T5 light cycling thoughts

davefrombinary · 02/17/2009, 11:09 AM

I have a 75g with 6x54w T5s. I'm using the following bulbs: 2-ATI Blue Plus, 1-ATI Aquablue, 1-ATI Pro Color, 1-UV Lighting 10000K AquaSun and 1-UV Lighting Super Actinic.

I'm trying to figure out how long I want the different sets of bulbs on for to try and create something like a daily cycle that won't overwhelm or starve my tank of light.

I have a fairly varied mix of corals on my reef (not going for just SPS) and I'm planning to add a clam soon near the bottom of the tank. I think the fish are a little bit less sensitive to the exact amount of light.

Currently I have:

2-ATI Blue Plus: 9:00 AM to 8:00 PM (11 hrs)
1-ATI Aquablue & 1-ATI Pro Color: 10:00 AM to 6:00 PM (8 hrs)
1-UV Lighting 10000K AquaSun & 1-UV Lighting Super Actinic: 11:00 AM to 7:00 PM (8 hrs)

This gives me 7 hrs with all the lights on and 3 hours of the lights scaling up and down. I have the bulbs ordered in a way so that the light is fairly evenly distributed with each group above.

Does amount of time and order I have the light come on seem acceptable? I'm not really sure which wavelengths should be coming on first or could be bad if on to long.

davefrombinary · 02/17/2009, 11:14 AM

oh, almost forgot my tank is 75g glass so ~18" deep.

davefrombinary · 02/17/2009, 11:57 AM

I posted my question before reading the t5 q&a thread. I think I'm ok.

chris4869 · 02/17/2009, 06:23 PM

I think your photoperiod is fine. I take it you have 3 ballasts to get that kind of control. I only have 2, so I'm limited to two sets of lighting going on/off, but yours are so much more flexible.

I recommend moving the startup time to later if you are not home during the day time to see it. I work during the day and don't see my tank until late in the evening, so the lights (dawn/dusk) are on around 1 PM and off around 11 PM. It reduces heating the tank too since most of my lights are on during the evening when it's cooler.

davefrombinary · 02/17/2009, 07:52 PM

Thanks for the confirmation! Yeah, I do have 3 ballasts each running 2 lights.

I'm fortunate enough to telecommute right now and I have my tank built into the wall between my living room and my office so it is nice to enjoy the tank during the day while I work.

02/17/2009, 11:09 AM	#1
davefrombinary Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Posts: 9	T5 light cycling thoughts I have a 75g with 6x54w T5s. I'm using the following bulbs: 2-ATI Blue Plus, 1-ATI Aquablue, 1-ATI Pro Color, 1-UV Lighting 10000K AquaSun and 1-UV Lighting Super Actinic. I'm trying to figure out how long I want the different sets of bulbs on for to try and create something like a daily cycle that won't overwhelm or starve my tank of light. I have a fairly varied mix of corals on my reef (not going for just SPS) and I'm planning to add a clam soon near the bottom of the tank. I think the fish are a little bit less sensitive to the exact amount of light. Currently I have: 2-ATI Blue Plus: 9:00 AM to 8:00 PM (11 hrs) 1-ATI Aquablue & 1-ATI Pro Color: 10:00 AM to 6:00 PM (8 hrs) 1-UV Lighting 10000K AquaSun & 1-UV Lighting Super Actinic: 11:00 AM to 7:00 PM (8 hrs) This gives me 7 hrs with all the lights on and 3 hours of the lights scaling up and down. I have the bulbs ordered in a way so that the light is fairly evenly distributed with each group above. Does amount of time and order I have the light come on seem acceptable? I'm not really sure which wavelengths should be coming on first or could be bad if on to long. __________________ -Dave http://www.davidforrestphoto.com Current Tank Info: 75g mixed reef

02/17/2009, 11:14 AM	#2
davefrombinary Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Posts: 9	oh, almost forgot my tank is 75g glass so ~18" deep. __________________ -Dave http://www.davidforrestphoto.com Current Tank Info: 75g mixed reef

02/17/2009, 11:57 AM	#3
davefrombinary Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Posts: 9	I posted my question before reading the t5 q&a thread. I think I'm ok. __________________ -Dave http://www.davidforrestphoto.com Current Tank Info: 75g mixed reef

02/17/2009, 07:52 PM	#5
davefrombinary Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Posts: 9	Thanks for the confirmation! Yeah, I do have 3 ballasts each running 2 lights. I'm fortunate enough to telecommute right now and I have my tank built into the wall between my living room and my office so it is nice to enjoy the tank during the day while I work. __________________ -Dave http://www.davidforrestphoto.com Current Tank Info: 75g mixed reef

02/17/2009, 06:23 PM	#4
chris4869 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Bay Area, CA Posts: 1,006	I think your photoperiod is fine. I take it you have 3 ballasts to get that kind of control. I only have 2, so I'm limited to two sets of lighting going on/off, but yours are so much more flexible. I recommend moving the startup time to later if you are not home during the day time to see it. I work during the day and don't see my tank until late in the evening, so the lights (dawn/dusk) are on around 1 PM and off around 11 PM. It reduces heating the tank too since most of my lights are on during the evening when it's cooler.