What cycling time do you use for lighting your reef tanks?

[wannabeeareefkeeper]

How is your lighting setup? Manual or automatic? What pattern do you follow? Do you follow your time zone and what is the time currently outside your house? Do you cycle 6 hours on, 6 hours off, 6 hours on, then 6 hours off?

Tell what size tank you have, fish only or totally full blown reef tank. Have you seen any monumental changes in your lighting setup when you follow a certain pattern in timing of your lights? How long has your tank been setup this way with this lighting cycle?

If I may borrow a line from another member: "without pictures it didn't happen." I'm o.k. if you don't have the ability to upload pictures of your tank. But now is the time to show off your tank here. :wow2:

Wannabee

 

[rdnelson]

You have seen mine so I am skipping the pics. LOL My lighting schedule is as follows:

125 gallon reef with 3 MM LED dimmable. I do not have a controller so they are set to my desired levels and then controlled via a timer.

2:00 PM, blues on.
4:00 PM, whites on.
9:00 PM, whites off.
11:00 PM blues off.

My fuge light runs for 12 hours while the display lights are off.

 

[acroholic]

I've never quite understood those split light cycles or the need for them.

 

[wannabeeareefkeeper]

Acroholic;839536 wrote: I've never quite understood those split light cycles or the need for them.

Acroholic:

How do you have your light cycle set? Do you follow the same as what is outside? I'm interested in your experience with lighting? Do you use halide, LEDs, T5's?

Wannabee

 

[stickx911]

Acroholic;839536 wrote: I've never quite understood those split light cycles or the need for them.

I worked an odd schedule for a bit, so i ran it that way I'd be able to see the tank everyday.

 

[rdnelson]

Dylan runs a split schedule. He basis it off of the assumption (or maybe fact) that the corals get no benifit after about 4 hours or so. Might ask him to chime in.

 

[ripped tide]

I base it off of assumption/fact/theory/pleasure.

My tank has been running on two lighting cycles for about 2 years now.

Fact: even though the sun may illuminate our day for 12 hours or so, doesn't mean that the corals are able to use that light. The sun is only in position to provide the right amount of light for 3-5 hrs a day. A photoperiod usually only lasts about 3-4 hrs. Within that time, the corals should produce enough energy from photosynthesis for that day. When the sun goes down, the corals then focus their energy towards digestion of any foods captured and growth.

Assumption: 6hrs is a long enough rest period for the coral to use the energy produced for growth.

Theory: More frequent production of energy and rest periods to use the energy will allow faster grow

Pleasure: the lights are on in the morning before I leave, and on again when I get home. This allows me to enjoy my aquarium more


So far, I cannot really say whether it works or not. It's hard to compare when so many variables take effect on growth. I am pleased with the 6,6,6,6 lighting cycle.

 

[wannabeeareefkeeper]

Ripped Tide;839568 wrote: I base it off of assumption/fact/theory/pleasure.

My tank has been running on two lighting cycles for about 2 years now.

Fact: even though the sun may illuminate our day for 12 hours or so, doesn't mean that the corals are able to use that light. The sun is only in position to provide the right amount of light for 3-5 hrs a day. A photoperiod usually only lasts about 3-4 hrs. Within that time, the corals should produce enough energy from photosynthesis for that day. When the sun goes down, the corals then focus their energy towards digestion of any foods captured and growth.

Assumption: 6hrs is a long enough rest period for the coral to use the energy produced for growth.

Theory: More frequent production of energy and rest periods to use the energy will allow faster grow

Pleasure: the lights are on in the morning before I leave, and on again when I get home. This allows me to enjoy my aquarium more


So far, I cannot really say whether it works or not. It's hard to compare when so many variables take effect on growth. I am pleased with the 6,6,6,6 lighting cycle.

Ripped Tide:

The 6,6,6,6 lighting consists of what? Blue lights first, then bring in white lights while blues prepped livestock for whites. Other scenario, all on at once [6 hours], all off for [6 hours]; repeat cycle again.

Wannabee

 

[stickx911]

Mine was all on/all off when I did it with no harm to the inhabitants.

 

[ripped tide]

I have the t5s kicking on 30 mins before the halides, and they stay on for 30 mins after.

The halide runs for 5hrs, t5s run the full 6