Photoperiod MH only?

[alten78]

Seeing as we are in an ever evolving hobby, over the past 12 years that I have been in the reefing community, I have seen many views and opinions change as we learn more about the animals we keep and as technology and equipment changes. One of those ever changing aspects is lighting, type, wattage, color, etc.

Couple of years ago I had a bad reaction to a medication that put me out for several months, in that time frame I had a tank crash. A year ago I got everything back in order, albeit very slowly, but back in order. Since then ive been on cruise control, if you will. I know there is never a right or wrong answer to how long one tank keeps the lights on compared to another, far too many variables involved but I wanted to get a sense of what "todays thinking" was when it came to it.

Ive only ever had two single pendants (250w DE) hanging over my 4ft tank, never had room for supplementation outside of changing the fixture. Typically I have ran both pendants anywhere between 6-8 hours a day but I cant say I saw much difference in the longer photoperiod. Looking around at some of the LED or MH+LED/T5 combos, it appears that quite a few people have at least some sort of lights on for 10-12 hours a day?

Is there really that much to gain for supplement lighting to be on that long?

 

[jay13]

Seeing as we are in an ever evolving hobby, over the past 12 years that I have been in the reefing community, I have seen many views and opinions change as we learn more about the animals we keep and as technology and equipment changes. One of those ever changing aspects is lighting, type, wattage, color, etc.

Couple of years ago I had a bad reaction to a medication that put me out for several months, in that time frame I had a tank crash. A year ago I got everything back in order, albeit very slowly, but back in order. Since then ive been on cruise control, if you will. I know there is never a right or wrong answer to how long one tank keeps the lights on compared to another, far too many variables involved but I wanted to get a sense of what "todays thinking" was when it came to it.

Ive only ever had two single pendants (250w DE) hanging over my 4ft tank, never had room for supplementation outside of changing the fixture. Typically I have ran both pendants anywhere between 6-8 hours a day but I cant say I saw much difference in the longer photoperiod. Looking around at some of the LED or MH+LED/T5 combos, it appears that quite a few people have at least some sort of lights on for 10-12 hours a day?

Is there really that much to gain for supplement lighting to be on that long?

Ran two 400's for twelve hours a day, turned it down to ten as it was just weird to have a basement that always had the lights "on". From there went to eight and eventually to 7. Halides on at 11am then off at 2pm back on at 3 pm and off at 8pm. I run two six foot vho from 10am till 9pm nonstop. Kinda a "cloudy afternoon" for that hour and have seen zero difference in anything except the electric bill. So a ten hour photo period with seven for halides.

 

[Peter Eichler]

7-9 hours is plenty, anything more than that is probably not doing much other than adding to your electric bill.

 

[jda]

On at 3, off at 11. No other lights.

 

[alten78]

Thanks guys, currently im on at 11 and off at 7 but seeing as i work in the afernoons im not seeing the tank anyways so i was thinking of dropping it to 7 hours a day if there is no added benefit of it being on for longer.

 

[nashorn]

I used to run my MH only 4 hrs peak but PC 4 hrs sunrise and for our sunset.
I was thinking of adding a MH to my current setup but if I did maybe only 2hrs MH peak and the adjust in a month or two.

 

[bogg]

What medication?
I do about 5-6

 

[alten78]

What medication?
I do about 5-6

Prednisone, turns out I dont do well with steroids at all let alone high doses of that :uhoh3: lol

 

[whiteshark]

On at 1pm, off at 6pm for the halide. Blue and purple T5s on at 8 and off at 10. Coral plus on at 10 and off at 1. All T5s from 6-7pm. Blue and Purple from 7-8. The early and late T5s are mostly for me to view the tank as I go into work early and get out late.