metal halide

MotorCityBadBoy · 01/20/2009, 08:51 AM

I dont have any coral in my tank yet, just snails crabs and shrimp. How many hours a day do I need to run my metal halide to stimulate alge growth? Thanks in advance

46FiatYamaha · 01/20/2009, 10:10 AM

most people have anywhere from 4 to 12 hours a day of MH, on the lower end they are usually supplemented with T5's. I think 8 to 10 would be a good average, and I'm actually using mine seven hours a day currently with good results.

oppih · 01/20/2009, 10:11 AM

that depends on what you keep? SPS? LPS?
and I would start with a reduced schedule..
I would start with running my lights only on for 1 to 2 hours
to start....

oppih · 01/20/2009, 10:12 AM

What do you have now????

MotorCityBadBoy · 01/20/2009, 11:09 AM

so i have a huge range from 1 to 12 hrs?? so i guess 6 hrs per day?

oppih · 01/20/2009, 11:15 AM

Just get ready for that electric bill...lolo

Whisperer · 01/20/2009, 12:08 PM

You don't need metal halide to grow algae, macro or coralline. I think that's what you asked...algae growth.

seapug · 01/20/2009, 12:17 PM

What kind of algae are you trying to grow?

46FiatYamaha · 01/20/2009, 12:53 PM

what I believe oppih was saying is that if you are talking about symbiotic algae which is what corals live off of, start with your lights for very few hours a day as the MH's are probably stronger than the holding tank at the LFS's are. Even if not, it helps them acclimate without overwhelming them. A lot of people that have T5's and MH's will set some actinic (blue) T5's to come on first to simulate morning light, then later on, say two hours, the MH lamps come on. After the MH's have been on say eight hours, they go off but the T5 actinics stay on for two more hours. That's an average photoperiod, but everybody isn't the same. I personally have my tank in the living room near a large window, and it gets a lot of light normally during the day, and I do not use T5's, just MH only. So my lights come on at 2 PM, and go off at 9 PM. You want the total photoperiod to be around 10-12 hours a day, and that doesn't have to be full MH the whole time, it can be supplemental with something else, and that's what there is such a large range. It completely depends on what you intend to keep, if you are using any other lighting, etc... On the other hand, if you are trying to grow macroalgae, you don't necessarily need MH's to do that, they will grow with almost any light, and 8-12 hours a day will work just fine.

oppih · 01/20/2009, 12:59 PM

Sorry I didn't clarify....

46FiatYamaha · 01/20/2009, 01:17 PM

it's OK, neither did I

MotorCityBadBoy · 01/21/2009, 09:06 AM

Thanks guys. NOW Thats the info I was looking for! Thanks again.

01/20/2009, 08:51 AM	#1
MotorCityBadBoy Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: michigan Posts: 85	metal halide I dont have any coral in my tank yet, just snails crabs and shrimp. How many hours a day do I need to run my metal halide to stimulate alge growth? Thanks in advance

01/20/2009, 12:08 PM	#7
Whisperer Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Punta Gorda, FL Posts: 4,020	You don't need metal halide to grow algae, macro or coralline. I think that's what you asked...algae growth. __________________ The bitterness of poor quality lingers long after the sweetness of low price is forgotten. --------- No one is born with intellect and age guarantees wisdom to no one. Current Tank Info: 120G reef, 30G sump, 10G QT tank

01/20/2009, 12:17 PM	#8
seapug Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: 4980 ft. Posts: 7,954 Blog Entries: 1	What kind of algae are you trying to grow? __________________ insert clever saying here. Current Tank Info: 200 gallon custom Marineland DD peninsular tank. LPS dominated mixed reef. Previous 90 gallon mixed reef TOTM April 2009.

01/20/2009, 10:10 AM	#2
46FiatYamaha Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Matthews NC Posts: 990	most people have anywhere from 4 to 12 hours a day of MH, on the lower end they are usually supplemented with T5's. I think 8 to 10 would be a good average, and I'm actually using mine seven hours a day currently with good results.

01/20/2009, 10:11 AM	#3
oppih Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Posts: 62	that depends on what you keep? SPS? LPS? and I would start with a reduced schedule.. I would start with running my lights only on for 1 to 2 hours to start....

01/20/2009, 10:12 AM	#4
oppih Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Posts: 62	What do you have now????

01/20/2009, 11:09 AM	#5
MotorCityBadBoy Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: michigan Posts: 85	so i have a huge range from 1 to 12 hrs?? so i guess 6 hrs per day?

01/20/2009, 11:15 AM	#6
oppih Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Posts: 62	Just get ready for that electric bill...lolo

01/20/2009, 12:53 PM	#9
46FiatYamaha Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Matthews NC Posts: 990	what I believe oppih was saying is that if you are talking about symbiotic algae which is what corals live off of, start with your lights for very few hours a day as the MH's are probably stronger than the holding tank at the LFS's are. Even if not, it helps them acclimate without overwhelming them. A lot of people that have T5's and MH's will set some actinic (blue) T5's to come on first to simulate morning light, then later on, say two hours, the MH lamps come on. After the MH's have been on say eight hours, they go off but the T5 actinics stay on for two more hours. That's an average photoperiod, but everybody isn't the same. I personally have my tank in the living room near a large window, and it gets a lot of light normally during the day, and I do not use T5's, just MH only. So my lights come on at 2 PM, and go off at 9 PM. You want the total photoperiod to be around 10-12 hours a day, and that doesn't have to be full MH the whole time, it can be supplemental with something else, and that's what there is such a large range. It completely depends on what you intend to keep, if you are using any other lighting, etc... On the other hand, if you are trying to grow macroalgae, you don't necessarily need MH's to do that, they will grow with almost any light, and 8-12 hours a day will work just fine.

01/20/2009, 12:59 PM	#10
oppih Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Posts: 62	Sorry I didn't clarify....

01/20/2009, 01:17 PM	#11
46FiatYamaha Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Matthews NC Posts: 990	it's OK, neither did I

01/21/2009, 09:06 AM	#12
MotorCityBadBoy Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: michigan Posts: 85	Thanks guys. NOW Thats the info I was looking for! Thanks again.