The Importance of Photoperiod and Colors

[Merfin70]

I might try some experimentation based on this. My SPS don't really look the way I want so I figure why not. I run a 150w MH Reeflux 12k and the (2) 24w T5s (mostly actinic). Old photoperiod was 10 hours for T5 and 8 hours for MH.

Think I might try 6 hours of MH and keep the 10 hours of T5 and see what happens.

Since I'm a bit new to reefing, how long do you think I should wait to see if there is indeed a change (a week? a month? more?).

 

[macreefster]

what about those that run halides without actinic supplementation? i can't imagine running my lights only 6 hours. i run them 10 hours and wish i could go to 12 so i have more time to view the tank. i don't notice any bleaching of colors, so maybe with 14k's 10 hours is good. i guess that would mean if i went with 20k's i could have a longer photoperiod....hmmmmm, i just might have to change reflectors to SE so i can go with radium 20k's.

 

[mcliffy2]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14291924#post14291924 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by kev apsley
call me crazy but I definitely see a trend developing here

I don't think its crazy, there is only full sun in nature for 4-6 hours....I think my colors have deepened a bit since I started running all 12 T5 bulbs for only 4.5 hours, instead of 8.

 

[volcom69]

Really wow i just went to all T5 and run my main bulbs for 7 hours and my blue bulbs for 12 hours. Maybe ill try to cut my main bulbs back to 5-6 hours and let my blue bulbs the same. My corals are pretty light right now.

 

[Jmikitz]

i personally only run full spectrum for 4 hours.. blues for 12-15... nova pro 6x54 on a 120gal. 28" deep ... full spectrum is a 75\25 and a ati pro color. and of course 4 Blues.

 

[WangoTANGo]

I'm running all T5 with somewhere around 9 hours total light, and compared to a 10-12 hour photoperiod it seems like my SPS color has improved slightly.

Anyone think it's safe to knock another hour off that? Not sure how that would affect my BTA and clams.

-Justin

 

[kev apsley]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14295535#post14295535 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by WangoTANGo
I'm running all T5 with somewhere around 9 hours total light, and compared to a 10-12 hour photoperiod it seems like my SPS color has improved slightly.

Anyone think it's safe to knock another hour off that? Not sure how that would affect my BTA and clams.

-Justin

I don't see why it would be a problem just keep an eye on things

 

[cagri]

I believe it is a fine balance between lighting period and feeding.

Corals with More feeding(in nutrients rich water with little to no nitrate or phosphate) can take longer periods of light with great colors, or nutrient poor water with shorter period of time. I have been experimenting with this over the years, and amount of feeding(available nutrients for corals) makes a huge difference on how much light your corals can take and color up.

I was at 6 hrs with decent colors(low nutrient 0 NO3, PO3), I tried increasing to 7.5 hours corals lightened a bit, then incresed feedings 3 folds, and colors have deepened. But I have to feed a LOT.

 

[volcom69]

How is everyones growth rate with running the bulbs shorter period of time.

 

[RobsReefs]

1. So what Is a good Photoperiod on a Halide only tank?

2. With 250w Radiums and Icecaps in 3D reflectors in a 24inch deep tank?

3. Should i be running them together longer in the day because the spread of the light is so good and it is like having 1X 500w VS. 2x 250's for only a few hours on together?

 

[RobsReefs]

2x

 

[ros_sco]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14298614#post14298614 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by volcom69
How is everyones growth rate with running the bulbs shorter period of time.

My growth rate hasn't changed a bit.

 

[trd47]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14294150#post14294150 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by mcliffy2
I don't think its crazy, there is only full sun in nature for 4-6 hours....

This is my mentality as well. It's not like the sun is beaming down on the planet continuously. We have cloud cast that limits how much of the light from the sun penetrates and actually reaches us. With that said I've always ran my t5s for 7 or less hours, depending how many times my chiller would come on. When my chiller would turn on my day lights turns off and I'd only be running actinics to simulate cloud cast. When the chiller is off, my day lights turns on giving the corals the full spectrum.

 

[kev apsley]

keep voting

 

[murfman]

I dropped my photo period back to 4 hours, when I went to Lumenarc IIIs. There was just so much more light, due to the new reflectors, that I had to back off. I noticed, with in a week, new growth on an Idaho Grape and one of my upper level acros. It has been a month since the reflector upgrade and I keep the photo period at 4.5 hours, 430 PM to 9PM, and moonlights from 10 PM to 0500AM. I am going to put the moonlights on the same phasing as the moon to give the corals more rest.

 

[mhaith]

It has been a month since dropping the photoperiod and the growth spurt has slowed a bit but still accelerated. Colors appear to be the same/

One interesting side note is the dramatic increase of Coralline algae growing on the glass.

 

[d0ughb0y]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14285158#post14285158 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by kev apsley
very true! I was more or less making the presumption that the people voting had more than sufficient lighting, maybe too much lighting dare we say, where they needed a lot less of a photoperoid to reach full saturation

how can one tell if photoperiod is at full saturation?
I notice that my ph ramps up when lights come on, then reaches its peak after about 6 hours, then goes flat, then drops down when lights go out. I have since set my photoperiod to 7 hours based on that.

 

[Denadai]

Four hours of MH and 10 hour for 3x T5 actinic

But my corals are still very light in colors, maybe I cut the MH for 3 hours only

IÃ"šÃ‚´m running a Deltec AP 701 and have only 3 fishes in my 50G

No3 and Po4 = 0

 

[snorvich]

Well it depends. My LPS tank does great with 9 hours of 250 W. Phoenix, my SPS tank does great with 9 hours of 400 W. Radiums. I have Acanths and chalices as well in the SPS tank but they are 30 inches down.

 

[Æonic]

I cut mine back to 0 hours and all my corals died. I hate you all.