lighting schedule opinons

[Reef Master]

I was wondering how long the majority of you keep your lights on. I was a mix lps and sps tank with clams also. I have a current pro t-5 6x54w HO fixture. I have a timer with the ability to turn my actinics on separatly from my daylights. I wont say what my schedule is now because I would rather know what the majority opinon is.

[YLChik]

12/10 on t'5s

[crvz]

8 hours actinics 4 hours daylight for me.

[Hop]

Currently I run about 10.5 hours of Actinic VHO supplementation. I have a 175 watt 10K XM on a magnetic ballast that runs for about 6.5 hours and then a 400 watt 20K overdriven by a HQI ballast that runs for about 4.5.

I've been slowly ramping up the lighting period since getting over a little algae problem and looking for that sweet spot with the lighting Currently everything seems to be responding well to the current set up, so I may leave it this way until I can afford to change out the lighting to dual 250s...

[Wiskey]

I really go by the corals more than anything,.. If I notice reduced Pylop extention toward the end of the day, corals getting lighter colored, or general unhappyness, like LPS not opening all the way I turn back my daylights. If I notice Corals over extending I'll turn them up.

I keep my Atinics on for 12 hours almost always just because I like to see my tank

Whiskey

[Fly Guy]

It is way too subjective a question for anyone else to answer for you as every system is different, as is how everyone runs their own system different as far as nutrient levels, par levels and reflectors used

I am a firm believer in maxing out the photoperiod These are primarily photosynthetic animals we keep, so lets give them the most we can. The key is how you go about finding this 'sweet spot" as Hop put it

I suggest just playing wioth it to find out what works for you. do this slowly so you dont do any real damage, but add 10-15 minutes every 3 - 4 days...and watch your tank and corals closely. Once you start to see it looking like its too much, taper it back to what looked perfect. Dont let just any one or two corals decide this for you........some just need less light and need moved lower int he tank than you have them.

do not even incude actinics in this experimentation. those are for your viewing pleasure only. That isnt entirely a true statement, but for all intensive purposes it is

to answer your question even though I dont think it matters.....

sps tank- 9.5 hours halides

polyp/lps tank- 14 hours actinics, 9 hours halides

the halides above each tank are so very different in par values that those timelines are nowhere near comparable to each other

[Loverotties]

12 hours Actinics/10 hours Days/12 hours of moon.

[MeuserReef]

10 hours of actinic
7 hours of Halides

[scoop]

You also need to consider how high the lights are above the water and whether you have a splash shield or some type of cover between the bulbs and the water. I have the Tek 6x54 w/ no splash shield positioned 7" above the water. I have Blue Plus's on the outside that I run 10 hrs/day and the other 4 lights also on for 8 hrs. If you have them up higher or you have a shield or tank cover you will probably need to ru them longer. As Fly said above, it is different for each tank and you need to see how your corals respond.

[shaggy420]

wow, i've been running my lights for way too short of a time span.lol
i run my 250 halide for 4-5hrs with the 260 pc's(2 day, 2 actinic) then i turn the halide off and run the day pc for another hour, then let the actinics finish off my timer for a total of 8hrs or so. guess im gonna have to leave them on a little longer now. =)

[Loverotties]

Originally Posted by shaggy420

wow, i've been running my lights for way too short of a time span.lol
i run my 250 halide for 4-5hrs with the 260 pc's(2 day, 2 actinic) then i turn the halide off and run the day pc for another hour, then let the actinics finish off my timer for a total of 8hrs or so. guess im gonna have to leave them on a little longer now. =)

If all are healthy and growing nice!I'd leave it that way!

[Reef Master]

my lights are the standard height. In other words the legs that come with the current nova pro fixture determine my height. There is a splash guard over the lights. So what does that all mean. My schedule is 10-10 actinic and 11-9 daylight

[shaggy420]

everything seems to be doing nicely. i do need to move a few of the polyp colonies down since i added the hqi though. not bleached, but a couple of them are becoming the same light greenish color.

[richhershey]

Addition to this question: do you leave your LED's on all the time, or is there a timer that can control "3 phases", and do you leave the cf's on with the halides?

I have the Coralife Pro 48 with Two 150 watt 10K HQI metal halide with independant plugs, Two 96 watt 03 Actinic compact fluorescent on the same plug, and Four Blue Moon Glow LEDs on the same plug.

[Hop]

I quit using my LEDs at the moment rich. I really should get them up and running again. Before I quit using them, I just ran them from one hour before the lights went off until 3 hours after the lights went off