from a fellow reefer. I noticed that many of my old polyps seemed to perk up and look better when I reduced the length of the daylight portion of my light period. So, I was curious if anybody has done any experimenting with lighting periods on a Z-n-P dominated tank, and if so, what you've found. TIA

My friend, you made a great point. You stated,.....

Was doing some light acclimation over the last few days on a nice package of new polyps I picked up from a fellow reefer. I noticed that many of my old polyps seemed to perk up and look better when I reduced the length of the daylight portion of my light period


I've always said, "Listen to your reef, and it will yield all the answers"


http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=785651&highlight=mucho+listen

Every system is different, what works in one, doesn't always work in another. Lighting type, wattage, ballast type, bulb type and k value, depth of the tank, height of light off the water surface, tank maturity, water clarity, photoperiod etc, has everything to do with polyp growth, expansion, coloration/appearance etc. Your tank/polyps spoke directly to you when you reduced the photoperiod. When you reduced the photoperiod, they said, "hey Scopus my brotha, we prefer this". This is what I mean when I say listen to your tank and it will yield the answers.

I've also noticed with longer photoperiods polyps will tend to reduce their robust appearnce. Not saying they fall over, they just don't seem as rodust/inflated for the lack of a beffer word.

Some have said that a 4 hour daylight period is all that is require, while others proclaim a minimum of 12 hours. I've always preferred an 8 hour daylight period with a few hours of actinic viewing before and maybe an hour after. Most importantly, I leave my tank pitch black for a full day every 2 to 3weeks. I mean the tank and the room. If I heave to turn on a light, I completely cover the glass with several pieces of black construction paper. This in my opinion, and my opinion alone, help replicate dark and stormy days in the wild. Almost always, or at least 90% of the time, on the following day when I return to my normal photoperiod, the majority of my polyps are all huge. I shared this with Wady many years ago and he too experienced this and even stated so publically.

I'd say your tank has given you the supreme answer mate. Good luck with them and I hope I didn't stray too far off topic. Don't say it, I know I talk too much.

Mucho Reef

Would like to hear other opinions though.

 

[dcortes19]

This is very interesting and i might give this cycle a try to see how my zoas do. But before i do, does anyone know if this light cycle will stress out my fish?

 

[XSharkboyX]

Fish can adjust to just about any photoperiod. I would worry about it.

 

[Skeptic_07]

This makes a lot of sense when you think about how the ocean works. Photosynthetic corals mostly live in shallow waters where there are two high tides and two low tides each day. At high tide, the amount of light that makes it down to the corals is very much less than the amount of light corals receive at low tide when they might even be exposed the air and get to direct sun for a few minutes. The effect that the constantly changing water level has on the amount of light that corals receive is hard to replicate but I think shortening the lighting period from the generic 8 hours per day down to a more realistic one is a start.

 

[jbell370]

I run 8-6 with the main lights running 9-5. Seems to work for me.

 

[Scopus Tang]

This makes a lot of sense when you think about how the ocean works. Photosynthetic corals mostly live in shallow waters where there are two high tides and two low tides each day. At high tide, the amount of light that makes it down to the corals is very much less than the amount of light corals receive at low tide when they might even be exposed the air and get to direct sun for a few minutes. The effect that the constantly changing water level has on the amount of light that corals receive is hard to replicate but I think shortening the lighting period from the generic 8 hours per day down to a more realistic one is a start.

Wow - now that is an interesting explaination that I hadn't even considered. I'm not sure that all corals come from areas with two high and two low tides though, since some areas have only one low and one high tide and others have a high, a semi high, a low and a semi low in one day. Regardless, its definitely an interesting thought and worthy of further consideration.

 

[Skeptic_07]

There's a sticky in the clownfish forum that really got me thinking about it. Its the one posted by that Australian dude who goes to areas where a lot of the stuff we all keep in our tanks actually lives naturally and he takes pics and posts them. Almost all the pictures were taken during low tide, because thats when you can just walk out and see all that stuff. He posted a couple of high tide just so we could see what its like and the water was so much higher, it really got me thinking... is a full day of sunlight really what are corals need, or are used to?

 

[quicktater]

I've got a 20 Gal. breeder full of Zoas that I am going to try this on. Currently at a 12 hour light cycle. I think that I'll gradually decrease it to maybe 8 hours and maintain that for a few weeks and see how they look. Better get the camera out to document this little experiment. Thanks for the info guys!

 

[Scopus Tang]

I've got a 20 Gal. breeder full of Zoas that I am going to try this on. Currently at a 12 hour light cycle. I think that I'll gradually decrease it to maybe 8 hours and maintain that for a few weeks and see how they look. Better get the camera out to document this little experiment. Thanks for the info guys!

Be sure and keep us posted on your results. Anybody else have any thoughts?