Northeast Florida Marine Aquarium Society  | Our purpose is to enhance the hobby by promoting the exchange of information, equipment, and livestock. We are located in NE Florida within the Great City Of Jacksonville and welcome all to join from both the surrounding areas and from distant locations. Check us out at www.nfmas.org |
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06-28-2006, 08:38 AM
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#1
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Fish Mortgage Specialist
Join Date: Jun 2006
Location: Austin, Texas
Posts: 170
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New Arrival - Light - Woot Woot
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06-28-2006, 10:01 AM
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#2
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Had 2 Much Fun
Join Date: Apr 2006
Location: Jacksonville Fl
Posts: 1,033
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I run mine for 6 hrs
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06-28-2006, 05:47 PM
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#3
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Ahhhh Barnacles!
Join Date: Apr 2006
Location: Near A Coral Reef
Posts: 1,211
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I run my daylights (Halides) for 7 hours & my Actinics for 11 hours. In your case you will only be able to run the lights 6-8 hours maximum since they are on the same switch. 6 minimum is needed for Corals. After that, It's for you and the algae. 
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I Keep looking at our in ground pool and wondering how much Live Rock I would need to make it a Reef!
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06-28-2006, 05:51 PM
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#4
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Rob's Reef Owner
Join Date: Jan 2002
Location: Orange Park, FL
Posts: 436
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Quote:
After that, It's for you and the algae. 
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So 6 hours is all the light corals need? Wouldn't 12 hours be better, since they come from the tropics, which has nearly 12/12 day and night year round?
Or are your lights brighter than the sun?
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06-28-2006, 05:53 PM
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#5
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Ahhhh Barnacles!
Join Date: Apr 2006
Location: Near A Coral Reef
Posts: 1,211
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I believe I said 6 hours is the "minimum" needed for Corals.
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I Keep looking at our in ground pool and wondering how much Live Rock I would need to make it a Reef!
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06-28-2006, 06:18 PM
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#6
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Had 2 Much Fun
Join Date: Apr 2006
Location: Jacksonville Fl
Posts: 1,033
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Think of this, stationary lights over a tank are simulating 12:00 high noon. Is the sun directly overhead 12 hrs a day? IMO & so I've been told by some that 6 hrs min.is all that's needed. I run my VHO Actinics from 5Pm - 1Am. My 3 - 400 watt M/H run from 6PM to 12AM. Everything does just fine. And not all corals come from the equator region. In the store, because our hours are from 10AM to 8 Pm, we run our lights from 9Am- 9PM. Imo, anything more than 8 hours you have more heat, resulting in more evaportation,algae,shorter life span on your bulbs & a higher light bill. At one time when I had a life(before store), I ran my lights for 12 hours. Cutting back to 6 hours the only thing I've noticed is my chiller runs less,I don't have to add as much water, less algae & my corals & fish are all as happy as a clam.
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06-28-2006, 09:39 PM
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#7
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Shinigami-sama
Join Date: Apr 2006
Location: Jax, Fl.
Posts: 706
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[quote=sea devil]Think of this, stationary lights over a tank are simulating 12:00 high noon. Is the sun directly overhead 12 hrs a day? IMO & so I've been told by some that 6 hrs min.is all that's needed. I run my VHO Actinics from 5Pm - 1Am. My 3 - 400 watt M/H run from 6PM to 12AM. Everything does just fine. And not all corals come from the equator region. In the store, because our hours are from 10AM to 8 Pm, we run our lights from 9Am- 9PM. Imo, anything more than 8 hours you have more heat, resulting in more evaportation,algae,shorter life span on your bulbs & a higher light bill. At one time when I had a life(before store), I ran my lights for 12 hours. Cutting back to 6 hours the only thing I've noticed is my chiller runs less,I don't have to add as much water, less algae & my corals & fish are all as happy as a clam. /quote]
But are your clams happy as clams!?!  |
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06-29-2006, 08:39 AM
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#8
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Had 2 Much Fun
Join Date: Apr 2006
Location: Jacksonville Fl
Posts: 1,033
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But are your clams happy as clams!?! [/quote
Yes, they are as happy as a tick on a hound.
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06-29-2006, 09:41 AM
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#9
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Had 2 Much Fun
Join Date: Apr 2006
Location: Jacksonville Fl
Posts: 1,033
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The Reef Aquarium, Volume One by J. Charles Delbeek & Julian Sprung. Read chapter 6 for starters. There is also a volume 2 & volume 3 |
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06-29-2006, 10:02 AM
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#10
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Protect the Worlds Reefs
Join Date: May 2006
Location: Florida
Posts: 1,094
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I run my t5s for about 7 hours, moonlights from there on out. Oddly enough, every third Wednesday of every month, the lights stay off all day. I just think they need a break and its kind of a dark night they experience in the wild every so often. Yeah, call me crazy |
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06-29-2006, 10:13 AM
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#11
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Had 2 Much Fun
Join Date: Apr 2006
Location: Jacksonville Fl
Posts: 1,033
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OK You're crazy......lol.... But we already knew that ( Doug told us ) lol
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06-29-2006, 10:20 AM
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#12
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Shark
Join Date: Apr 2006
Location: Jacksonville
Posts: 1,254
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I would run them at least 8 hours, there is a big difference between 400 MH and yours. You can still get sun burned at 8:00 in the morning or 4:00 in the afternoon.
From 8 hours you can play with the time after a while.
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When you think you know it all..................
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06-29-2006, 11:03 AM
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#13
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Had 2 Much Fun
Join Date: Apr 2006
Location: Jacksonville Fl
Posts: 1,033
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I agree with you Mike, there is a big difference between our lights. IMO 8hrs on his tank would be pleanty
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06-29-2006, 11:29 AM
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#14
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Shark
Join Date: Apr 2006
Location: Jacksonville
Posts: 1,254
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There is no "six or eight hour maximum". I run my 10Ks for 10 hours and see a difference from when I was at 8 hours. I am thinking about increasing my lighting more. Light times depends on your type of lights and your corals.
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When you think you know it all..................
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06-29-2006, 11:54 AM
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#15
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NFMAS
Join Date: Apr 2006
Location: Saint Augustine
Posts: 2,431
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I run my bulbs longer for the summer solstice  |
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