newbie lighting cycle

[x1fstsolx]

This is my first tank and i will be going through the same thing. I currently have 2 35watt bulbs over my 40gal(37g) tank 36x13x18 this works out to 1.89w per gal i am ordering T5 4x39w fixture and does it matter when i have my lights on and when i don't. right now i have lights on 4pm-7am works best for when i am home but i have no actinics right now so i work the morning shift and have people over at my house mostly late on weekends so lit up at night works best for me

when i get my new lights that have actinics will that be enought light to display to my guest

[frankandmaura]

Absolutely, it will be enough light. However you said your lights are on from 4 pm to 7 am?? That is 14 hours...I don't think that is necessary...others will chime in though, I hope.

[TheWeaz]

I have my tank on a 9 hours on and 13 hours of moon lights.. Just my recommendation.

[WilyGuy]

I've got my actinics on for about 12 hours and my MH for the 8 in the middle.

My MH come on after I go to work, but stay on until 8PM or so. This is a pretty good schedule.

I don't think there is anything wrong with bringing your lights on for a few minutes off hours though. I also wouldn't get up at 2AM and fire them on either. I will sometimes kick the MH on early on the weekend if I have someone coming over, or I want to putter a little bit. Again, my Actinics will ALWAYS be on first though.

[Wiskey]

Assuming you don't have any corals yet, I would probably start by having the whites on for 8 hours a day, and the blues on for 10 hours a day. If you would like you could move that up to 12 hours for blue, and 10 for white,.. but I would not go over that.

It doesn't really matter that much which hours of the day there on,.. provided it's the same each day. My 180 is on from 2PM till Midnight.

Whiskey

[Loverotties]

That is 15 Hrs.That's too much.12 on and 12 off.Example 10 hrs day(10K) on and attinics 12 hrs on(1 hr before and 1 hr after day lights go off) and the rest of the time moons on the other 12 hours.

[x1fstsolx]

i have them on like that because i don't have the T5 yet i know there will less of a need for the long hours with the new lights but didn't know when and how long