light cycles

cgarr017 · 11/02/2007, 12:33 PM

what light cycle do you recommend? 12 hrs on, 12 hrs off(moonlight)?

Scuba_Steve · 11/02/2007, 12:40 PM

In my tanks, I have always turned my actinics on for the full 12, and day bulbs/halides on for about 8 hours.

an411 · 11/02/2007, 12:44 PM

depends if you have coral or not I have FO right now and I put my antics on from 530pm to 1230 and my 10000k lights on from 630 1130. For coral I would think that you would want to extend those hours by at least 2 for each cycle.

sprinj76 · 11/02/2007, 01:27 PM

i have mine on 10 hour days with 3 hours of moonlight after my main lights go off.

cgarr017 · 11/02/2007, 01:54 PM

just for clarification- this is a reef tank-75g with 250w MH with 14000k bulb , 260k flourescents with actinics and led moonlight.

Scuba steve- you are saying 8 hours of day bulbs then the extra 4 hours with only the blue actinics and then 12 hrs of nightime?

Also how expensive is it to implement a timer for the lighting? right now i just have manual switches for each feature on the flourescents

GlobaLPimP · 11/02/2007, 02:09 PM

you can pick up a nice digital timer from Home depot for around $20. I over-drive a 4 bulb T5 set-up on my 75 for 8hrs a day and my corals have excelent growth and color. Each tank is a bit different regarding light requirements. You just need to give yourself a starting point and then tweak it until it suits your liking (and of course the livestock's too

)

123and456 · 11/02/2007, 05:00 PM

you only need 6-8 hours for your corals. I have had really good results running two light cycles per day. I run 6 on six off and repeat. IMO a timer is a must for consistency. As for moonlights are more for looks but can be ran all the time or just when the lights are off it doesn't really matter unless you have really bright moonlights.

11/02/2007, 12:33 PM	#1
cgarr017 Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: virginia beach Posts: 230	light cycles what light cycle do you recommend? 12 hrs on, 12 hrs off(moonlight)?

11/02/2007, 12:40 PM	#2
Scuba_Steve Premium Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Pooler, Ga Posts: 1,342	In my tanks, I have always turned my actinics on for the full 12, and day bulbs/halides on for about 8 hours. __________________ 40g DIY AIO. DT Size is 27"x18"x17" SCA-301 skimmer, DIY ATS 4"x4" 1 cube setup, Ocean Revive 120w LED, Quiet One 3000, Jager 150w TBS Rock

11/02/2007, 01:54 PM	#5
cgarr017 Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: virginia beach Posts: 230	just for clarification- this is a reef tank-75g with 250w MH with 14000k bulb , 260k flourescents with actinics and led moonlight. Scuba steve- you are saying 8 hours of day bulbs then the extra 4 hours with only the blue actinics and then 12 hrs of nightime? Also how expensive is it to implement a timer for the lighting? right now i just have manual switches for each feature on the flourescents __________________ Old Dominion Current Tank Info: 75g mixed reef

11/02/2007, 02:09 PM	#6
GlobaLPimP Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Palm Harbor, Florida Posts: 911	you can pick up a nice digital timer from Home depot for around $20. I over-drive a 4 bulb T5 set-up on my 75 for 8hrs a day and my corals have excelent growth and color. Each tank is a bit different regarding light requirements. You just need to give yourself a starting point and then tweak it until it suits your liking (and of course the livestock's too ) __________________ This hobby is educational; it teaches you how to spend a lot of money in a hurry! Current Tank Info: 75gl, SPS, LPS, IceCap/T5/SLR, 2 modded Tunze 6045's, PCI 350 skimmer w/ Gen-X 2400, 95lbs LR, GEN-X 4100 return

11/02/2007, 12:44 PM	#3
an411 Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Derby CT Posts: 2,861	depends if you have coral or not I have FO right now and I put my antics on from 530pm to 1230 and my 10000k lights on from 630 1130. For coral I would think that you would want to extend those hours by at least 2 for each cycle.

11/02/2007, 01:27 PM	#4
sprinj76 Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: WI Posts: 495	i have mine on 10 hour days with 3 hours of moonlight after my main lights go off.

11/02/2007, 05:00 PM	#7
123and456 Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: midwest Posts: 166	you only need 6-8 hours for your corals. I have had really good results running two light cycles per day. I run 6 on six off and repeat. IMO a timer is a must for consistency. As for moonlights are more for looks but can be ran all the time or just when the lights are off it doesn't really matter unless you have really bright moonlights.