left my lights on...quick question

[stickx911]

I went to take a quick nap last afternoon...and ended up sleeping all night. lol, so my lights in my tank stayed on just about all night.

Should I leave them off all day today, or just run as usual today (they'd be off for 6-7 hours before coming back on at 1pm)?

 

[jtshack]

I'd let them go back on at 1 today...you're not the first one who's done something like that either! I finally broke down and put timers on all my tanks. Even my freshwater tank has a timer!

Don't worry...your tank will be fine!

 

[linda lee]

Mostly fish or mostly corals?

If your tank is mostly corals, I'd leave the lights on today, turn them off a bit early tonight and get back onto your regular schedule.

If you normally feed fish daily, I'd skip a day or two to discourage algae growth that might be encouraged by the extra light, but I doubt just one day will make that much of a difference.

 

[stickx911]

its mostly coral, just a few fish. So lights as usual (but turn off a bit earlier) and skip feeding today...Thanks for the suggestions.

 

[linda lee]

stickx911;194552 wrote: turn off a bit earlier...

Or, as Tracey suggested, turn them on a bit later (1:00 or so). Either way would work to shorten today's light cycle.

 

[jtshack]

...and invest in a timer when you can so you don't have to worry about this anymore. On my smaller tank, I have a small light strip hooked into a $5 timer that's JUST for my lights (my lights on that tank have 3 plugs)...been working fine for quite some time. WELL worth the $5 I spent on the timer...

 

[flyingarmy]

I wouldn't worry about it at all..just go back to your normal schedule...just one thing you should do...go buy some timers. automation of your system takes a lot of worry away!

 

[skriz]

I don't think anybody has suggested this already, but have you considered timers? lol

 

[linda lee]

Or maybe a timer would be a good idea?

(Just a thought)



But a note about timers... don't get <u>too</u> dependent upon them, especially for vacations, etc. They can fail (corrosion caused by salt creep, etc.) and then you can be in a world of hurt.

 

[linda lee]

ares;194583 wrote: high dollar value + spinning? noooo

digital. runs about 20$ off the web. well worth it.

can you post a link to one of these?

Thanks!

 

[derek_s]

Good thing about the mechanical ones is they restart after power outages. THey only lose time (get stopped and restarted whre they left off). I'm not sure if the digital ones do or not.

I have the Coralife Power Center Dual I dont use anymore If you want one. $20

http://www.drsfostersmith.com/product/prod_display.cfm?pcatid=11304">http://www.drsfostersmith.com/product/prod_display.cfm?pcatid=11304</a>

[IMG]http://a1272.g.akamai.net/7/1272/1121/20060404142155/www.drsfostersmith.com/images/products/swatches/st_lg_16354_FS28556D_1_dual.jpg alt="" />

Worked perfectly for me since Feb, but now I have an Aquacontroller.

 

[linda lee]

corvettecris;194593 wrote: Good thing about the mechanical ones is they restart after power outages. THey only lose time (get stopped and restarted whre they left off). I'm not sure if the digital ones do or not.

I have the Coralife Power Center Dual I dont use anymore If you want one. $20

http://www.drsfostersmith.com/product/prod_display.cfm?pcatid=11304">http://www.drsfostersmith.com/product/prod_display.cfm?pcatid=11304</a>

[IMG]http://a1272.g.akamai.net/7/1272/1121/20060404142155/www.drsfostersmith.com/images/products/swatches/st_lg_16354_FS28556D_1_dual.jpg alt="" />

Worked perfectly for me since Feb, but now I have an Aquacontroller.

We have these on a couple of our tanks, but I don't care for them. Thanks for the offer though!

 

[jtshack]

corvettecris;194593 wrote:
I have the Coralife Power Center Dual I dont use anymore If you want one. $20

http://www.drsfostersmith.com/product/prod_display.cfm?pcatid=11304">http://www.drsfostersmith.com/product/prod_display.cfm?pcatid=11304</a>

[IMG]http://a1272.g.akamai.net/7/1272/1121/20060404142155/www.drsfostersmith.com/images/products/swatches/st_lg_16354_FS28556D_1_dual.jpg alt="" />

Worked perfectly for me since Feb, but now I have an Aquacontroller.

If this is still available, I'd like it... I have one like this on one of my tanks that I've had for some time with no problems. Are you coming to the meeting?

 

[jade76]

alt="" />

Ive heard rumors of these things catching fire.

 

[jtshack]

jade76;194638 wrote:
Ive heard rumors of these things catching fire.

In almost 2 years, I've not had a single problem with mine...not saying what you heard isn't true, but my experience with them has been good...

 

[linda lee]

jade76;194638 wrote:

Ive heard rumors of these things catching fire.

Those that caught on fire might have had a gazillion things plugged into them and got overloaded. For instance, I know of one person that plugged an extension cord into the last outlet available on his timer and the extension cord had 2-3 things on it.

If you plug too much into any kind of power strip, you're really asking for trouble.

And.... mine smoked, crackled, sputtered and died, but... ummmm... it was the water dripping into it that was the real culprit. (ooops)

Main reason I don't like these is because I can't get the hang of using them and thought a digital might be more user-friendly. Some kind of mental block, I guess.

 

[gaguy68]

i have digital timer on both my tanks and LOVE THEM! just set it and forget it, mine come on at 3pm and go out at 11pm (except moon light) that way i can make myself go to bed and use the fish and water to lull me into a deep sleep