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11-01-2005, 04:35 AM
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#1
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Milkshake Man
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: SW Florida
Posts: 9,641
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Question about Light time cycle...
I finally bought some timers for lights. I am cutting back on the amount of light during the day to prevent the hair algae growth outbreak again. I think it was one of the factors to my hair algae is running the lights to long. Now with that said i have a question on how long i should run the lights. My lights right now are the Normal Output lights but i will be getting VHO lights around Christmas time.
Right now I have it set for this tell me if you think it should be changed.
Actinic: 5am-6:30am then 11am-9pm (So i can see my fish before i goto work)
10k: 12pm-8pm
By having the actinic come on and then go off and then come back on in one day will that mess with the fish any?
Thanks,
Tim
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11-01-2005, 06:06 AM
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#2
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I've got the REEF rash!
Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: New Jersey
Posts: 23,899
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Never herd anybody doing that?
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11-01-2005, 06:46 AM
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#3
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BIG SMELLY MOD
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: Livingston Parish, Denham Springs, Louisiana
Posts: 16,780
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No Have the actinic come on and stay on and then the 10k's then off with the 10K's and then off with the actinics. Your algae problem is a food source not a light source. That just what I think.
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Vince aka VINNIE
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11-01-2005, 10:30 AM
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#4
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Moderator
Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: Montana
Posts: 5,414
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I agree with Vince.
For NO, to keep coralline growing, go with a 10-14 hour cycle. I keep my actinics overlapped by 1 hour on either end to create dawn and dusk.
Hopefull you'll start seeing the algae subside since you have decent skimming capacity now; it will probably take 3-6 months before it's completely gone with 10% wc's and heavy skimming. If you scrub or remove as much of it as possible in a seperate container regularly, it will go away even quicker.
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~Vince
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11-01-2005, 11:51 AM
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#5
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The Ninja MOD
Join Date: Mar 2004
Location: Planet P.....Why Me?
Posts: 12,058
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My VHO schedule; actinics on at 12:00pm off at 11:00 pm. 10k's on at 1:00pm and off at 10:00pm. When I get the MH up and runni9ng it will be Actincs on at 12:00pm, 50/50s on at 1:00pm, MH on at 2:00pm. MH off at 9:00pm 50/50s off at 10:00pm and actinics off at 11:00pm. The bulb colors for the VHO may change as I am going to try different MH temps till I find the combo I like.
I agree with Vince, the hair isnt because of the lights, they add to the problem but the root is the food the algae is feeding off of. If the food was not there the algae wouldnt be there, even if you had long photo period.
Robert
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After 2 years I finally have water in it! (no, really)!
Where is Planet P?
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11-01-2005, 07:21 PM
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#6
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BIG SMELLY MOD
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: Livingston Parish, Denham Springs, Louisiana
Posts: 16,780
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I ket my lights on longer , Actinics on at 7.30 am Whites at 12 noon, Whites off at 8.30 pm and actinics off at 9.00 pm. on very long and no unwanted algae. I have always ran my lights long. I like to see the tank with the actinics before I go to work and the all the lights when I'm home at night.
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Vince aka VINNIE
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11-01-2005, 07:34 PM
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#7
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Milkshake Man
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: SW Florida
Posts: 9,641
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Well with my work times and stuff i will still have my actinics come on at 5am and go off at 9pm and not turn on and off in between like i had it. My 10k lights come on at 11am now and go off at 8pm.
Thanks for your replies.
Tim
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11-01-2005, 07:37 PM
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#8
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BIG SMELLY MOD
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: Livingston Parish, Denham Springs, Louisiana
Posts: 16,780
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Tim that sounds good to me, Thats how I would do it.
Quote:
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Originally Posted by Tim224DT
Well with my work times and stuff i will still have my actinics come on at 5am and go off at 9pm and not turn on and off in between like i had it. My 10k lights come on at 11am now and go off at 8pm.
Thanks for your replies.
Tim
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Vince aka VINNIE
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11-01-2005, 07:57 PM
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#9
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Nothing to See Here
Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: Cartersville, Georgia
Posts: 2,995
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Tim didn't mention his old light schedule in which he ran the lights for about 17 hours per day (before he got a timer). I think that kinda schedule will grow some serious algae. So the new schedule is much better!!
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11-01-2005, 08:05 PM
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#10
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Milkshake Man
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: SW Florida
Posts: 9,641
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Quote:
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Originally Posted by gwen_o_lyn
Tim didn't mention his old light schedule in which he ran the lights for about 17 hours per day (before he got a timer). I think that kinda schedule will grow some serious algae. So the new schedule is much better!!
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 Gwen!!! I told you not to tell anyone that kind of stuff!  Ohh well its all good. Im just kidding.
Tim
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11-01-2005, 08:13 PM
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#11
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Nothing to See Here
Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: Cartersville, Georgia
Posts: 2,995
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Quote:
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Originally Posted by Tim224DT
Gwen!!! I told you not to tell anyone that kind of stuff! Ohh well its all good. Im just kidding.
Tim |
Dear 
  !!! That's what you get for having it  WAY!!
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11-01-2005, 08:14 PM
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#12
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Milkshake Man
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: SW Florida
Posts: 9,641
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Quote:
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Originally Posted by gwen_o_lyn
Dear
!!! That's what you get for having it WAY!! |
Yes this is burgerking!!! and i want it my way!
Tim
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11-01-2005, 08:18 PM
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#13
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Nothing to See Here
Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: Cartersville, Georgia
Posts: 2,995
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Quote:
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Originally Posted by Tim224DT
Yes this is burgerking!!! and i want it my way!
Tim
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11-01-2005, 08:22 PM
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#14
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BIG SMELLY MOD
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: Livingston Parish, Denham Springs, Louisiana
Posts: 16,780
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Now I need to eat you two. Thanks
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Vince aka VINNIE
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11-01-2005, 09:19 PM
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#15
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Milkshake Man
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: SW Florida
Posts: 9,641
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Quote:
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Originally Posted by VWD
Now I need to eat you two. Thanks
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Anytime, Glad we could help!
Tim
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