Setting Light timers to go on twice a day

seldin · 03/27/2008, 12:28 PM

I have a 55 gallon reef tank with T5s and MH and lunar lighting. My schedule now has me getting up very early and coming home late. I was thinking that my normal setting of 10 hours of T5 and 6 hours of MH might be modified to a dual setting for both. I know people talked about this to increase photo growth for corals, so I was wondering what settings they keep their timer on.

I am mainly doing this, so I can enjoy my tank in the morning as well as evening. My lunar lights are nice, but no comparison to when my T5s and MH is on.

Maybe even splitting the current setup so that T5's go on in morning for 10 hours and in evening my MH go on for the 6 hours (just a thought). Then, I can save some electricity $$$.

Thank you for your feedback.

rbursek · 03/27/2008, 12:35 PM

There was a thread here a few days ago about split time of lights and growth, I do not remember what Forum thou, and the final thing was it does not increase growth, and I think that answer was from Randy H-F, and if it was, I trust him with my first born!

seldin · 04/17/2008, 11:11 AM

Bob,

Sorry for not getting back sooner.

Do you happen to know the URL for this thread?

Thanks much,

arts007 · 04/17/2008, 02:36 PM

Ive had to do this before...have you thought of modifying the lighting schedule itself. Lets say you get home at 1130, you run your lights for 10 hrs, so have the lights come on at 2:30pm and off at 12:30am. Running a schedule that you are talking about is going to expose them to more light than usual. It wont save electricity as you would be running the lights a total of 16 hrs independently. Longer duration of light does not equal coral growth and can do more harm than good by causing photo-inhibitation, which is basically the opposite bleaching from too much light. In this case I dont think it would cause inhibitation just might be more practical adjusting the whole light schedule

RumLad · 04/17/2008, 03:06 PM

Are you thinking of two on and off cycles per day?
On 0500 - 1000 (5 hrs on, 1 hr T5 only, 3 hrs both, 1 hr T5?)
Off 1000 - 1900
On 1900 - 2400 (5 hrs on)
Off 2400-0500

I don't know what that would do to grow, TBH.

03/27/2008, 12:28 PM	#1
seldin Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Suffolk County, NY Posts: 1,091	Setting Light timers to go on twice a day I have a 55 gallon reef tank with T5s and MH and lunar lighting. My schedule now has me getting up very early and coming home late. I was thinking that my normal setting of 10 hours of T5 and 6 hours of MH might be modified to a dual setting for both. I know people talked about this to increase photo growth for corals, so I was wondering what settings they keep their timer on. I am mainly doing this, so I can enjoy my tank in the morning as well as evening. My lunar lights are nice, but no comparison to when my T5s and MH is on. Maybe even splitting the current setup so that T5's go on in morning for 10 hours and in evening my MH go on for the 6 hours (just a thought). Then, I can save some electricity $$$. Thank you for your feedback. __________________ - Larry Current Tank Info: 55 gallon Reef, Aquactinics MH/T5, 1/3 hp chiller, LifeReef overflow, custom sump/refugium, AquaC pro skimmer and Vortech MP40w. Also, a Solana Rimless nano, Viper 150MH, Tunze 9002 skimmer, Vortech MP10 ES and RKL Controller.

04/17/2008, 11:11 AM	#3
seldin Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Suffolk County, NY Posts: 1,091	Bob, Sorry for not getting back sooner. Do you happen to know the URL for this thread? Thanks much, __________________ - Larry Current Tank Info: 55 gallon Reef, Aquactinics MH/T5, 1/3 hp chiller, LifeReef overflow, custom sump/refugium, AquaC pro skimmer and Vortech MP40w. Also, a Solana Rimless nano, Viper 150MH, Tunze 9002 skimmer, Vortech MP10 ES and RKL Controller.

04/17/2008, 02:36 PM	#4
arts007 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Illinois Posts: 600	Ive had to do this before...have you thought of modifying the lighting schedule itself. Lets say you get home at 1130, you run your lights for 10 hrs, so have the lights come on at 2:30pm and off at 12:30am. Running a schedule that you are talking about is going to expose them to more light than usual. It wont save electricity as you would be running the lights a total of 16 hrs independently. Longer duration of light does not equal coral growth and can do more harm than good by causing photo-inhibitation, which is basically the opposite bleaching from too much light. In this case I dont think it would cause inhibitation just might be more practical adjusting the whole light schedule __________________ Genius is 1 percent inspiration and 99% perspiration, which is why engineers sometimes smell really bad. Current Tank Info: 120g SPS reef tank. 2x 400 watt Reeflux 12k on lumenbrights

04/17/2008, 03:06 PM	#5
RumLad Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Suburban Chicagoland Posts: 794	Are you thinking of two on and off cycles per day? On 0500 - 1000 (5 hrs on, 1 hr T5 only, 3 hrs both, 1 hr T5?) Off 1000 - 1900 On 1900 - 2400 (5 hrs on) Off 2400-0500 I don't know what that would do to grow, TBH. __________________ "If one advances confidently in the direction of his dreams, and endeavors to live the life which he has imagined, he will meet with a success unexpected in common hours. " H. D. Thoreau

03/27/2008, 12:35 PM	#2
rbursek Moved On Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: germantown,wi Posts: 2,339	There was a thread here a few days ago about split time of lights and growth, I do not remember what Forum thou, and the final thing was it does not increase growth, and I think that answer was from Randy H-F, and if it was, I trust him with my first born!