What's your light schedule?

[geno]

I'm just curious -- when do your lights come on and go off?

I have the actinics come on at 8 am then the MH at 10:30 am -- the MH go off at 4:30 pm and the actinics go off at 9 pm. The 8 LEDs stay on 24/7.

Does that seem reasonable -- or would you recommend something different?

I don't have an algae problem (any more), I guess the snails and sea hare have done their job. Frankly, I'm concerned that there may not be enough algae for them to eat.

Look forward to your thoughts.
-gene

 

[xyzpdq0121]

My T-5 Actinics come on at 9:00am and go off at 9:00pm
My 2x 175W Halides Come on at 10:00am and go off at 7:00pm.

What are you trying to keep. IMHO, you need to think about running your Halides at least 8 hours if not even 9. The more I read about Photo-absorbtion in corals the more I realize that longer light cycles are better then the off and on and off and on approach.

 

[geno]

Brandon,

Right now I have a small clam, frogspawn, hammer (anchor) coral, daisy coral -- I guess all LPS stuff (I think I'm too new to venture into SPS).

My MH are 3 x 150 and 4 x 96 Actinics.

So, you're recommending I extend the time the MH are on. I'm game!

 

[xyzpdq0121]

What size tank and what color temp of Halide bulbs.

Ya, I would bump you halide schedule up by about 2 hours to start with, see if you see a change, for the better or the worse. That would be my advice.

 

[geno]

the tank is a 125g and I don't know the color rating on the MH

the unit is a 72" Outer Orbit fixture

 

[xyzpdq0121]

Ok, your tank being 22" tall and having 150W halides, I would really think about upping your light cycle a bit. See what happens. There are better ways to control algae, IMHO, then light cycle anyways. You might also want to get the clubs PAR meter and check your PAR ratings.

 

[geno]

Gonna do it.

Will re-program my ACJr tonight before going to bed

Brandon, see my reply on the nem question -- would like your advice.

 

[zdaytonaroadster]

Xyzpdq0121;187886 wrote: My T-5 Actinics come on at 9:00am and go off at 9:00pm
My 2x 175W Halides Come on at 10:00am and go off at 7:00pm.

What are you trying to keep. IMHO, you need to think about running your Halides at least 8 hours if not even 9. The more I read about Photo-absorbtion in corals the more I realize that longer light cycles are better then the off and on and off and on approach.

in that case, why not leave the lights on all the time?

 

[xyzpdq0121]

ZDaytonaRoadster;187922 wrote: in that case, why not leave the lights on all the time?

Two reasons:
1) there is a limit to how much light a coral can absorb (albeit, we normally will not approach that level) and
2) corals and fish need a dark cycle. That is when fish rest and many corals feed. It is when CO2 levels raise and help with Ca production and other biological functions. Running light 24/7 would be a very bad thing.

Oh Ya, reason 3) it would cost you 2 times as much to run your lights and my pocket book needs a down cycle too!

 

[johnr2604]

ZDaytonaRoadster;187922 wrote: in that case, why not leave the lights on all the time?

Because photosynthesis actually needs a rest period.

I agree with upping the time the halides. I just recently bumped mine from 8 to 10 and have noticed a significant increase in my SPS growth and no increase in algea.

 

[johnr2604]

oops, I type slow

 

[photokid]

umm lights oh yeah those things over rated.

 

[zdaytonaroadster]

Xyzpdq0121;187929 wrote: Two reasons:
1) there is a limit to how much light a coral can absorb (albeit, we normally will not approach that level) and
2) corals and fish need a dark cycle. That is when fish rest and many corals feed. It is when CO2 levels raise and help with Ca production and other biological functions. Running light 24/7 would be a very bad thing.

Oh Ya, reason 3) it would cost you 2 times as much to run your lights and my pocket book needs a down cycle too!

ok, makes sense, you dont know till you ask

 

[FutureInterest]

Actinics = 8 am - 10pm
Main lights = 10 am - 8 pm
Lunar lights = 9:30 pm - 8:30 am
Fuge and Frag tank lights = 10pm - 8 am