how long do you keep your mh on

levylizard · 01/31/2006, 05:05 PM

Just wonder how long i should keep my mh on for. I have a 90 gallon tank with two 250 watt de mh. Currently i turn them on at 8:00am and turn them off at 8:00 pm is this too long. Thanks. Also ever since i have added these lights i have to clean my glass once a day is this normal. Thanks again

LivingTropicals · 01/31/2006, 05:26 PM

4-5 hours staggered between 3 bulbs.

graveyardworm · 01/31/2006, 05:34 PM

VHO actinics on at 8 AM off at 8:30 PM, MH on at 10 AM off at 7 PM.

Gabi480 · 01/31/2006, 05:36 PM

12 like you and I have had no problem

smoknreefrs · 01/31/2006, 05:38 PM

about 6.5 hrs.............

wetWolger · 01/31/2006, 05:38 PM

10hr vho's....8hr mh

fishpimp69 · 01/31/2006, 05:42 PM

what i don't get is why people run there mhs with such different time frames? Some run 5 hours and some 12. What makes the difference between these people's tanks?

garvondavis14 · 01/31/2006, 05:59 PM

it can depend on what corals you're keeping, some people don't have coolers and their water may get too hot, some ppl try to replicate the sun (a lto of ppl do this diff.), etc. etc. there are tons of reasons...right now i'm limited to 4 hrs with mh until i install another fan

Wiggawam · 01/31/2006, 07:45 PM

Also depends on if it is bb or dsb etc. I've ntoiced most people with a low nutrient tank run the ights shorter or the colors fade.

LOTUS50GOD · 01/31/2006, 07:47 PM

11 hours... from 9 to 8

Anemonebuff · 01/31/2006, 08:03 PM

10-11 hours 2x40 NO actinics and 8-9 hours MHs

cc3 · 01/31/2006, 08:05 PM

9am - 12noon: power compacts
12noon - 7pm: mh
7pm -9pm: power compacts
moonlights all night long!

E-A-G-L-E-S · 01/31/2006, 08:10 PM

mh -- 9 hours(11:30a.m.-8:30 p.m.)
actinic -- 12 hours(10am-10pm)

jasonstr8up · 02/01/2006, 06:56 AM

mh -- 6 1/2 hours(2:30pm.-9:30p.m.)
actinic -- 10 hours(1:30pm-11:30pm)

Boat Racer · 02/01/2006, 07:24 AM

My actinics run from 8:30 am to 7:00 pm and my M/H run from 10:00 am to 4:00 pm.I have a 75 gallon with and Aquamedic 48" combo

2) T-5's Blue Actinics

2) HQI M/H 20,000k

jamal-188 · 02/01/2006, 07:35 AM

Do people that run them longer notice better growth?

pro99line · 02/01/2006, 09:09 AM

I was running mine for 12 hours but then dropped it down to 10 hours and noticed better growth. I think everyone's tank will react differently to lighting.

TJ · 02/01/2006, 09:21 AM

pc's turn on @ 8:00 a.m., out @ 9:45- MH's on @ 11:00 a.m., out @ 6:30 p.m.

shullat · 02/01/2006, 09:34 AM

Run MH for twelve hours, anything longer and I notice that the softies start to shrink in size....

VWD · 02/01/2006, 09:43 AM

I run my MH for 5 hours a day.actinics for 10 hours

suasponte2/75 · 02/01/2006, 07:52 PM

MH's only for 6 hours every day and everything's exploding in my tank. It also keeps the electricity bill manageable (CA). I do not see any difference when I run 12 hours vs 6. I've been doing it for a few years now and everything's coloring up fine and growing quickly. I used to run it for 5 hours but noticed a significant difference when I added an extra hour to the cycle. I'd suggest you adjust your light cycles until you're comfortable with your tank's color and growth rates.

I have mostly SPS's, some softies, a few LPS's and 2 clams (max and crocea). HTHs.

Minh

Emster · 02/01/2006, 09:04 PM

Actinics on at 10:00am off at 10:30pm
PC's on at 11:30 off at 5:00
MH on at 5:00 off at 10:00

I used to run my MH for 8 hours and then went to 7 then 6 and now I am at 5 and each time the colors have been getting better.I run 10k and I think that has alot to do with it.

supertech3 · 02/01/2006, 09:10 PM

MH 6 hrs
t-5 actinics 3hrs

corals b 4 bills · 02/01/2006, 11:56 PM

I also run mine from 9-8 anything more than that I will have an algae bloom, the tank water stay hot too long, and my corals POOP! from excess light.

