lighting times

ryanpal · 06/14/2007, 10:06 AM

hey guys. i currently have the halide lights and the fluorescent lights. the setup basically has the flurescent llights come on in the morning for a half hour and then the halides. then at night the halides turn off about a half hour before the fluorescent ones do.

i'd like to know what is a general time guide to use. what time i should fire up the flurescents in the morning..then the halides...and then turn them off.

any info is appreciated. i don't want to keep these on too long if it's bad for the fish or vice versa.

thanks ;]

tedmc2 · 06/14/2007, 10:17 AM

Actinics on at 10:00 am with the MH on at 1:00 pm.
MH off at 9:00 pm with actinics off at 10:00 pm.

That way the lights are on for a good part of the evening and off at 10:00 pm so that I can watch tv without the bright light.

HTH

ryanpal · 06/14/2007, 10:19 AM

ah that makes sense...what about if these are downstairs where i hangout but dont' sleep so the light isn't an issue..would those timings change?

also, what if i had people over for lets say an afte rparty and wanted the tank to be lit up. if it was a couple hours past their normal times would this affect them alot?

LPCHPC · 06/14/2007, 11:26 AM

Tagging along here. I have been curious as to others scheduling as well. I am in the process of getting my new lights up an running, hopefully will be hung in the next several weeks. Anyway, I was thinking of something like this. Both T5s on at 11am. First 250W halide on 1pm, second 250W halide comes on at 4pm. The first halide off at 7pm and the second halide off at 10pm. That way the tank sees 3 hours with both halides on and 9 hours of total halide time. Does this make sense? I am trying at combating heat issues and high energy costs. Any suggestions? I am open as I am sure ryanpal is too

kaihonu82 · 06/14/2007, 11:31 AM

Its really a personal preference. I turn my flourecent on around 8am, and the brighter light on a little later. They're on for a few hours then shut off in the opposite order right before it gets to be the hottest time of the day to limit the amount of heat around my tank.

If heat is a big issue, you can always reverse your photoperiod and have your lights on during the night. Or turn then on in the evening when the outside temps are starting to go down.

tedmc2 · 06/14/2007, 02:14 PM

I agree that it is a personal preference. A lot depends on your lifestyle and where your tank is. Some people who are up late don't start their light cycle until 3:00 pm. Then the lights are on when they get home and stay on until past midnight. As stated, this can also help with heat.

As far as turning the lights back on later, IMO it's ok on occassion but not on a regular basis.

frederickk · 06/16/2007, 08:48 AM

Atinics on at 11:00 AM off at 10:30PM

MH on at 12:30PM and off at 9:30 PM
MH on at 2PM and off at 10PM

tkeracer619 · 06/16/2007, 08:52 AM

Actinics at 1
Halides at 3
Halides of at 11PM
Actinics off at 1AM

I am up usually around midnight to 2am and don't watch tv so I wanted my tank on.

06/14/2007, 10:06 AM	#1
ryanpal Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: New Jersey Posts: 756	lighting times hey guys. i currently have the halide lights and the fluorescent lights. the setup basically has the flurescent llights come on in the morning for a half hour and then the halides. then at night the halides turn off about a half hour before the fluorescent ones do. i'd like to know what is a general time guide to use. what time i should fire up the flurescents in the morning..then the halides...and then turn them off. any info is appreciated. i don't want to keep these on too long if it's bad for the fish or vice versa. thanks ;]

06/14/2007, 10:17 AM	#2
tedmc2 Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Massachusetts Posts: 384	Actinics on at 10:00 am with the MH on at 1:00 pm. MH off at 9:00 pm with actinics off at 10:00 pm. That way the lights are on for a good part of the evening and off at 10:00 pm so that I can watch tv without the bright light. HTH __________________ In a world gone mad, only a lunatic’s truly insane - Homer Simpson Current Tank Info: 18" cube, 12" cube, ADA MINI-S

06/14/2007, 11:31 AM	#5
kaihonu82 Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: bay area, ca Posts: 454	Its really a personal preference. I turn my flourecent on around 8am, and the brighter light on a little later. They're on for a few hours then shut off in the opposite order right before it gets to be the hottest time of the day to limit the amount of heat around my tank. If heat is a big issue, you can always reverse your photoperiod and have your lights on during the night. Or turn then on in the evening when the outside temps are starting to go down. __________________ lindsay

06/14/2007, 02:14 PM	#6
tedmc2 Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Massachusetts Posts: 384	I agree that it is a personal preference. A lot depends on your lifestyle and where your tank is. Some people who are up late don't start their light cycle until 3:00 pm. Then the lights are on when they get home and stay on until past midnight. As stated, this can also help with heat. As far as turning the lights back on later, IMO it's ok on occassion but not on a regular basis. __________________ In a world gone mad, only a lunatic’s truly insane - Homer Simpson Current Tank Info: 18" cube, 12" cube, ADA MINI-S

06/16/2007, 08:52 AM	#8
tkeracer619 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Westminster, CO Posts: 17,289	Actinics at 1 Halides at 3 Halides of at 11PM Actinics off at 1AM I am up usually around midnight to 2am and don't watch tv so I wanted my tank on. __________________ Hobby Experience: 9200ish gallons, 26 skimmers, and a handful of Kent Scrapers. Current Tank: Vortech Powered 600G SPS Tank w/ 100gal frag tank & 100g Sump. RK2-RK10 Skimmer. ReefAngel. Radium 20k.

06/14/2007, 10:19 AM	#3
ryanpal Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: New Jersey Posts: 756	ah that makes sense...what about if these are downstairs where i hangout but dont' sleep so the light isn't an issue..would those timings change? also, what if i had people over for lets say an afte rparty and wanted the tank to be lit up. if it was a couple hours past their normal times would this affect them alot?

06/14/2007, 11:26 AM	#4
LPCHPC Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Los Angeles Posts: 129	Tagging along here. I have been curious as to others scheduling as well. I am in the process of getting my new lights up an running, hopefully will be hung in the next several weeks. Anyway, I was thinking of something like this. Both T5s on at 11am. First 250W halide on 1pm, second 250W halide comes on at 4pm. The first halide off at 7pm and the second halide off at 10pm. That way the tank sees 3 hours with both halides on and 9 hours of total halide time. Does this make sense? I am trying at combating heat issues and high energy costs. Any suggestions? I am open as I am sure ryanpal is too

06/16/2007, 08:48 AM	#7
frederickk Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Posts: 2,712	Atinics on at 11:00 AM off at 10:30PM MH on at 12:30PM and off at 9:30 PM MH on at 2PM and off at 10PM