Photoperiod for seahorses

[mcgrawjt]

Hey everyone -

Just curious on how long lighting can be on over the seahorse tank while not stressing them out with a long day? I currently have a 210 where my MH's are on for 8 hours, actinic 30 minutes prior and after and lunar 30 minutes prior and after the actinics. As you can see not a long day for the reef. I have an autofeeder for that tank while I am at work and feed frozen when I get home.

My reason for this questions is I would love to feed my seahorses at least twice a day instead of once in the evening. I leave for work around 6:00am and don't get home until around 6:30pm. Since they only eat live/frozen, there is no autofeed option here. I would like to know if it wouldn't be too much for me to have the lights come on at 5:30am and off around 7:30pm? This way I can feed in the morning and when I get home plus give me a little time to see them before lights out. One problem with this is that the lights from my 210 will keep the room lit for a while after the seahorse tank lights out so no total darkness. They would only be getting total darkness from 11:00pm to 5:30am. Would this be too stressfull?

The lighting is LED and have it somewhat dimmed. I currently have the lights timed with my reef tank, I could technically feed them twice in the evening but think it would be too close together.

Thanks for any input!

John

 

[Fudz Cwerner]

I have an AI fixture above my horse tank. The lunar period goes from 10pm to 6 am and varies the moonlighting from 0-5% over the course of a month. So some nights are complete darkness and others are a full moon. I don't see any difference in their behavior during the moon lighting. Mine always seem to tether in a patch of caulerpa and snag pods when they can.

I would try the lighting period you described and watch their behavior.

 

[rayjay]

Most of my seahorse tanks are lit for 13 hrs a day but one is lit up for 16 hrs.
I don't notice any differences.
Seahorses basically only need some ambient lighting so what we usually put on the tanks is something to provide aesthetic pleasing lighting, or, lighting that is needed for corals or grasses etc also in the tank.