Wiskey · 02/02/2006, 09:35 AM

5.5 hours right now for MH, 11 hours for the PC atinics.

Whiskey

01/31/2006, 05:05 PM	#1
levylizard Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: florida Posts: 48	how long do you keep your mh on Just wonder how long i should keep my mh on for. I have a 90 gallon tank with two 250 watt de mh. Currently i turn them on at 8:00am and turn them off at 8:00 pm is this too long. Thanks. Also ever since i have added these lights i have to clean my glass once a day is this normal. Thanks again

01/31/2006, 05:34 PM	#3
graveyardworm Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Nottingham, NH Posts: 7,251	VHO actinics on at 8 AM off at 8:30 PM, MH on at 10 AM off at 7 PM. __________________ -David- President - New Hampshire Reef Club There’ll be no one to save, with the world in a grave Current Tank Info: 100 gal lagoon/seagrass, 100 gal sump, Lifereef 72" skimmer, 180 inwall, 125 inwall seagrass/lagoon in progress

01/31/2006, 05:36 PM	#4
Gabi480 Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Gilbert, Arizona Posts: 360	12 like you and I have had no problem __________________ I learned to swim in a reef, where did you? "Yea, well thats like your opinion" Anyone know who said this? Gabi Current Tank Info: reef duh!

01/31/2006, 05:38 PM	#6
wetWolger Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Colorado Posts: 1,955	10hr vho's....8hr mh __________________ cheers, jent d-_-b Current Tank Info: 66gal = 32x24x20

01/31/2006, 05:59 PM	#8
garvondavis14 Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: The nasty 'Nati! Posts: 539	it can depend on what corals you're keeping, some people don't have coolers and their water may get too hot, some ppl try to replicate the sun (a lto of ppl do this diff.), etc. etc. there are tons of reasons...right now i'm limited to 4 hrs with mh until i install another fan __________________ WE ARE ALL WITNESSES LBJ23 LET'S GO CAVS, BUCKS, BROWNIES, REDS AND MUSKIES Current Tank Info: marine- 65 BB reef... freshwater- 55g mbuna tank, 20g fry tank, 30g community, 5g planted, 150g red eared slider habitat

01/31/2006, 05:26 PM	#2
LivingTropicals Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Southern California Posts: 231	4-5 hours staggered between 3 bulbs.

01/31/2006, 05:38 PM	#5
smoknreefrs Moved On Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Hackensack, NJ Posts: 669	about 6.5 hrs.............

01/31/2006, 05:42 PM	#7
fishpimp69 Premium Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: philly Posts: 509	what i don't get is why people run there mhs with such different time frames? Some run 5 hours and some 12. What makes the difference between these people's tanks?

01/31/2006, 07:45 PM	#9
Wiggawam Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Posts: 351	Also depends on if it is bb or dsb etc. I've ntoiced most people with a low nutrient tank run the ights shorter or the colors fade.

01/31/2006, 07:47 PM	#10
LOTUS50GOD Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Phoenix, AZ Posts: 3,210	11 hours... from 9 to 8 __________________ Vertex Alpha 300 Skimmer, AI SOL Blue, Neptune Apex Controlled 360 gallon Reef Current Tank Info: born 6/26/2008- 340 reef + 100 fuge, 300lbs of figi LR

01/31/2006, 08:03 PM	#11
Anemonebuff Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2001 Location: LI,NY Posts: 3,877	10-11 hours 2x40 NO actinics and 8-9 hours MHs

01/31/2006, 08:05 PM	#12
cc3 Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: wpb, fl Posts: 36	9am - 12noon: power compacts 12noon - 7pm: mh 7pm -9pm: power compacts moonlights all night long!

01/31/2006, 08:10 PM	#13
E-A-G-L-E-S Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Lehigh Valley, PA Posts: 7,038	mh -- 9 hours(11:30a.m.-8:30 p.m.) actinic -- 12 hours(10am-10pm) __________________ Smug Egotistical Contemptuous It's difficult to get a man to understand something that his salary requires him not to.

