light timers? 18on/6 off?

Zestay · 02/13/2007, 08:19 PM

well i work long days. and personally i like to see my tank. ( even tho its quite boring but each little new sprout of life can get me sucked in for a while ) i have to be at work at 7am and dont get home till 10pm
is it acceptable to run my lights ( which are puny normal output t-5s ) from 6:30 am to 11 at night when i goto bed?

i dont have many corals ( only have one zoanthid polyp as a hitch hiker on live rock )

thoughts comments flame?

bertoni · 02/13/2007, 08:26 PM

I'd just run the lights from 2:00 pm to 11:00 to save some electricity, but the longer light cycle might not hurt anything.

crumbletop · 02/13/2007, 08:26 PM

I'd crank them up around noon, and off at 11.

hanas · 02/13/2007, 08:35 PM

I run my lights from 11 to 10 in my reef tank, I don't think the longer light exposure would hurt anything, but I've never tried it.

Zestay · 02/13/2007, 08:46 PM

thanx for input!..
what about.. just turning lights on for a few when i wake up and then back off.. or is that messing with their internal clock?

hanas · 02/13/2007, 08:52 PM

I would try to stick to a routine/schedule with regards to the lighting, just my opinion though.

crumbletop · 02/13/2007, 09:08 PM

I'd think you want to have a normal photoperiod. I wouldn't turn it on in the morning as it will likely stress the inhabitants.

rickh · 02/14/2007, 03:58 PM

I run my lights 12 to 12. It makes no sense to me to have the tank light shut off at 7 or 8 PM--I would never get to enjoy the tank-- I don't even get home until after that. The intensity of the normal room light is nothing compared to the tank lights so I don't worry about it. R

02/13/2007, 08:19 PM	#1
Zestay Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: gainesville, FL Posts: 1,622	light timers? 18on/6 off? well i work long days. and personally i like to see my tank. ( even tho its quite boring but each little new sprout of life can get me sucked in for a while ) i have to be at work at 7am and dont get home till 10pm is it acceptable to run my lights ( which are puny normal output t-5s ) from 6:30 am to 11 at night when i goto bed? i dont have many corals ( only have one zoanthid polyp as a hitch hiker on live rock ) thoughts comments flame?

02/13/2007, 08:26 PM	#2
bertoni RC Mod Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Mountain View, CA, USA Posts: 88,616	I'd just run the lights from 2:00 pm to 11:00 to save some electricity, but the longer light cycle might not hurt anything. __________________ Jonathan Bertoni

02/13/2007, 08:26 PM	#3
crumbletop Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Nashville, TN Posts: 4,718	I'd crank them up around noon, and off at 11. __________________ "Misers get up early in the morning; and burglars, I am informed, get up the night before." - GK Chesterton Current Tank Info: 90 gallon AGA RR. 20 gal sump. 6x54W T5. AquaController Jr.

02/13/2007, 09:08 PM	#7
crumbletop Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Nashville, TN Posts: 4,718	I'd think you want to have a normal photoperiod. I wouldn't turn it on in the morning as it will likely stress the inhabitants. __________________ "Misers get up early in the morning; and burglars, I am informed, get up the night before." - GK Chesterton Current Tank Info: 90 gallon AGA RR. 20 gal sump. 6x54W T5. AquaController Jr.

02/14/2007, 03:58 PM	#8
rickh Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Lost_in_Michigan Posts: 1,306	I run my lights 12 to 12. It makes no sense to me to have the tank light shut off at 7 or 8 PM--I would never get to enjoy the tank-- I don't even get home until after that. The intensity of the normal room light is nothing compared to the tank lights so I don't worry about it. R Last edited by rickh; 02/14/2007 at 04:06 PM.

02/13/2007, 08:35 PM	#4
hanas Premium Member Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Fairfield, CT Posts: 795	I run my lights from 11 to 10 in my reef tank, I don't think the longer light exposure would hurt anything, but I've never tried it.

02/13/2007, 08:46 PM	#5
Zestay Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: gainesville, FL Posts: 1,622	thanx for input!.. what about.. just turning lights on for a few when i wake up and then back off.. or is that messing with their internal clock?

02/13/2007, 08:52 PM	#6
hanas Premium Member Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Fairfield, CT Posts: 795	I would try to stick to a routine/schedule with regards to the lighting, just my opinion though.