Hi everyone, I have a question about if it's ok to split up the photoperiod. Does it matter to corals and such if the lights are on for say 8 hrs. straight, or can you split your photoperiod as long as it is 8 hrs. of light in a 24 hr. period? I want to split the photoperiod because of heat from the halides and do not want to run a fan and do not really have the money for a chiller. Right now the lights come on at 9:00 a.m. and off at 12:00 p.m., then on again at 6:00 p.m. and off again at 9:00 p.m. The temp. goes up between 1.5 and 2 degrees each time the lights are on. I am slowly incresing light time, just made a lighting change and am trying to acclimate. Thanks for anyone who can help.
split up photoperiod
- Thread starter grandp10
- Start date
useskaforevil
New member
what temp is it gettign to?
xraydoc
New member
I dont think that 79 is that high. In fact I always keep my tank at about 79. I think that 76 is a little cool actually.
Is there a reason you dont want to use fans? I have 3 fans in my canopy for my 250 W halides and they actually begin to lower the tank temperature before the temp controller compensates. I personally think that (opinion only) a more natural photoperiod (meaning continuous) would be more beneficial to the animals. Think about the fans, they can be very quiet if done right. A chiller will be louder in most cases than fans and more costly to operate.
Good Luck!
Is there a reason you dont want to use fans? I have 3 fans in my canopy for my 250 W halides and they actually begin to lower the tank temperature before the temp controller compensates. I personally think that (opinion only) a more natural photoperiod (meaning continuous) would be more beneficial to the animals. Think about the fans, they can be very quiet if done right. A chiller will be louder in most cases than fans and more costly to operate.
Good Luck!
LobsterOfJustice
Recovering Detritophobe
79 is cooler than my tank ever is. Mine is 80 with lights off, 81 with lights on. If my canopy fan goes out the temp goes up to 86. Thats how much difference one fan can make.
DragonRage
New member
Mine is usually around 82-83 but I crack the window and run my ceiling fan during the day, when my window is open it goes down like 1 degree F. I use like a half hour break inbetween and there are 4 fans mounted on it.
Re: split up photoperiod
I can't speak for the coral, but for any fish you may have, this is a bad idea. Without getting into specifics, photoperiods have huge impacts on maturation, reproduction and somatic growth of many fishes. Basically, fish brains can sense light through the pineal gland, which initiates hormonal controls based on the perceived photo period. There is a myriad of literature out there on the effects of manipulating the photoperiod of many different species, and I would suggest looking into it prior to trying. Best of luck!
I can't speak for the coral, but for any fish you may have, this is a bad idea. Without getting into specifics, photoperiods have huge impacts on maturation, reproduction and somatic growth of many fishes. Basically, fish brains can sense light through the pineal gland, which initiates hormonal controls based on the perceived photo period. There is a myriad of literature out there on the effects of manipulating the photoperiod of many different species, and I would suggest looking into it prior to trying. Best of luck!