02/01/2006, 06:56 AM	#14
jasonstr8up Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Coconut Creek, FL Posts: 437	mh -- 6 1/2 hours(2:30pm.-9:30p.m.) actinic -- 10 hours(1:30pm-11:30pm) __________________ Honey I promise … This is the last thing I need to buy. Current Tank Info: ASM G-3, CUSTOM SEA LIFE 1/4HP CHILLER AND 18 WATT UV, (2) 110 VHO's, EHEIM 2215 CANISTER, Sealife Systems 200 GAL WET/DRY LITTLE GIANT 4-MDQX-SC,

02/01/2006, 07:24 AM	#15
Boat Racer Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Sarasota Florida Posts: 268	My actinics run from 8:30 am to 7:00 pm and my M/H run from 10:00 am to 4:00 pm.I have a 75 gallon with and Aquamedic 48" combo 2) T-5's Blue Actinics 2) HQI M/H 20,000k

02/01/2006, 07:35 AM	#16
jamal-188 Moved On Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: PA Posts: 1,480	Do people that run them longer notice better growth?

02/01/2006, 09:09 AM	#17
pro99line Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Theodore, AL Posts: 280	I was running mine for 12 hours but then dropped it down to 10 hours and noticed better growth. I think everyone's tank will react differently to lighting.

02/01/2006, 09:21 AM	#18
TJ Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2000 Location: Arkansas Posts: 237	pc's turn on @ 8:00 a.m., out @ 9:45- MH's on @ 11:00 a.m., out @ 6:30 p.m.

02/01/2006, 09:34 AM	#19
shullat Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: in exil Posts: 588	Run MH for twelve hours, anything longer and I notice that the softies start to shrink in size.... __________________ Nick Current Tank Info: a small fishbowl

02/01/2006, 09:43 AM	#20
VWD Smelly fish Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Denham Springs, LA Posts: 262	I run my MH for 5 hours a day.actinics for 10 hours __________________ Vince 120 RR Bare Bottom & 56 Bean animal connected to one sump. Life Reef external/blueline 40 HDX, Carbon reactor, GFO reactor, proton 48 led, 2 Kessils 160we tuna blue on 120 & 6 HQ t-5 on 56, b

02/01/2006, 07:52 PM	#21
suasponte2/75 Premium Member Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: The Bay Area (Fremont, CA) Posts: 514	MH's only for 6 hours every day and everything's exploding in my tank. It also keeps the electricity bill manageable (CA). I do not see any difference when I run 12 hours vs 6. I've been doing it for a few years now and everything's coloring up fine and growing quickly. I used to run it for 5 hours but noticed a significant difference when I added an extra hour to the cycle. I'd suggest you adjust your light cycles until you're comfortable with your tank's color and growth rates. I have mostly SPS's, some softies, a few LPS's and 2 clams (max and crocea). HTHs. Minh

02/01/2006, 09:04 PM	#22
Emster Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Largo, FL Posts: 2,364	Actinics on at 10:00am off at 10:30pm PC's on at 11:30 off at 5:00 MH on at 5:00 off at 10:00 I used to run my MH for 8 hours and then went to 7 then 6 and now I am at 5 and each time the colors have been getting better.I run 10k and I think that has alot to do with it. __________________ Emmett Jan. 09 TOTM Current Tank Info: 180 gal, Iwaki 70, 4-3/4" sea swirls, 3-400 watt Radiums, 4-80watt T-5's , custom Ca reactor, 1/3hp aqualogic chiller, i-Tech 400, Tunze osmolator

02/01/2006, 09:10 PM	#23
supertech3 Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: El Paso Posts: 1,206	MH 6 hrs t-5 actinics 3hrs

02/01/2006, 11:56 PM	#24
corals b 4 bills Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: San Francisco Bay Area (Belmont). Posts: 2,381	I also run mine from 9-8 anything more than that I will have an algae bloom, the tank water stay hot too long, and my corals POOP! from excess light. __________________ Reefkeeper - (ref-ke-per) n: Individual obsessed with placing disturbing amounts of electricity and seawater in close proximity for the purpose of maintaining live coral reef organisms. Current Tank Info: 29 gallon Bio Cube, HQI 150 watt Nanotuner~Vortech MP10W ES~Arctica Chiller~AC II~Tunze Osmolator ATO~ Tunze 9002 skimmer W/In Tank Cup~ Korallin Reactor W/PH Monitor~ Korallin Denitrator~APC Back-up~Phosban/Carbon Reactor.

02/02/2006, 09:35 AM	#25
Wiskey Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Fallbrook, CA Posts: 3,049	5.5 hours right now for MH, 11 hours for the PC atinics. Whiskey __________________ This video shows 15 months of coral growth in my tank in a 30 second timelapse: https://youtu.be/bF6C57aTDEo