Too Much Lighting at Once?

baondayko · 01/21/2009, 10:44 AM

I was wondering if it is possible that I may have too much lighting on at one time? Here is my lighting schedule.

10 AM - 10PM: 440W VHO Actinics
12PM - 7 PM: 2x250W 10 K Metal Halide

So....I've got 940W of lighting going at once. The tank is certainly bright, but not overwhelmingly so.

In an effort to have an environment closer to that of the ocean, would it make sense not to run the VHO and Metal Halide at the same time?

Any thoughts are appreciated.

nativecracker32 · 01/21/2009, 10:52 AM

What's in your tank will better determine if you have to much light at one time. You can burn some coral with your lights. But if they look healthy then no real problem untill you introduce new corals.

baondayko · 01/21/2009, 02:47 PM

All my coral are pretty healthy right now....I wanted to mimic their environment, more so than the corals adjusting to mine. Don't know if that makes sense.

In other words, I am not sure any part of the ocean, other than very shallow portions could have as much bright light as what the corals currently have in my tank.

When I see pictures of other tanks, most do not appear to be a bright as mine. When I look at documentaries of coral reefs, the lighting is not a bright as mine.

Thanks
Brock

01/21/2009, 10:44 AM	#1
baondayko Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Columbus, Ohio Posts: 368	Too Much Lighting at Once? I was wondering if it is possible that I may have too much lighting on at one time? Here is my lighting schedule. 10 AM - 10PM: 440W VHO Actinics 12PM - 7 PM: 2x250W 10 K Metal Halide So....I've got 940W of lighting going at once. The tank is certainly bright, but not overwhelmingly so. In an effort to have an environment closer to that of the ocean, would it make sense not to run the VHO and Metal Halide at the same time? Any thoughts are appreciated.

01/21/2009, 10:52 AM	#2
nativecracker32 Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: north fort myers Posts: 80	What's in your tank will better determine if you have to much light at one time. You can burn some coral with your lights. But if they look healthy then no real problem untill you introduce new corals. __________________ reefin ant easy! Current Tank Info: 265 reef tank

01/21/2009, 02:47 PM	#3
baondayko Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Columbus, Ohio Posts: 368	All my coral are pretty healthy right now....I wanted to mimic their environment, more so than the corals adjusting to mine. Don't know if that makes sense. In other words, I am not sure any part of the ocean, other than very shallow portions could have as much bright light as what the corals currently have in my tank. When I see pictures of other tanks, most do not appear to be a bright as mine. When I look at documentaries of coral reefs, the lighting is not a bright as mine. Thanks Brock __________________ 265 Gallon, 3x400W MH, 2x54W T5, 100 Gallon Rubbermaid Sump, APEX Controller, 2xEcotech MP40WES - tied wirelessly to APEX controller, ASM G2 Skimmer