Coral Photoperiod - How dark should dark be?

Mattewell · 08/06/2013, 01:38 PM

During the time that the lights are out, how dark should the tank be?

As we know, coral calicfy at night, so at what level of light do they stop calcifying?

I would like to try to maximize growth but am not sure my lighting schedule is the best for it right now. I have a window in the room that the tank is in and in the morning the room is lit to the point you can see easily in the room. I am worried I am not giving the coral enough time to calcify.

I would also like to balance this with my work schedule. I would like some time to enjoy the tank when I get home. Here is a crude not to scale illustration of my problem.

thegrun · 08/06/2013, 01:42 PM

It looks like if you work from 10pm to 6am everything will be fine!

Mattewell · 08/06/2013, 01:43 PM

If only that would work...

Allmost · 08/06/2013, 01:44 PM

just a note ... corals do their growing during the day when they get light.[Calcification]

will post the article here as soon as I find it

http://www.coralscience.org/main/art...how-reefs-grow

Mattewell · 08/06/2013, 01:48 PM

Also, I have to keep in mind that this is Minnesota and its summer. In the winter this is what it would look like. This would look even more dismal for you folks in Canada... Love going to work in the dark and coming back in the dark.....

Mattewell · 08/06/2013, 02:06 PM

Ok, that article is interesting. So I shouldn't be worried about this light schedule?

Mattewell · 08/07/2013, 08:25 AM

So what I dont get about the article is that they say that coral growth is faster during the day when they get more energy. So why do some people say that lighting over 4-6 hours is a waste?

Also if it were true that coral grow faster during the day, why wouldn't we all have like 14 hour lighting schedules?

thegrun · 08/07/2013, 10:17 AM

There are limits as to how long coral can continue its growth. Same as how long can you continue to run? At some point coral needs to rest just like you do.

Mattewell · 08/07/2013, 01:13 PM

so what does everyone else run for their light schedule?

thegrun · 08/07/2013, 03:16 PM

I run dimable LEDs now so the lines are blurred, but when I had MH/T-5 combo I ran the actinic t-5's for 12 hours (9:30am-9:30pm) and the MH for 6-1/2 hours (1pm-7:30pm).

08/06/2013, 01:38 PM	#1
Mattewell Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Rochester,Mn Posts: 308	Coral Photoperiod - How dark should dark be? During the time that the lights are out, how dark should the tank be? As we know, coral calicfy at night, so at what level of light do they stop calcifying? I would like to try to maximize growth but am not sure my lighting schedule is the best for it right now. I have a window in the room that the tank is in and in the morning the room is lit to the point you can see easily in the room. I am worried I am not giving the coral enough time to calcify. I would also like to balance this with my work schedule. I would like some time to enjoy the tank when I get home. Here is a crude not to scale illustration of my problem.

08/06/2013, 01:42 PM	#2
thegrun Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Garden Grove, Ca Posts: 17,023	It looks like if you work from 10pm to 6am everything will be fine!

08/06/2013, 01:43 PM	#3
Mattewell Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Rochester,Mn Posts: 308	If only that would work...

08/06/2013, 01:44 PM	#4
Allmost Moved On Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: canada, toronto Posts: 8,161	just a note ... corals do their growing during the day when they get light.[Calcification] will post the article here as soon as I find it http://www.coralscience.org/main/art...how-reefs-grow

08/06/2013, 01:48 PM	#5
Mattewell Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Rochester,Mn Posts: 308	Also, I have to keep in mind that this is Minnesota and its summer. In the winter this is what it would look like. This would look even more dismal for you folks in Canada... Love going to work in the dark and coming back in the dark.....

08/06/2013, 02:06 PM	#6
Mattewell Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Rochester,Mn Posts: 308	Ok, that article is interesting. So I shouldn't be worried about this light schedule?

08/07/2013, 08:25 AM	#7
Mattewell Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Rochester,Mn Posts: 308	So what I dont get about the article is that they say that coral growth is faster during the day when they get more energy. So why do some people say that lighting over 4-6 hours is a waste? Also if it were true that coral grow faster during the day, why wouldn't we all have like 14 hour lighting schedules?

08/07/2013, 10:17 AM	#8
thegrun Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Garden Grove, Ca Posts: 17,023	There are limits as to how long coral can continue its growth. Same as how long can you continue to run? At some point coral needs to rest just like you do.

08/07/2013, 01:13 PM	#9
Mattewell Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Rochester,Mn Posts: 308	so what does everyone else run for their light schedule?

08/07/2013, 03:16 PM	#10
thegrun Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Garden Grove, Ca Posts: 17,023	I run dimable LEDs now so the lines are blurred, but when I had MH/T-5 combo I ran the actinic t-5's for 12 hours (9:30am-9:30pm) and the MH for 6-1/2 hours (1pm-7:30pm).