Proper amount of lighting

spluchino82 · 04/06/2012, 07:29 AM

My LFS told me 6 hours of light was enough for both fish and coral. I have all the proper lighting... but I'm thinking 18 hours of darkness is alot! However, the diatom is gone. What do you think?

Andrew · 04/06/2012, 07:30 AM

If you have a diatom problem than yes do cut back on your lighting time. Personally I would leave the lights on for 8 hours or a little more.

HollyG · 04/06/2012, 02:45 PM

6 Hours is a little on the low side. Were the diatoms there from a cycle or has it already been set up for a while? If it was just from a cycle and the cycle is finished then I would keep the lights on for no less than 8hrs. If your tank has been set up for a while and you got a diatom problem then you most likely are having phosphate and sillicate problems, and any extra lighting will just make the diatoms come back until you find a different water sorce phosphate and scillicate free for your tank.
For my reef I have my Blue led strip turn on at 7:30am and the main lights turn on at 9am. Then the main lights turn off at 6pm and the blue leds stay on until 11pm So, there is only an 9hr period during the day that there is intense light for the coral, but when the blue leds are on (not moonlight, accent lgihting, so they are quite bright) the fish aren't in complete darkness and can still see. The tank is only in complete darkness when the blue leds shut off at 11pm and turn back on at 7:30am. So only 8 1/2hrs of darkness. Maybe this will give you some ideas. Have a good one.

sponger0 · 04/06/2012, 02:51 PM

Alot of people go 18 hours with no light. And have no problems.

If it is a new tank, diatoms are normal

spluchino82 · 04/06/2012, 09:21 PM

The tank was moved about 2 months ago. The day before the move it had a 10% water changed. And I moved ALL the same water with the tank in buckets and had it set up in under 2 hours. Diatoms are gone now, but as I said, not alot of light

spluchino82 · 04/06/2012, 09:23 PM

...... Moved water fish coral rock and sand. Saved everything

04/06/2012, 07:29 AM	#1
spluchino82 Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2012 Posts: 228	Proper amount of lighting My LFS told me 6 hours of light was enough for both fish and coral. I have all the proper lighting... but I'm thinking 18 hours of darkness is alot! However, the diatom is gone. What do you think?

04/06/2012, 02:45 PM	#3
HollyG Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: Canada Posts: 72	6 Hours is a little on the low side. Were the diatoms there from a cycle or has it already been set up for a while? If it was just from a cycle and the cycle is finished then I would keep the lights on for no less than 8hrs. If your tank has been set up for a while and you got a diatom problem then you most likely are having phosphate and sillicate problems, and any extra lighting will just make the diatoms come back until you find a different water sorce phosphate and scillicate free for your tank. For my reef I have my Blue led strip turn on at 7:30am and the main lights turn on at 9am. Then the main lights turn off at 6pm and the blue leds stay on until 11pm So, there is only an 9hr period during the day that there is intense light for the coral, but when the blue leds are on (not moonlight, accent lgihting, so they are quite bright) the fish aren't in complete darkness and can still see. The tank is only in complete darkness when the blue leds shut off at 11pm and turn back on at 7:30am. So only 8 1/2hrs of darkness. Maybe this will give you some ideas. Have a good one. __________________ 33gal: SPS Acropora dominated, some softies. Crocea Clam, Squamosa Clam. Rose Bubble Tip Anemone.

04/06/2012, 07:30 AM	#2
Andrew Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Columbus, OH Posts: 13,640	If you have a diatom problem than yes do cut back on your lighting time. Personally I would leave the lights on for 8 hours or a little more.

04/06/2012, 02:51 PM	#4
sponger0 Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Virginia Beach Posts: 6,659	Alot of people go 18 hours with no light. And have no problems. If it is a new tank, diatoms are normal

04/06/2012, 09:21 PM	#5
spluchino82 Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2012 Posts: 228	The tank was moved about 2 months ago. The day before the move it had a 10% water changed. And I moved ALL the same water with the tank in buckets and had it set up in under 2 hours. Diatoms are gone now, but as I said, not alot of light

04/06/2012, 09:23 PM	#6
spluchino82 Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2012 Posts: 228	...... Moved water fish coral rock and sand. Saved everything